Hey there, junior here. I've been studying for the SAT, but what are considered 'good scores'? And I guess by 'good', I mean what kind of score would make me competitive for top-tier schools?
A "good" SAT score can largely depend on the types of schools you're envisioning. For entry into highly selective colleges or universities, you'd likely want to aim for a score above 1500, with many successful applicants scoring above 1550.
For example, Harvard University, one of the most selective schools, reports a middle 50% SAT score (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing + Math) ranging from 1460 to 1580, which means that 50% of enrolled students have scores within that range. About 25% of students scored above 1580 and 25% scored below 1460.
However, it's important to remember that your SAT score, while important, is only one piece of the college admissions puzzle. Other elements, like your GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars, essays, and teacher recommendations also play pivotal roles.
Given the competitiveness of top-tier schools, aiming for the highest score possible within your abilities is always beneficial. As the SAT is now completely digital, there are plenty of resources available, like online prep courses and the Bluebook™ app, to help practice and improve your score before you sit for the actual test.
Good luck with your studies! Make sure to take plenty of breaks and don't get too caught up focusing only on the SAT -- your junior year academics and extracurriculars are also extremely important.
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