Curious about SAT score ranges

This might be a basic question but can someone tell me what the score ranges for the SAT are? Like what's considered a good score and what's considered stellar?

Sure, quite a few students have similar questions, so you're not alone!

The new digital SAT, which was updated in 2024, is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, split between two sections—Reading and Writing, and Math—both of which are scored between 200 and 800.

As for what's considered a "good" score, it really depends on the competitive nature of the colleges you're interested in. In general, scoring at least 1050-1060 is above the national average and considered good. This positions you better than approximately half of the high school students taking the test.

Now, if you're aiming for more competitive colleges, you'll typically want to score substantially higher than the average. A score of around 1200-1300 can be considered relatively strong, and would put you in a good position for many state universities and other less selective institutions.

However, for the most highly selective colleges, you'll most likely need a score above 1400, with many applicants to these schools achieving scores in the 1500 range or even a perfect 1600.

But keep in mind that while it's important to aim for a competitive score, it's only one part of your application. Schools take into account multiple factors such as your coursework, grades, extracurriculars, and essays, among other things. A strong SAT score can certainly help, but it won't guarantee admission on its own. It's crucial to focus on building a well-rounded and authentic application. Hope this answer helps you!