Gonna start hitting the SAT preparation books soon and I’ve been wondering, what's the full range of SAT scores? Also, what's typically regarded as a decent score? I mean, if anyone can drop some facts on the SAT score scene, it'll really help me to know what I’m up against. Thanks!
The SAT is a standardized test split into two sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. Each of these sections is scored on a scale of 200-800, leading to a total score range of 400 to 1600. So, 400 is the absolute lowest score you can receive, and 1600 is the absolute highest.
Now, let's talk about what's considered a "good" score. It depends a lot on the colleges you're aiming for. For very selective colleges, an SAT score above 1400 is often competitive. For other institutions, an SAT score above 1200 could be seen as strong. But remember, while your SAT score is important, it's just one aspect of your application. Your GPA, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, and personal essays are integral parts of an application as well.
As a general guideline, if your score is in the 75th percentile of scores for a particular school (i.e., higher than 75% of students admitted to that school), you'll be in a competitive position for that school. You can usually find this percentile information in the school's admissions statistics or on CollegeVine's college profiles.
Best of luck as you start preparing for the SAT!
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