What Is a “Good” SAT Score?

Every year, millions of high school students take the SAT in order to boost their chance of landing an acceptance at their dream school. However, there are several misconceptions about the importance of an applicant’s SAT score in the context of their overall application. Naturally, students often wonder: What is a “good” SAT score?

In collaboration with one of our proven SAT tutors, Jonathan, we set out to answer this commonly asked college admission question for you. How exactly does a student’s SAT score (or lack thereof!) affect their application’s competitiveness? How should students self-evaluate their score? Read on to find out.

TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS

One of the most consequential shifts in college admissions recently has been the meteoric rise of test-optional admission practices. In fact, the 2021-22 application cycle saw over 60% (1,425) of four-year universities in the United States announce that they will not require applicants to submit standardized test scores. This list includes some of the most selective institutions in the country, including the UCs (University of California school system) and Ivy League schools. 

Put simply, some college admissions officers have determined that SAT scores aren’t the best proxy for determining an applicant’s likelihood for success in the college classroom compared to metrics like high school GPA. And they may not be wrong. Research has shown that mandating test scores deters otherwise competitive students from applying. Additionally, differences in academic outcomes for students who choose to submit test scores versus those who do not are trivial. 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR SAT SCORE?

So, does this mean that you should abandon your prep materials and drop the SAT entirely? Not necessarily. A major consequence of the test-optional policy is a significant uptick in the number of applicants who are vying for the same number of spots in a university’s incoming class, though the current Class of 2026 early round numbers are an exception. As a result, you must do everything you can to stand out from the crowd of applications that admissions officers will read. An excellent SAT score is an extra data point unique to you and is certainly one way to turn heads towards your candidacy and make you a more competitive applicant, so it can’t hurt to aim for the highest score possible. 

AVERAGE SAT SCORES

We’ve plotted the average SAT score for admitted students at institutions of varying selectivity and rankings according to U.S. News. There seems to be a noticeable trend: more selective universities – such as MIT, Stanford, and Duke – tend to accept students with higher average SAT scores than lower-ranked universities like Syracuse and Clemson. For reference, the average SAT score for admitted students across all Ivy League schools is slightly above 1500. So, if you’re looking to earn admission to a highly selective university and intend on submitting an SAT score, plan to prep intensively and score well.

SHOULD YOU RETAKE THE SAT?

After receiving their scores, students are often left wondering: Is my score good enough? Should I retake the SAT? In theory, you can take the SAT as many times as you’d like. However, we don’t recommend this approach – It can be a financial burden and it can potentially detract from other parts of your application. Your SAT score is viewed by colleges as a benchmark of your academic readiness for college. Therefore, when you reach the score range corresponding to the schools you will be applying to, it’s best to focus on strengthening other parts of your application, unless you feel capable maintaining a high GPA, impactful extras, and continued intensive SAT prep. Sometimes, the time and effort spent earning a 20-point bump in your SAT score simply isn’t worth risking your GPA or a potential leadership position in one of your major extracurricular activities. 

PREPARING FOR THE SAT

Overwhelmed by the SAT and not sure how to prepare for it? Don’t worry! At Top Tier Admissions, we will match you with an experienced tutor who will personalize your tutoring sessions based on your existing strengths and weaknesses. Our students experience dramatic increases in their scores coupled with decreased test anxiety, which is a win-win for any student.