What does SAT score percentiles mean?

Hey everyone! I've been hearing a lot about SAT 'percentiles' lately and I'm wondering what they mean. Can anyone explain this to me?

Sure, I'd be happy to explain SAT percentiles! So, in the simplest terms, the SAT percentile represents the percentage of students whose scores were lower than yours. For example, if you are in the 90th percentile, it means that you scored higher than 90% of all students who took the SAT.

Just to give you a clearer understanding, let's assume you took a SAT and landed in the 70th percentile. That means you scored better than approximately 70% of the students who took the same test. This percentile is not the same as the score you received on the test, which is based on the number of questions you got correct. These percentiles can help colleges compare your score to the scores of other applicants to see how you performed relative to others.

This can be a powerful tool for admissions officers as it provides a standardized measurement that can be used to compare SAT scores across years, even as the test changes. The College Board, which administers the SAT, recalculates these percentiles every year based on the scores of all the students who took the SAT in the past three years.

Remember that while these percentiles do provide valuable context about your performance, they're just one part of your college application. So, while it's beneficial to aim for a high percentile, it's equally important to focus on other aspects such as your GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays as well.