What is a good SAT score? 1200, 1350, 1400 and 1500 explained with percentiles

A good SAT score is one above the national average of 1045, and a score of 1200 or higher puts you at the 75th percentile of SAT takers. Past that point, "good" depends on the colleges you're applying to: on College Board's SAT User percentiles, a 1350 sits at the 89th percentile, a 1400 at the 93rd and a 1500 at the 97th. Highly selective colleges, including the Ivy League, mostly enroll students who scored in the high 1400s or above. Below you'll find the full percentile table, what superscoring does to your target, and how many points you can realistically add with practice.

What is the average SAT score?

The average SAT score for the class of 2026 was 1045, according to the College Board's 2026 annual results, published September 29, 2026. That breaks down as 528 in Reading and Writing and 517 in Math, across more than 1.95 million students who took the SAT in high school. That's up 16 points from 1029 for the class of 2025. If a student tested more than once, the report counts their most recent score.

The same report found that 42% of students met both of the College Board's college readiness benchmarks: 480 in Reading and Writing and 530 in Math. Students who reach those benchmarks are predicted to have about a 75% chance of earning a C or higher in a related first-semester college course.

So any score above about 1045 is above average. Whether it's good for you depends on what you're aiming for.

SAT score percentiles from 1000 to 1600

A percentile tells you the share of students who scored the same as you or lower. A 1200 at the 75th percentile means 75% of SAT takers scored 1200 or below.

The College Board publishes two versions. The SAT User percentile compares you with recent SAT takers who graduated in the past three school years. The nationally representative percentile compares you with all US 11th and 12th graders, including students who never take the SAT, so it usually comes out a few points higher. If you want to know how you compare with other students sending scores to colleges, use the SAT User column.

Source: College Board SAT percentiles. Last checked: November 12, 2026.

The gaps between percentiles get smaller near the top. Going from 1000 to 1200 moves you up 28 places among SAT takers. Going from 1400 to 1600 moves you up about 6.

Is 1200 a good SAT score?

Yes. A 1200 is about 155 points above the national average and sits at the 75th SAT User percentile, so you scored as high as or higher than three in four test takers.

Whether it's good enough for a particular college is a different question. Look up that college's middle 50% range. If your score falls inside it, your score supports your application. If it's near the top or above, it works in your favor. If it's below the range, an extra sitting with focused practice could make a real difference.

How rare is a 1350 SAT score?

A 1350 sits at the 89th SAT User percentile, so roughly 11 in every 100 SAT takers score higher. Against all US 11th and 12th graders it's the 94th percentile.

That makes 1350 a strong score that will be competitive at many selective colleges. It's also a common stepping stone. Many students who reach 1350 have one section that's clearly stronger than the other, and that's useful to know if you plan to retake.

Is a 1400 SAT score good enough for the Ivy League?

A 1400 is a strong score at the 93rd SAT User percentile, but it sits below the typical range at Ivy League schools. Brown, for example, reports that the middle 50% of students admitted to its Class of 2030 scored 1470 to 1550. Other Ivy League schools publish ranges in a similar band.

Middle 50% means a quarter of the reported students (admitted or enrolled, depending on the college) who submitted scores were below the lower number, and a quarter were above the higher one. A 1400 would place you below Brown's 25th percentile. It doesn't rule you out, because these colleges read your grades, essays, activities and recommendations as well. But if the Ivy League is your goal, aiming for 1500 or more puts your score inside those ranges.

To check the latest figures for any college, find its Common Data Set and look at section C9, which lists the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores of enrolling students. Make sure you're reading the most recent year, as third-party sites often mix up classes.

How superscoring changes your target score

Superscoring means a college takes your best Reading and Writing score and your best Math score, even if they came from different test dates. The College Board explains this in its superscore guide. The colleges set the policy, so check each one's admissions website.

Here's how it can work in practice:

Neither test day reached 1400, but at a college that superscores, this student's score is 1400.

That changes how you plan. If you already have a good score on one section, you can put most of your practice into the other section before your next sitting. Many colleges that superscore ask you to send all your scores so they can compare applicants fairly, so check whether they want every sitting. Where a college allows it, College Board's Score Choice lets you pick which test dates you send.

How many points can you gain with SAT prep?

The best-known data comes from the College Board and Khan Academy. In their 2017 data, about 20 hours of personalized practice was associated with an average gain of 115 points between the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT. That was roughly double the gain made by students who didn't use the practice. Six to eight hours was associated with an average gain of 90 points.

These figures come from an earlier version of the SAT, before it moved to its current digital format. They also show an association: students who choose to practice may differ in other ways. Still, they give you a sensible benchmark. A gain of around 90 to 115 points over a few weeks of steady, targeted practice is a reasonable aim. Larger jumps are possible, especially if your first score came from a test you didn't prepare for.

The hours matter less than what you do with them. Gains tend to come from finding the question types you keep missing and working on them until you stop missing them.

How to set your SAT target and plan your prep

1. Take a full practice test in Bluebook, the College Board's testing app, so you start from a real score.
2. List the colleges you're interested in and write down each one's middle 50% range. Aim for at least the middle of the range at the colleges you care about most.
3. Work out the gap between your practice score and your target, and check which section has more room to grow.
4. Pick a test date that leaves time for a retake before your application deadlines. The remaining SAT dates this cycle are December 5, 2026, then March 6, May 1 and June 5, 2027.
5. Practice your weakest question types first, then take another full practice test every three to four weeks to track progress.

Medly AI covers the SAT, so you can practice questions, get them marked, and ask the AI tutor to explain where an answer went wrong until the method clicks. The free plan includes 5 marked questions and 20 AI tutor messages a day, with no card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1500 a good SAT score?

Yes. A 1500 is at the 97th SAT User percentile and the 99th nationally representative percentile. It falls inside the middle 50% range at Brown and other highly selective colleges.

How rare is a 1600 on the SAT?

Very rare. A 1600 is above the 99th percentile on both of the College Board's percentile measures, so fewer than 1 in 100 test takers reach it.

Is 1300 a good SAT score?

Yes. A 1300 is at the 85th SAT User percentile, more than 250 points above the national average of 1045. It's competitive at many selective colleges, so check each college's middle 50% range.

Do colleges see all my SAT scores?

Not always. Score Choice lets you choose which test dates to send, but some colleges ask for every score. Check each college's testing policy before you send anything.

What SAT score shows you're ready for college?

The College Board's college readiness benchmarks are 480 in Reading and Writing and 530 in Math, a total of 1010. Meeting both suggests about a 75% chance of a C or higher in a related first-semester college course.

Should I retake the SAT if I scored 1200?

If your target colleges have middle 50% ranges above 1200, a retake is usually worth it, especially at colleges that superscore. Focus your practice on your weaker section first.

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