If you wish to know what SAT score is good, this article will guide you on that. This article is aimed at guiding students on the actual SAT score that they need to get into any college.
SAT is one of the most common admission requirements in the United States that is needed whenever a student wishes to apply for either freshman or transfer undergraduate admission at any University/College.
This requirement is needed for both in-state, out-of-state U.S base students, and international students applying for admission in the U.S.
I have written much about the SAT Test and I will share some good links that will guide you more about the SAT Test in the next section below.
Note: Incoming students that wish to apply for admission into colleges are to either apply for admission with their SAT or ACT test score, along with the required grades. Check a good ACT test score needed for admission here.
Although recently, some colleges do not require the ACT or SAT test score for admission. So it is advisable to check if your college requires a Test score for their admission.
What is a good SAT score for 2021 Overall, for college Admission?
The SAT test has two sections which are the Math section and the Evidence-based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section. Each of these SAT sections has a score scale from 200 to 800.
The SAT Score range varies per college/University. For example, selective and competitive universities/colleges will require students to have a higher score while less selective schools might consider lesser scores.
As such, it is advisable to obtain a SAT score from 1400 or above if you wish to apply to a selective school.
In the next section below, you will see the SAT score gradings for each SAT section and the SAT score requirements for the 25 most selective colleges.
SAT Score Gradings 2021
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| Percentile | EBRW | TOTAL | Remark |
| 99th | 750 or above | 1510 or above | Best SAT Score Range |
| 90th | 670 | 1340 | Excellent SAT Score Range |
| 75th | 610 | 1200 – 1210 | Good SAT Score Range |
| 50th | 530 | 1050 – 1060 | Average SAT Score |
Obtaining the above listed SAT score is a good SAT score for freshman and transfer admission at any college in the United States.
Check the next table below to see the top 25 most selective colleges/Universities in the United States and their SAT Score requirements for admission with acceptance rate reports.
Read also:
- Best ACT score needed for admission into colleges.
- Revealed secrets to passing the SAT Test with a very high score
- SAT Test Dates for 2021,2022 and 2023
- ACT Test Dates for 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Note: Submitting of test scores is optional in some colleges in the United while some colleges do not completely require test scores for undergraduate admission, except English Proficiency Test scores for International applicants.
Selective Colleges and their SAT Score Requirments
The table below shows the 25 selective colleges/universities in the US and their SAT score requirements for admission. Click any of the colleges listed below to view its SAT Score, ACT Score, and Grades required for admission in 2021.
SAT Score for selected Colleges;
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| Name of College/University | SAT Score Range (25th/75th Percentile) | Acceptance Rates |
| UCLA | 1280 – 1530 | See UCLA Acceptance Rate |
| Harvard | 1460 – 1570 | Check Harvard Acceptance |
| Princeton | 1460 – 1570 | See Princeton Acceptance |
| Columbia | 1450 – 1570 | See Columbia Acceptance |
| Stanford | 1440 – 1570 | See Stanford Acceptance Rate |
| MIT | 1510 – 1570 | MIT Acceptance Rate Here |
| Uchicago | 1500- 1570 | Uchicago Acceptance Rate Here |
| Yale | 1460 – 1570 | Yale Acceptance Rate Here |
| Penn | 1450 – 1560 | Penn Acceptance Rate Here |
| Johns Hopkins | 1470 – 1570 | Johns Hopkins Acceptance Rate Here |
| Caltech | 1530 – 1560 | Caltech Acceptance Rate Here |
| Northeastern | 1440 – 1550 | Northeastern Acceptance Rate Here |
| Duke | 1480 – 1570 | Duke Acceptance Rate Here |
| Vanderbilt | 1460 – 1560 | Vanderbilt Acceptance Rate Here |
| Rice University | 1470 – 1570 | Rice Acceptance Rate Here |
| Dartmouth | 1440 – 1560 | Dartmouth Acceptance Rate Here |
| Brown | 1440 – 1570 | Brown Acceptance Rate Here |
| Cornell | 1400 – 1560 | Cornell Acceptance Rate Here |
| WUSTL | 1480 – 1560 | WUSTL Acceptance Rate Here |
| Emory | 1360 – 1530 | Emory Acceptance Rate Here |
| USC | 1360 – 1530 | USC Acceptance Rate Here |
| Notre Dame | 1400 – 1550 | Notre Dame Acceptance Rate Here |
| UC Berkeley | 1310 – 1530 | UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate Here |
| UMichigan | 1340 – 1530 | UMichigan Acceptance Rate Here |
| George Town | 1380 – 1550 | George Town Acceptance Rate Here |
Additional Test Needed for International students admission.
International students, especially those from countries that do not speak English as its official language, may have to acquire additional English Proficiency test scores.
The available and recommended English Proficiency Exams accepted for international students’ undergraduate admission in the U.S include the TOEFL and IELTS.
What is a bad SAT score?
Any SAT Score that is below the middle 50% range which is the average SAT score is a bad SAT Score.
What SAT Score is Bad for Admission
What is the lowest SAT score to get into college? Any SAT score that is lower than the school’s 25th percentile is low and that may not get you into any college/University.
When to retake SAT Test again?
If your SAT score is low to a point of not getting you into any University and college, then you may consider rewriting the test as an alternative.
Firstly, you are advised to check and know the SAT score requirements for the college you wish to apply for and work hard to get a score that will meet that. The best way to equip yourself properly for the test is to take SAT prep and Test tips here.
But if you don’t wish to retake the test, then go for a college/university that does not need SAT score as a requirement for admission.
SAT Score Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Is 1470 a Good SAT score?
1470 SAT Score is a good SAT score. Students who score 1470 fall under the 98th percentile of the total number of students that took the test.
Is 1210 a good SAT score?
SAT Score of 1210 falls under the 77th percentile and that is a good Score for admission into many colleges and universities.
Is 1080 a bad SAT score?
All SAT Scores at 1080 falls into the 50th percentile. 1080 is an average SAT score.
Who has a perfect SAT score?
Having a perfect SAT score means you have met the 1600 SAT points. Students need a perfect 800 on all their sections to meet this score.
What’s the highest SAT score ever?
The Perfect Score is the highest possible score in the SAT. The SAT Perfect Score is 1600 points and that is the highest SAT Score.
Is a 1500 SAT score good?
SAT score of 1500 is good. This score puts you in the 99th percentile of the total students that took the test and it is very good for admission into any University and college.
Is 18 a good SAT essay score?
I will say that scoring 18 in the SAT essay is a good score for admission. But your chances of getting in with such depends on the school you are applying for.
Is 2400 a good SAT score?
SAT score of 2400 is perfect for admission. SAT Score of 2400 shows that your score is higher than 99% of all the students that took the test takers.
College Board had changed the scoring system from 2,400 scale point maximum to the 1,600 points
Is the SAT 1600 or 2400?
College Board had changed the scoring system from 2,400 scale point maximum to 1,600 points.
Is 1380 a good SAT score? Yes, SAT score of 1380 is good to get into any college.
Is 1250 a good SAT score?
1250 SAT score is a good SAT Score to get into Colleges. A 1250 SAT score falls under the 81st percentile. Almost all Colleges/universities accept students with this score range.
Is 1200 a good SAT score?
A 1200 SAT Score is considerable. This score is acceptable by less competitive Colleges and Universities. Such a score places you in the 74th percentile of all the students that partook in the test.
Is 1000 a good SAT score?
A SAT score of 1000 is bad for admission. Very few colleges consider such scores for admission. Such scores place you in the 35th percentile of all the students that took the test.
Is a 1400 SAT score good?
A 1400 SAT score is good. It places students in the top 95th percentile of the total students that took part in the test. This score is acceptable by almost all Universities/Colleges.
Is an 1140 SAT score good?
A SAT score of 1140 is considerable. It places you in the 66th percentile of all the students that took part in the test.
Is 800 a good SAT score?
A SAT score of 800 is extremely low for Universities/Colleges to consider. This score place students in the bottom 9th percentile of the total students that took the test.
Is 950 a good SAT score?
A SAT score of 950 is bad. Such scores put you below the 31st percentile of all students that partook in the exam. It is very low for many colleges/Universities to consider for admission.
Is 1100 a good SAT score?
A score of 1100 is just an average. This score places students a little, above the 50th percentile of all partakers of the test.
I am sure this information was helpful? Finally, you are advised to check if your college requires a test Score for admission or not
