What Is a Good SAT Score? Benchmarks and Averages

What is the average SAT score?

1029 for the class of 2025: 521 in Reading and Writing and 508 in Math, across about 2.0 million test takers, as reported from College Board's annual report.

National reference points and where each comes from
Measure	Value	Source
Mean total, class of 2025	1029	College Board annual report, as reported
Reading and Writing benchmark	480	College Board, benchmarks
Math benchmark	530	College Board, benchmarks
Met both benchmarks, class of 2025	39%	College Board annual report, as reported

The class of 2025 includes students who took the SAT on a school day because their state requires it, which pulls the mean toward the middle of all students rather than of college applicants. A score above the mean is above average for everyone who tested, not necessarily for the applicants at a given college.

What SAT score do colleges want?

Each college publishes the SAT range of the students it enrolled, usually the 25th and 75th percentiles, in its Common Data Set (section C9) and often on its admissions page. A score at or above the 75th percentile is strong for that college; at the 25th percentile it is within range but on the low side.

Search for "[college name] Common Data Set" and open the latest year.
In section C9, find the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math ranges (25th and 75th percentiles), and the share of enrolled students who submitted scores.
Add the two section ranges to get a rough total range, or use the total range if the college gives one.
Aim for the 75th percentile at colleges you most want, and treat colleges where you are above it as likely.

We do not print a table of colleges here. College ranges change every year and differ between sources, and a table we could not check against each college's own Common Data Set would mislead you. The college's own figure, for the year you apply, is the one to use.

Test-optional colleges add a wrinkle: their published ranges come only from students who chose to submit, so they skew high. If your score is below a test-optional college's 25th percentile, consider not sending it.

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Eight SAT-style mocks and 32 domain drills, every answer explained, so you can see which domains are keeping you under the range.

The SAT Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 32 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.

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How do I set an SAT target score?

Take the 75th percentile of the colleges you most want, and plan for the section that is further from it. Then check your current level with an official practice test and set a realistic gain per month of practice.

Start from a real number. An official Bluebook practice test gives you a scaled score; our SAT practice test shows which domains cost you the most. The gap between your Bluebook score and your target tells you how much work is ahead, and the domain scores tell you where to do it.

Section scores matter as well as the total. A college looking for engineers will look at Math, and some programs set section minimums. The SAT score calculator shows your sections against the benchmarks and the national mean.

Should I send my SAT score to a test-optional college?

Send it if it is at or above the middle of that college's range for submitted scores, and consider holding it back if it is below the 25th percentile. Test-optional means the college will not count it against you if you leave it out.

A test-optional college's Common Data Set usually shows what share of enrolled students submitted SAT scores. When that share is small, the published range reflects only the students who chose to submit, who tend to be the higher scorers, so the range runs higher than the class as a whole.

Some colleges that went test-optional have since gone back to requiring scores, and policies can differ between programs at the same college. Read each college's admissions page for the year you apply, and keep your options open by testing before your senior fall if you can.

A score that clears a college's range can still help in a test-optional application, especially for merit scholarships or for programs where math preparation matters. Leaving out a strong score gives up that evidence for nothing.

Does a good SAT score help with scholarships?

Often. Many colleges and states award merit aid using SAT or ACT scores, and some colleges use the scores to place you into or out of first-year courses. A high PSAT/NMSQT score in 11th grade can also qualify you for National Merit recognition.

Merit scholarship rules are set by each college or program, and many publish score thresholds on their financial aid pages. For National Merit, the qualifying test is the PSAT/NMSQT, not the SAT; see PSAT practice test for how its Selection Index works.

If you are deciding between the SAT and the ACT, both count equally almost everywhere. SAT vs ACT has the official concordance and a quick way to decide.

How much can I raise my SAT score?

It depends on where you start and how you practise. Students who find their weakest domains and drill them on the real clock usually gain more than those who only do whole tests; there is no fixed number, and anyone who promises one is guessing.

Find your weakest two domains with a timed mock.
Learn the rule behind every miss and drill each domain until your accuracy holds.
Retest with an official practice test every two or three weeks.
Stop when you are above the 75th percentile of your target colleges: past that point, extra points add little to your application.

More worked examples of every domain are on SAT sample questions, and the full format is in the SAT test guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1200 a good SAT score?

It is above the class of 2025 mean of 1029, and meets both benchmarks if neither section is low. Whether it is good for you depends on your colleges' ranges.

Is 1400 a good SAT score?

Yes, nationally it is well above average. At the most selective colleges, it can still be below the middle of the range, so check each college's Common Data Set.

What is a perfect SAT score?

1600: 800 in Reading and Writing and 800 in Math.

Do colleges see all my SAT scores?

With College Board's Score Choice you usually choose which test dates to send, but some colleges ask for all scores. Check each college's policy.

Is this the real SAT?

No. It is an SAT-style practice test with original questions written for LifeScore. The real SAT is given by College Board in the Bluebook app. LifeScore is not affiliated with College Board.

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