total sat score with essay

SAT Essay Scores Explained

On january 19th, 2021, college board announced that they will no longer administer the sat subject tests in the u.s. and that the essay would be retired. read our blog post  to understand what this means in the near term and what the college board has in store for students down the road., our articles on subject tests and the sat essay will remain on our site for reference purposes as colleges and students transition to a revised testing landscape..

Why are there no percentiles for the essay on an SAT score report?

No percentiles or norms are provided in student reports. Even colleges do not receive any summary statistics. Given Compass’ concerns about the inaccuracy of essay scoring and the notable failures of the ACT on that front, the de-emphasis of norms would seem to be a good thing. The problem is that 10% of colleges are sticking with the SAT Essay as an admission requirement . While those colleges will not receive score distribution reports from the College Board, it is not difficult for them to construct their own statistics—officially or unofficially—based on thousands of applicants. Colleges can determine a “good score,” but students cannot. This asymmetry of information is harmful to students, as they are left to speculate how well they have performed and how their scores will be interpreted. Through our analysis, Compass hopes to provide students and parents more context for evaluating SAT Essay scores.

How has scoring changed? Is it still part of a student’s Total Score?

On the old SAT, the essay was a required component of the Writing section and made up approximately one-third of a student’s 200–800 score. The essay score itself was simply the sum (2–12) of two readers’ 1–6 scores. Readers were expected to grade holistically and not to focus on individual components of the writing. The SAT essay came under a great deal of criticism for being too loosely structured. Factual accuracy was not required; it was not that difficult to make pre-fabricated material fit the prompt; many colleges found the 2–12 essay scores of little use; and the conflation of the essay and “Writing” was, in some cases, blocking the use of the SAT Writing score—which included grammar and usage—entirely.

With the 2016 overhaul of the SAT came an attempt to make the essay more academically defensible while also making it optional (as the ACT essay had long been). The essay score is not a part of the 400–1600 score. Instead, a student opting to take the SAT Essay receives 2–8 scores in three dimensions: reading, analysis, and writing. No equating or fancy lookup table is involved. The scores are simply the sum of two readers’ 1–4 ratings in each dimension. There is no official totaling or averaging of scores, although colleges may choose to do so.

Readers avoid extremes

What is almost universally true about grading of standardized test essays is that readers gravitate to the middle of the scale. The default instinct is to nudge a score above or below a perceived cutoff or midpoint rather than to evenly distribute scores. When the only options are 1, 2, 3, or 4, the consequence is predictable—readers give out a lot of 2s and 3s and very few 1s and 4s. In fact, our analysis shows that 80% of all reader scores are 2s or 3s. This, in turn, means that most of the dimension scores (the sum of the two readers) range from 4 to 6. Analysis scores are outliers. A third of readers give essays a 1 in Analysis. Below is the distribution of reader scores across all dimensions.

What is a good SAT Essay score?

By combining multiple data sources—including extensive College Board scoring information—Compass has estimated the mean and mode (most common) essay scores for students at various score levels. We also found that the reading and writing dimensions were similar, while analysis scores lagged by a point across all sub-groups. These figures should not be viewed as cutoffs for “good” scores. The loose correlation of essay score to Total Score and the high standard deviation of essay scores means that students at all levels see wide variation of scores. The average essay-taking student scores a 1,080 on the SAT and receives just under a 5/4/5.

College Board recently released essay results for the class of 2017, so score distributions are now available. From these, percentiles can also be calculated. We provide these figures with mixed feelings. On the one hand, percentile scores on such an imperfect measure can be highly misleading. On the other hand, we feel that students should understand the full workings of essay scores.

The role of luck

What is frustrating to many students on the SAT and ACT is that they can score 98th percentile in most areas and then get a “middling” score on the essay. This result is actually quite predictable. Whereas math and verbal scores are the result of dozens of objective questions, the essay is a single question graded subjectively. To replace statistical concepts with a colloquial one—far more “luck” is involved than on the multiple-choice sections. What text is used in the essay stimulus? How well will the student respond to the style and subject matter? Which of the hundreds of readers were assigned to grade the student’s essay? What other essays has the reader recently scored?

Even good writers run into the unpredictability involved and the fact that essay readers give so few high scores. A 5 means that the Readers A and B gave the essay a 2 and a 3, respectively. Which reader was “right?” If the essay had encountered two readers like Reader A, it would have received a 4. If the essay had been given two readers like Reader B, it would have received a 6. That swing makes a large difference if we judge scores exclusively by percentiles, but essay scores are simply too blurry to make such cut-and-dry distinctions. More than 80% of students receive one of three scores—4, 5, or 6 on the reading and writing dimensions and 3, 4, or 5 on analysis.

What do colleges expect?

It’s unlikely that many colleges will release a breakdown of essay scores for admitted students—especially since so few are requiring it. What we know from experience with the ACT , though, is that even at the most competitive schools in the country, the 25th–75th percentile scores of admitted students were 8–10 on the ACT’s old 2–12 score range. We expect that things will play out similarly for the SAT and that most students admitted to highly selective colleges will have domain scores in the 5–7 range (possibly closer to 4–6 for analysis). It’s even less likely for students to average a high score across all three areas than it is to obtain a single high mark. We estimate that only a fraction of a percent of students will average an 8—for example [8/8/8, 7/8/8, 8/7/8, or 8,8,7].

Update as of October 2017. The University of California system has published the 25th–75th percentile ranges for enrolled students. It has chosen to work with total scores. The highest ranges—including those at UCLA and Berkeley—are 17–20. Those scores are inline with our estimates above.

How will colleges use the domain scores?

Colleges have been given no guidance by College Board on how to use essay scores for admission. Will they sum the scores? Will they average them? Will they value certain areas over others? Chances are that if you are worrying too much about those questions, then you are likely losing sight of the bigger picture. We know of no cases where admission committees will make formulaic use of essay scores. The scores are a very small, very error-prone part of a student’s testing portfolio.

How low is too low?

Are 3s and 4s, then, low enough that an otherwise high-scoring student should retest? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. In general, it is a mistake to retest solely to improve an essay score unless a student is confident that the SAT Total Score can be maintained or improved. A student with a 1340 PSAT and 1280 SAT may feel that it is worthwhile to bring up low essay scores because she has previously shown that she can do better on the Evidence-based Reading and Writing and Math, as well. A student with a 1400 PSAT and 1540 SAT should think long and hard before committing to a retest. Admission results from the class of 2017 may give us some added insight into the use of SAT Essay scores.

Will colleges continue to require the SAT Essay?

For the class of 2017, Compass has prepared a list of the SAT Essay and ACT Writing policies for 360 of the top colleges . Several of the largest and most prestigious public university systems—California, Michigan, and Texas, for example, still require the essay, and a number of highly competitive private colleges do the same—for example, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

The number of excellent colleges not requiring the SAT Essay, though, is long and getting longer. Compass expects even more colleges to drop the essay requirement for the classes of 2018 and 2019. Policies are typically finalized in late spring or during the summer.

Should I skip the essay entirely?

A common question regarding SAT scores is whether the whole mess can be avoided by skipping the essay. After all, if only about 10% of colleges are requiring the section, is it really that important? Despite serious misgivings about the test and the ways scores are interpreted, Compass still recommends that most students take the essay unless they are certain that they will not be applying to any of the colleges requiring or recommending it. Nationally, about 70% of students choose to take the essay on at least one SAT administration. When looking at higher scoring segments, that quickly rises to 85–90%. Almost all Compass students take the SAT Essay at least once to insure that they do not miss out on educational opportunities.

Should I prepare for the SAT Essay?

Most Compass students decide to do some preparation for the essay, because taking any part of a test “cold” can be an unpleasant experience, and students want to avoid feeling like a retake is necessary. In addition to practicing exercises and tests, most students can perform well enough on the SAT Essay after 1–2 hours of tutoring. Students taking a Compass practice SAT will also receive a scored essay. Students interested in essay writing tips for the SAT can refer to Compass blog posts on the difference between the ACT and SAT tasks  and the use of first person on the essays .

Will I be able to see my essay?

Yes. ACT makes it difficult to obtain a copy of your Writing essay, but College Board includes it as part of your online report.

Will colleges have access to my essay? Even if they don’t require it?

Yes, colleges are provided with student essays. We know of very few circumstances where SAT Essay reading is regularly conducted. Colleges that do not require the SAT Essay fall into the “consider” and “do not consider” camps. Schools do not always list this policy on their website or in their application materials, so it is hard to have a comprehensive list. We recommend contacting colleges for more information. In general, the essay will have little to no impact at colleges that do not require or recommend it.

Is the SAT Essay a reason to take the ACT instead?

Almost all colleges that require the SAT Essay require Writing for ACT-takers. The essays are very different on the two tests, but neither can be said to be universally “easier” or “harder.” Compass recommends that the primary sections of the tests determine your planning. Compass’ content experts have also written a piece on how to attack the ACT essay .

Key links in this post:

ACT and SAT essay requirements ACT Writing scores explained Comparing ACT and SAT essay tasks The use of first person in ACT and SAT essays Understanding the “audience and purpose” of the ACT essay Compass proctored practice testing for the ACT, SAT, and Subject Tests

About Art Sawyer

Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and co-founded Compass Education Group in 2004 in order to bring the best ideas and tutors into students' homes and computers. Although he has attained perfect scores on all flavors of the SAT and ACT, he is routinely beaten in backgammon.

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Hi! I’m a high school junior who took the October and November SATs. I got a 1500 on October and then retook it to get a 1590 in November. I’m very happy with my score, but my essays are troubling me. I got a 6-4-6 in October and thought I would improve in November, but I got a 6-3-6. I really cannot improve my actual SAT score, but I don’t understand the essay. I’ve always been a good writer and have consistently been praised for it in English class and outside of class. Is this essay score indicative of my writing skill? And will this essay hurt my chances at Ivy League and other top tier schools? None of the schools I plan on applying to require it, but, since I have to submit it, will it hurt my chances? Thank you so much.

Maya, The essay is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Honestly, a 6-4-6 is a fine score and will not hurt your chances for admission. It’s something of an odd writing task, so I wouldn’t worry that it doesn’t match your writing skills elsewhere.

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Students taking the latest version of the SAT have a lot of questions about the Essay section in particular. When the College Board redesigned the SAT in 2016, the Essay section was the aspect of the test that changed most substantially.

As a result, it is the section that is least understood. Keep reading to learn how we approach setting a good target score for this often enigmatic section of the SAT.

What Is the SAT Essay?

Students taking the optional Essay section are provided with a written argument and asked to analyze it. Check out the College Board’s example prompt with sample graded responses to get a sense of what the exam looks like.

Is the SAT Essay Required?

This is the only optional section of the SAT. It does not impact your overall score out of 1600. Instead, your Essay grade stands alone on your score report.

While the College Board does not require the SAT Essay, certain schools do. 

Schools that Require the SAT Essay

• All of the University of California schools
• Benedictine University
• City University London
• Delaware State University
• DeSales University
• Dominican University of California
• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
• Howard University
• John Wesley University
• Kentucky State University
• Martin Luther College
• Molloy College
• Schreiner University
• Soka University of America
• Southern California Institute of Architecture
• Texas A&M University—Galveston
• United States Military Academy (West Point)
• University of North Texas
• West Virginia University Institute of Technology
• Western Carolina University

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Additionally, these schools do not require the SAT Essay but recommend it.

Schools that Recommend the SAT Essay

• Abilene Christian University
• Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Allegheny College
• Amherst College
• Art Institute of Houston
• Augsburg University
• Austin College
• Caldwell University
• California State University, Northridge
• Central Connecticut State University
• Central Michigan University
• Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
• Coastal Carolina University
• Colby College
• College of Wooster
• Colorado School of Mines
• Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• Corban University
• Cornerstone University
• Dallas Christian College
• Duke University
• Eastern Illinois University
• Eastern Nazarene College
• Easternn University
• Endicott College
• Five Towns College
• Gallaudet University
• George Washington University
• Georgia Highlands College
• Greenville University
• Gwynedd Mercy University
• High Point University
• Hofstra University
• Holy Family University
• Husson University
• Indiana University South Bend
• Indiana University Southeast
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• Inter American University of Puerto Rico: Barranquitas Campus
• Juilliard School
• Keiser University (West Palm Beach)
• Lehigh University
• Madonna University
• Manhattan College
• Marymount California University
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• McMurry University
• Mercy College
• Modern College of Design
• Montana Tech of the University of Montana
• Morehouse College
• Mount Saint Mary College
• Mount St. Joseph University
• National-Louis University
• New Jersey City University
• Nichols College
• North Park University
• Occidental College
• Ohio University
• Oregon State University
• Purdue University Northwest
• Randall University
• Randolph-Macon College
• Reading Area Community College
• Rowan University
• Rutgers University—Camden Campus
• Rutgers University—Newark Campus
• Saint Michael’s College
• Seton Hill University
• Shiloh University
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
• Silver Lake College of the Holy Family
• Southern Illinois University of Carbondale
• Southern Oregon University
• Spring Hill College
• Sul Ross State University
• SUNY Farmingdale State College
• SUNY University at Stony Brook
• Tarleton State University
• Texas A&M International University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas State University
• The King’s College
• United States Air Force Academy
• University of Evansville
• University of La Verne
• University of Mary Hardin—Baylor
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Minnesota: Twin Cities
• University of New England
• University of Northwestern—St. Paul
• University of the Virgin Islands
• University of Toledo
• University of Washington Bothell
• VanderCook College of Music
• Virginia Union University
• Wabash College
• Webb Institute
• Webber International University
• Wesleyan College
• William Jewell College

Should You Take the SAT Essay Section?

We recommend taking the Essay section just in case you want to apply to one of the schools that requires or recommends it. If you’re absolutely sure you won’t apply to any of these schools, you can skip it. Just know that you can’t retake the SAT essay alone, so if you change your mind and want to apply to a school that requires the Essay section, you’ll have to retake the whole test.

How Is the SAT Essay Scored?

Your essay will be evaluated on three criteria—Reading, Analysis, and Writing.

The Reading grade is meant to gauge how well you understand the passage content. Did you absorb the information you just read? Especially when the details are not intuitive, your readers will be checking to see that you read closely and caught the nuance of the piece.

The Analysis score relates to how well you represented the argument that the writer made. Your goal in the Essay section should be to determine what the writer’s main argument is and describe how they present it. 

Finally, your score in Writing reflects your own command over the English language. Your capacity to write clear, well-structured sentences that use a wide range of vocabulary will determine this grade.

Two readers each give the essay a score between 1 and 4, depending on how well each reader thinks you did in the three categories. Their grades are then summed to give you a three-part grade. The highest grade you can receive is 8, 8, 8, while the lowest possible score is 2, 2, 2. To give an example, one student may score a 5, 4, 4, which would mean that their readers submitted the following feedback:

What’s a Good, Average, and Bad SAT Essay Score?

In 2019, the mean score on the Reading and Writing for the SAT Essay was a 5. For the Analysis section, the mean score was a little lower at 3, simply because Analysis is a skill that high school students spend less time honing than Reading or Writing.

For a detailed breakdown of how 2019’s test takers performed, here are a few score distributions:

Here’s a rough breakdown of the percentile scores based on the most recent College Board data. Here’s how this chart works: say you scored a 6 on the Reading section. According to the data, that means that you performed better than 70% of other essay writers.

SAT Essay Score Percentile Rankings

Source: College Board and CollegeVine data analysis

How Should You Understand and Improve Your SAT Essay Score?

Unless your SAT Essay score is rock-bottom, you should not feel the need to retest just to improve your Essay score. If you received a low score that you feel isn’t representative of your writing abilities, focus on crafting stellar college essays instead of retaking the SAT just for the Essay section.

If you were unhappy with your SAT Essay score AND your overall SAT score, however, then you should consider retaking the test with the Essay section. 

Here are a few tips on how to improve your SAT Essay score:

1. Annotate the passage. Read carefully. Start by boxing the main argument of the passage, then put a star next to three or four places where the author employs a strategy to win the readers over. These may include:

• Refuting a counter argument
• Raising a question
• Providing anecdotal evidence
• Using statistics to support a claim
• Citing historical examples
• Employing rhetorical devices, such as metaphor

2. State the main point of the passage author. Make it clear that you understand what the author is trying to say by stating their thesis clearly in your essay response. No one reading your essay should have any doubt as to what you think the main point of the passage is.

Make the author’s thesis clear at the beginning of your response as well as in your concluding paragraph. Tie back to it often within your body paragraphs too.

3. Outline before you write. Spend 3-5 minutes organizing your thoughts. Build up 2-4 points about the argument’s structure. Think of yourself as a debate coach. Give feedback on the persuasion tactics the author used. Which ones were most effective? What could they have done to sway their audience even more?

Remembered the strategies you starred when you were annotating? These are the building blocks of the author’s argument, and your essay should provide analysis of how effectively these building blocks were used.

4. DO NOT include your personal opinion. The essay exists to assess whether you can analyze an argument. It has nothing to do with your personal views. If you find yourself defending or disagreeing with the passage, that is a good sign that you are missing a chance to analyze the argument’s structure.

5. Proofread your essay. Give yourself 2 minutes towards the end of the section to improve the language you used. Search for spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as weak word choice. Replace monosyllabic words like “good” and “is” with more dynamic vocabulary, such as “striking” or “constitutes.” This is a quick and easy way to boost your Writing score.

For more advice on how to study for the Essay section, check out our How to Get a Perfect Score on the SAT Essay and The Ultimate Guide to the New SAT Essay .

Want to know how your SAT score impacts your chances of acceptance to your dream schools? Our free Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy!

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April 12, 2014

How Does the Essay Affect Your SAT Score?

Although the SAT essay is going to be optional before long (when the test changes in 2016), as of right now it’s a must. So, love it or hate it, your essay will influence your SAT score, and the admissions offices at the colleges you’ll apply to will see that score. So let’s answer one key question: how much does the SAT essay actually count for?

The Numbers

First, the essay is scored according to its own grading system. There will be two readers—real people, not a Scantron machine!—who read and judge your writing, each assigning a mark of zero to six. Zero is the worst (in case that wasn’t totally obvious), but it’s only used for the absolutely ungradable essays. If you write on a completely different topic than what’s assigned, for example, you will get a zero. That means no memorizing a fantastic essay ahead of time! You have to write on the topic they give you. You’d also get a zero if you wrote in another language, say, or simply put no clear thoughts on paper.

A six, on the other hand, is reserved for long, structured essays that are full of clear, concrete ideas, high-level vocabulary, and correct grammar. There’s a bit more to it, but that’s the gist.

After each reader goes through and marks your essay, the two scores will be added to give you a score of 0–12 (if you actually wrote anything remotely relevant, that’s 2–12).

Then that score, in turn, is added to the raw score from the Writing multiple-choice questions, since the essay is just a part of the Writing Section. The multiple-choice sections count for more points, altogether.

Then, once they have the raw total of your essay score and your multiple-choice score added up, they convert that score into the scaled, 200–800 score.

The Importance of the Essay

The scaled score is a little bit hard to explain—how it’s calculated, I mean—and it’s not worth really getting stuck talking about. All that matters is the zero to twelve score ends up affecting how many hundreds are in that scaled score. And I did say that the multiple-choice counts for more than the essay, but that doesn’t mean the essay isn’t important.

In truth, the SAT essay score counts for around 30% your total writing score—in the ballpark of 200 points, altogether. It’s not the only thing, but it’s a significant piece of the puzzle.

And what about those who say the essay doesn’t matter? Simply put, they’re usually wrong . Most schools were really skeptical of the Writing Section when this version of the SAT first debuted it back in 2005. And sure, some are still not totally signed on, but for the most part it does factor into your admissions. And 99% of the time, you’ll have no idea how much that lady who works in the admissions office cares about your Writing score—you’ll just have to trust that a high score is better than a low one.

And for that high score, you need to put some energy into preparing to write your essay!

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Understanding the SAT Scoring System: A Detailed Breakdown

Explore a comprehensive guide to the sat scoring system, uncovering the methodology behind the scores, sectional breakdown, and ways to interpret your results for success., table of contents, the structure of the sat scoring system, calculating the sat scores, interpretation of sat scores, how colleges utilize sat scores, common misconceptions about the sat scoring system, importance of essay scores in the sat, practical tips to improve sat scores, sat scores and scholarship considerations, final words, key takeaways.

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Understanding the SAT scoring system is pivotal for students, educators, and parents alike, as it provides insight into performance and readiness for college-level work. 

In this article, we will explore the SAT scoring system, explaining how scores are calculated, what they represent, and how they can be leveraged for success.

The SAT scoring system is a cumulative representation of a student’s ability across different academic domains. Here’s how it’s organized:

• Total score: Ranges from 400 to 1600, combining the scores from two sections: Evidence-based Reading and Writing (ERW) and Mathematics.
• Section scores: ERW and Math sections scored between 200 and 800.
• Sub-scores : Breakdown in reading, writing, language, and math skills, useful for detailed analysis.
• Cross-test scores: Analysis across different subjects to gauge aptitude in areas like science and history.

Examining the scoring methodology is necessary to comprehend the SAT scoring system:

• Raw score: Each correct answer adds one point to the raw score. There’s no penalty for wrong answers.
• Scaled score: The raw score is converted into the scaled score, which is the section score, ranging from 200 to 800.
• Equating process: SAT uses equating to account for differences in difficulty across several test versions.
• Percentiles: The percentile rank shows how a student’s score compares to others in the same age group.

The SAT scoring system is more than just a final number; it’s a complex and well-thought-out process designed to measure and represent a student’s abilities accurately.

Understanding the SAT scoring system isn’t just about knowing the numbers. It’s about interpreting what those scores mean for an individual’s academic readiness:

• Evidence-based Reading and Writing (ERW): Reflects comprehension, analytical, and language skills. A higher score in this section can demonstrate strong reading and writing abilities.
• Mathematics section: Measures problem-solving and mathematical thinking. A high score may indicate a solid foundation in mathematics.
• Percentiles: Understanding where you stand compared to peers helps identify strengths and areas for improvement. A 90th percentile score means you performed better than 90% of test-takers.

The SAT scoring system is essential for colleges during the admission process. Here’s how they use it:

• Benchmarking applicants: Colleges may have a minimum SAT score for admission to specific programs or scholarships.
• Comparative analysis: Admission officers use SAT scores to compare applicants from different educational backgrounds and systems.
• Holistic review: While significant, the SAT score is usually one of many factors in a comprehensive admission process. It complements grades, extracurricular activities, essays, and interviews.

Debunking myths around the SAT scoring system can alleviate unnecessary stress and guide proper preparation:

• Perfect score guarantee: Achieving a perfect SAT score doesn’t guarantee admission into any college. Other factors are equally vital.
• Guessing penalty: Contrary to popular belief, there’s no penalty for wrong answers. So, it’s better to guess than leave questions unanswered.
• Ineffectiveness of preparation: Proper preparation tailored to the SAT scoring system can improve scores.

Recognizing the multidimensional nature of the SAT scoring system is necessary to fully comprehend it. In addition to the actual data, it’s important to consider how they were calculated, what they mean, and how educational institutions will use them.

Though the SAT essay section is optional, it can add another dimension to understanding a student’s proficiency. This section isn’t included in the overall SAT score out of 1600 but is graded separately on a scale of 2–8 by two independent scorers in three areas: Reading, Analysis, and Writing.

Some colleges may consider the essay score to gain insights into a student’s critical thinking, ability to analyze complex issues, and articulate thoughts coherently. Opting to take the essay portion may reflect a commitment to showcasing a broader range of academic skills.

Understanding the SAT scoring formula might help students improve their study habits and, as a result, their test-taking efficiency. The following methods can be helpful in this scenario:

• Understanding the structure: Familiarize yourself with the SAT sections and what they measure. Knowing the expectations helps in targeted preparation.
• Time management: Practice under timed conditions to replicate the exam experience.
• Leverage official practice tests: Make use of official SAT practice tests and analyze the results to identify areas for improvement.
• Expert guidance: Seek assistance from tutors or teachers who understand the SAT scoring system to develop personalized strategies.

The SAT scoring system doesn’t just influence college admissions, it also plays a role in scholarship eligibility:

• Merit-based scholarships: Many scholarships require a minimum SAT score, and a higher score can lead to more significant financial awards.
• Institutional scholarships: Some colleges offer scholarships based on SAT scores, alongside other criteria like GPA and extra-curricular involvement.
• National Scholarship Programs: Programs like National Merit Scholarships consider SAT scores as part of their selection process.

The SAT scoring system is a multifaceted and precise methodology reflecting a student’s academic readiness and potential. Every aspect of this test offers valuable insights, from the total score to the intricate breakdown into sections and sub-scores.

Understanding the scoring method helps students take the mystery out of the SAT experience, enables them to evaluate their scores properly, and offers a foundation for development.

Knowing the subtleties of the SAT scoring system can turn it from a cause of worry into a tool for success.

Liked this blog? Learn more about the SAT with iSchoolconnect !

• The SAT scoring system consists of a total score, section scores, sub-scores, and percentiles, reflecting various aspects of a student’s ability.
• Knowing what SAT scores represent helps students and educators align preparation and goals.
• Beyond admissions, SAT scores play a role in scholarship eligibility and can impact financial assistance for college.
• Understanding the truth about common misconceptions can guide better preparation and alleviate stress.
• Tailored preparation, including official practice tests and expert guidance, can significantly improve SAT scores.
• What is the highest possible SAT score, and how is it calculated?

The highest possible SAT score is 1600, obtained by summing the maximum scores of 800 in both the Evidence-based Reading and Writing (ERW) and Mathematics sections.

• Do all colleges require SAT scores for admission?

Not all colleges require SAT scores, and some may be test optional. Policies vary, so checking with individual institutions for specific requirements is advisable.

• How can I understand my SAT percentile, and why is it important?

Your SAT percentile reflects the proportion of test-takers that you outscored. It helps you gauge where you stand among peers and can be crucial in identifying areas for improvement.

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Understanding the New SAT Scoring System: What You Need to Know

In recent years, the SAT exam underwent significant changes, including revisions to its scoring system. Understanding the new SAT scoring system is essential for students aiming to excel in this standardized test. In this guide, we will delve into the intricacies of the new SAT scoring system, highlighting key changes and providing insights to help students navigate this aspect of their SAT preparation effectively.

1. The Two Main Sections:

The SAT consists of two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. Each section is scored separately, with scores ranging from 200 to 800 points. The total SAT score is the sum of the EBRW and Math scores, yielding a total score between 400 and 1600 points.

2. Subscores and Cross-Test Scores:

In addition to the main section scores, the SAT provides subscores and cross-test scores to offer more detailed insights into students' performance. Subscores reflect performance in specific areas within each section, such as reading, writing and language, and math. Cross-test scores assess students' ability to analyze and apply skills across different subject areas, such as analysis in science and analysis in history/social studies.

3. The Essay (Optional):

The SAT includes an optional Essay section, which is scored separately from the main sections. The SAT Essay is scored on three dimensions: Reading, Analysis, and Writing. Each dimension receives a score ranging from 2 to 8 points. The Essay score does not contribute to the total SAT score but provides additional information about students' writing abilities.

4. Scoring Methodology:

The new SAT scoring system employs a process called equating to ensure fairness and consistency across different test administrations. Equating adjusts scores to account for variations in difficulty between different test versions, ensuring that scores accurately reflect students' abilities rather than differences in test difficulty.

5. Score Reporting:

SAT scores are typically available to students approximately two to three weeks after the test date. Scores are accessible online through the College Board website. Students can choose to send their scores to colleges and universities of their choice through the College Board's Score Choice feature. Score reports include detailed breakdowns of section scores, subscores, cross-test scores, and the optional Essay score.

6. Understanding Percentiles:

Percentiles provide context for interpreting SAT scores by comparing students' performance to that of other test-takers. A percentile rank indicates the percentage of students who scored lower than a particular score. For example, a score in the 75th percentile means that the student performed better than 75% of test-takers.

7. Strategies for Improving Scores:

To improve SAT scores, students should focus on developing strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and math. Regular practice with official SAT practice tests and review of content areas can help students become familiar with the test format, question types, and time constraints. Additionally, seeking guidance from teachers, tutors, or test prep resources can provide valuable insights and strategies for improving performance.

Conclusion:

Understanding the new SAT scoring system is essential for students preparing to take this standardized test. By familiarizing themselves with the scoring structure, interpreting score reports accurately, and implementing effective strategies for improvement, students can maximize their chances of success on the SAT and achieve their academic goals. With diligence, perseverance, and strategic preparation, students can approach the SAT with confidence and achieve their desired scores.

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Average SAT Scores: The Latest Data

Bonus Material: SAT score ranges at 499 schools

Every day, students and families ask us to help them understand SAT scores. 

In this post, we’ll do a deep dive into the data to answer all of your questions about average SAT scores. 

We’ll answer what’s the average SAT score in the US for this year—but also the average SAT score for the Ivy League , the average SAT score at the best universities and liberal arts colleges in the US, and average SAT score at the top public universities . 

We’ll find out which states have the highest average SAT scores, and how the SAT scores have changed over time.

Finally, we’ll show how to use this data to help navigate the college admissions process more successfully.

We did exhaustive original research to get the latest data that’s not easily available, from dozens of separate sources (including working directly with admissions offices at universities throughout the country). As Princeton grads who love data, we did all the hard work so you don’t have to!

In this post we’ll cover:

How to use average SAT scores to improve your college admissions strategy

What’s a good sat score.

• What’s the average SAT score?
• Which schools have the highest SAT scores?
• What’s the average SAT score for the Ivy League?
• What’s the average SAT score for the top universities?
• What’s the average SAT score for the top liberal arts colleges?
• What’s the average SAT score for the top public universities?
• What’s the average SAT score for the Big Ten universities?
• What’s the average SAT score for the top 50 colleges and universities in the US?
• What’s the average SAT score in each state?

How to improve your SAT score

• Bonus: SAT score ranges for 499 colleges

Average SAT scores can be a powerful tool in crafting your admissions strategy.

For example, imagine you had a 1360 SAT. That’s a great score!

In fact, it’s in the 93rd percentile of all students who take the SAT! That means that you would have scored higher than 93% of students in the US.

BUT this core is in the bottom 10% of scores of students at the top schools in the US.

This graph shows how common different SAT scores are at six top US universities:

Almost all of the students had scores in the 700s for Math and for Reading & Writing! For example, we can calculate that only 67 freshmen at Harvard and 72 freshmen at Princeton had a SAT Math score in the 600s.

The graph shows that if you scored in the 500s for either section, there would be single-digit numbers of students at these top schools with a similar score to yours . . . and we can assume that those people had something REALLY amazing about them—they are probably Olympic athletes or published scientists or students who fought exceptional circumstances (refugees from war zones, etc). 

On the whole, we can see that at these top schools, roughly 90% of students scored in the 700s on each section, and 90% of students have total SAT scores in the 1400–1600 range.

What does this mean for students hoping to apply to the Ivy League and other top schools?

Uncovering the data for the distribution of SAT scores at colleges and universities throughout the US allows us to get a better sense of an applicant’s chances at a given school. A good general rule is that your SAT score should fall within the 25th and 75th percentile at your target schools (also called the “middle 50”). 

( Percentile means the percentage of students compared to whom your score would be higher. So 15th percentile means that your score would be higher than that of 15% of other students, but that 85% of students would have a higher score than yours. Or 80th percentile means that you scored higher than 80% of other students. We use percentiles to talk about where an individual student falls within a given distribution.)

It’s okay to apply to a few schools where your SAT score would be below the 25th percentile, but those are “reach” schools for you, and you should expect that your chances of admission are low at those schools, especially if you don’t have exceptional grades, extracurriculars, and essays.

On the other hand, schools where your SAT scores are above the 75th percentile—assuming your grades are okay—are probably “safe” schools with higher odds of acceptance.

We also like for “safety” schools to have an acceptance rate higher than about 30%, since even for an amazing applicant there’s a significant element of chance at the most competitive schools.

In this way, you can use your SAT scores to craft a balanced college application list, with at least two safety schools, two target schools, and two reach schools. 

(By the end of your junior year, it’s hard to change your GPA or your extracurriculars—but it’s definitely possible to improve your SAT scores and your college essays. Want to boost your SAT scores so that they’ll be within range for your dream school? Check out our SAT classes or one-on-one SAT tutoring .)

Test scores are obviously not the entirety of a college application— all the other elements matter , especially your high school academic record.

A note about test-optional: although many schools have temporarily implemented test-optional policies to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, we can see from the data that at the top schools the vast majority of admitted students did submit SAT or ACT scores. Looking at detailed information from the admissions offices, SAT and ACT scores will still be used for admissions purposes if they’re submitted, so good scores can still be part of a compelling application. It’s also unclear how long the test-optional policies will last, so we still advise students to take the SAT and/or ACT and try to get the best scores possible.

Download SAT score ranges for 499 schools

It depends!

We go into this in more detail in another post .

But generally speaking, a “good” SAT score for you will be in the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles for your target schools, and it should be above the 75th percentile for your safety schools.

Your score can be below the 25th percentile for your reach schools, but know that they’re exactly that—a reach—and your chances of admittance are low, especially if you don’t have some other aspect in which you’re exceptional (or at least above-average for that particular school).

Read on below to see if your score is above-average for the US or for your state!

National average SAT score

What’s the average SAT score in the US for 2022? The short answer is 533 for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 528 for Math, and 1060 total .

But we have a lot more useful data than just this number! For starters, we learn a lot more when we look at a graph showing the distribution of scores on a national level:

We see roughly a bell-shaped curve—fewer students receive scores on the very low or very high end, and most students have scores around the middle.

Very few students score in the 200s. Roughly 60% of students score in the 400s or 500s for each section, or in the 800–1200 range for their total SAT score. 

Only 8% of students scored in the 1400–1600 range .

In 2021–2022 this was roughly 120,000 students across the entire US.

As we’ll see below, almost all of the students at the top-tier schools come from among these 120,000 students (and from among a roughly comparable number who were top scorers on the ACT).

One interesting thing to note is that even though the average score is a bit higher for Reading & Writing than it is for Math (533 vs 528), more students score very highly in Math than in Reading & Writing—in 2022, only 118,165 students across the US scored in the 700s for Reading & Writing, compared to 155,923 who scored in the 700s for Math. 

One guess is that this is because it’s easier to improve your Math scores with focused study and targeted practice than your Reading & Writing scores. 

For Math, the test is more content-based, and smart studying can help students review or learn the concepts that they might have forgotten or never mastered in their high school classes.

For Reading & Writing, there are still test strategies that you can learn and ways to improve your score, but it’s comparatively harder to get those gains within only a few months. 

If you’re looking for help building reading comprehension and grammar skills, check out our SAT classes , writing classes , and one-on-one tutoring .

The average scores for Reading & Writing haven’t always been higher than the average scores for Math! Looking at the historic SAT score data, we see that it’s shifted over the years:

From 1967 to 1989, average scores for Reading were higher. During this time, the average scores gradually decreased.

Then, from 1990 to 2016, average scores for Math were higher. In this period, scores rose a bit, then decreased again.

Between spring 2005 and spring 2016, the SAT had a third Writing section made up of multiple-choice and an essay. (During this time, students received three section scores and total SAT scores went up to 2400.)

In spring 2016, the SAT went back to two sections, with Reading and Writing combined into one section. (The College Board calls this “Evidence-Based Reading & Writing.) The average scores leapt up quite a bit with this change!

Since 2016, the difference between the average Math score and the average Reading & Writing score has been smaller. These averages have hovered around 530 for both sections.

Which schools have the highest average SAT scores?

Wondering which schools in the US have the highest SAT scores? The answer may surprise you!

The schools at the top of the list aren’t in the Ivy League! Stanford isn’t on the list, either!

Since not all schools provide data for the total SAT scores, we looked at the individual scores for Math and for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW).

We focused on the middle 50% of students at each school—the range between the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile—because that gives us a much clearer picture of the distribution of scores than a single number.

Using this 25/75 range, we get a good sense of the “average” student at one of these schools. 

Here’s a graph of the schools with the highest SAT Math scores:

The schools with the highest SAT Math scores aren’t in the Ivy League—they’re all STEM-focused schools!

CalTech (California Institute of Technology), for example, has the highest scores for SAT Math: 75% of students scored at least a 790 on the Math section.

That means that most students at CalTech have a near-perfect SAT Math score!

At the best schools for math, science, and engineering in the country, we can see that SAT Math scores are very consistently high. If you’re aiming for CalTech or MIT, you’ll need to have a perfect or near-perfect score!

The range of the middle 50 gets a little bit wider as we go down the list, but at all of these 15 schools, at least a quarter of the students scored a perfect 800 on the SAT Math section. That’s impressive!

At CalTech, MIT, University of Chicago, Harvey Mudd, Washington University in St. Louis, Carnegie Mellon, Duke, Vanderbilt, University of Pennsylvania, Rice, and Johns Hopkins, most students on campus (over 75%) scored a 750 or above for SAT Math.

The graph looks a little different when we look at the schools with the highest SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing scores:

Even at the top schools, the scores for Reading & Writing are a bit lower than the scores for Math.

In fact, we know that fewer than 25% of students at the top schools have a perfect 800 for Reading & Writing.

This makes sense, since we know that across the country, fewer students score in the super-high range for Reading & Writing.

A perfect 800 for Reading & Writing is just much more rare than a perfect 800 for Math.

Which school has the highest SAT scores for Reading & Writing?

Surprisingly, the top 3 are CalTech, MIT, and University of Chicago again!

More of the Ivies have crept up on the list, with Harvard and Yale now tying for fourth place. What percentage of students at these schools have a perfect 1600?

We can’t tell this exactly from the published data, but for some schools we know that at least 25% of the students have a perfect 800.

We also know that at the top schools roughly 90% of students have scores in the 1400–1600 range .

This is perhaps a good reminder that a great SAT score alone doesn’t guarantee admission to the most competitive schools, since (unfortunately) it’s not particularly exceptional at those schools.

Wondering how your dream school compares? Check out this list of SAT score ranges at 499 schools across the US .

What is the average SAT score for the Ivy League?

What is the Ivy League, and what is the average SAT score for the Ivy League schools? 

Technically the Ivy League is actually an athletic league! The term was coined in the 1930s and made official in 1954, when Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell formed an agreement to balance competition in football with high academic standards. From the 1950s, these eight schools organized athletic competitions in many sports, and they gradually also added committees to develop intercollegiate policies for admissions and financial aid. 

The Ivy League represents some of the oldest and most prestigious schools in the country. Here’s the complete list:

• Harvard University, founded 1636, in Cambridge, MA
• Yale University, founded 1701, in New Haven, CT
• University of Pennsylvania, founded 1740, in Philadelphia, PA
• Princeton University, founded 1746, in Princeton, NJ
• Columbia University, founded 1754, in New York City, NY
• Brown University, founded 1764, in Providence, RI
• Dartmouth College, founded 1769, in Hanover, NH
• Cornell University, founded 1865, in Ithaca, NY

Here is the range between the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile at the eight Ivy League schools:

These are very high SAT scores!

Most students scored in the 700s at all of the Ivy-League schools.

Perfect scores are pretty common at the Ivy League.

At Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and Penn, at least a quarter of students had a perfect score on the SAT Math section.

At Harvard and Yale, at least a quarter of students had a 780 or higher for the SAT Reading & Writing section.

As we can see, all of the schools in the Ivy League have quite similar ranges. If we take an average of the entire Ivy League, the ranges would be 736–796 for SAT Math, 710–770 for SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, and 1446–1566 total SAT .

That means that if your dream is to attend an Ivy-League school, you should work to get your SAT section scores into the 700s . 

We can take a look at the numbers here:

Average SAT scores for the top research universities in the US (Ivies+)

The Ivies are certainly some of the best universities in the US, but not all of the top universities are in the Ivy League, since the Ivy League schools are only on the East Coast.

There are a few other top universities that rank among the Ivies—or, in some cases, higher than some of the less-competitive Ivies (like Cornell and Dartmouth).

This list of top-tier universities is sometimes known as the “Ivies Plus,” or “Ivies+.” This isn’t a fixed list, but typically it includes at least Stanford, MIT, and UChicago, and sometimes up to the top twenty or so universities in the US, adding Caltech, Northwestern, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Rice, WashU, UCLA, and Notre Dame.

Here, we show the range between the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile at the top-tier (Ivies Plus) schools:

Looking at the graph, we can see that average SAT scores are consistently very high at all of these schools. The middle 50% of students scored in the 700s for both sections at all of these top-tier schools.

For example, at Stanford, a 720 Reading would be in the 25th percentile, so 75% of students have above a 720 Reading. A 750 Math would be in the 25th percentile, so 75% of students have above a 750 Math. The 75th percentile for Math is 800, so actually more than 25% of students at Stanford have a perfect 800 for Math! 

Interestingly, the Math score ranges are higher than Reading & Writing score ranges at all of these top-tier schools.

One guess is that this is because the dedicated students who were admitted to these top schools worked hard to raise their SAT scores, and it’s generally easier to raise your Math SAT score than your Reading & Writing SAT score.

As a whole, the average SAT scores for the top 20 universities in the US are 711–768 for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 740–797 for Math, and 1450–1564 for total SAT scores .

That means that if you hope to apply to the top-tier universities in the US, you should aim for SAT scores in the 700s, and in the upper 700s for Math .

We can dig into the data a little more to see the distribution of scores at each of these top-tier schools. Generally speaking, about 90% of students scored in the 700s for each section of the SAT. (This drops to about 80% of students for Notre Dame and 60% of students at UCLA.)

The graphs show us that there were only a handful of students in each class year with Math or Reading & Writing scores lower than 600.

The graph for the total scores also shows us that if a student does have a particularly low score for Math or for Reading, then they had a higher score in the other section. Very, very few students have lower scores on both sections.

For example, the data tells us that just 5 students in the freshman class at Yale had SAT scores in the 1000–1190 range. Only 74 students at Yale had SAT scores in the 1200–1390 range. And 886 students (92% of the students who submitted SAT scores) had scores in the 1400–1600 range!

The distribution of scores is similar at all of these top universities. To summarize: at the best schools in the country, about 90% of students have total SAT scores in the 1400–1600 range .

Check out the numbers here: 

Average SAT scores for top-ranked liberal arts colleges

You’re probably heard the phrase “liberal arts college” before, but what is it exactly and how is it different from a university?

In a nutshell, liberal arts colleges are smaller and more focused on undergraduate students compared to research universities. In fact, many liberal arts colleges do not offer any graduate degree programs.

Liberal arts colleges are also more likely to be focused on broader multi-disciplinary studies, and less likely to be focused on preparing students for specific vocations. That doesn’t mean that they don’t support students’ career goals, but they tend to offer more flexibility to explore different areas of study.

These schools may be smaller, but their academics aren’t any less stellar. Here we can see the SAT score ranges at the top 30 schools on the US News and World Report ranking , ordered by admissions rates:

As we can see, the average SAT scores at the top liberal arts colleges in the US are quite high!

In the case of Pomona, Swarthmore, Amherst, Williams, and Harvey Mudd, these scores are comparable to the scores at the Ivy League and other top-tier universities.

In fact, the Math scores at Harvey Mudd—one of the best schools in the country for STEM studies—are actually higher than any of the Ivy-League schools! 

As a whole, the average SAT scores for the top 30 liberal arts colleges in the US are 658–735 for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 660–759 for Math, and 1318–1494 for total SAT scores .

Broadly speaking, if you’re hoping to attend a top-tier liberals arts college, you want your total SAT score to be in the 1300s or 1400s .

Average SAT scores for top-ranked public universities

Of course, there are some fantastic public universities throughout the US, many of which are nearly as competitive as the Ivy League and other top-tier private schools. (In recent years, one public university, UCLA, has even broken into the ranks of the top 20 schools in the US.)

For specific programs or majors, these schools might even offer more opportunities than private colleges and universities.

In fact, back in 1985 a Yale Admissions officer coined the phrase “public Ivies” to describe the best of the public universities, in his book Public Ivies: A Guide to America’s Best Public Undergraduate Colleges and Universities.

A more recent list was published by Howard and Matthew Greene’s 2001 book The Public Ivies: America’s Flagship Public Universities. According to this book, the top 30 public universities in the US the following:

Northeastern

• Pennsylvania State University (University Park)
• Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
• State University of New York at Binghamton 
• University of Connecticut (Storrs)

Mid-Atlantic

• College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
• University of Delaware (Newark)
• University of Maryland (College Park)
• University of Virginia (Charlottesville)
• University of Florida (Gainesville)
• University of Georgia (Athens)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Texas at Austin

Great Lakes & Midwest

• Indiana University Bloomington
• Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
• Michigan State University (East Lansing)
• Ohio State University (Columbus)
• University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
• University of Iowa (Iowa City)
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
• University of Arizona (Tucson)
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of California, Davis
• University of California, Irvine
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of California, San Diego
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Washington (Seattle)

We expanded this list to show you the average SAT scores at the top 50 public universities in the US, ordered according to the US News and World Report rankings . A dot indicates schools on the list of “public Ivies”:

We can notice that, as with the top-tier universities and liberal arts colleges, the average SAT scores at most top public universities are higher for Math than for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, likely because the top students study hard to raise their SAT Math scores, but it’s harder to raise SAT Reading & Writing scores.

We can also notice a few schools with especially high SAT Math scores compared to their SAT Reading & Writing, like the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin (Madison), and Purdue. These happen to be universities with particularly strong programs in math and engineering.

At Indiana University and University of Iowa, on the other hand, the average SAT Reading & Writing scores are higher than the average SAT Math scores.

This might reflect the fact that Indiana University is one of the top schools in the country for music, while the University of Iowa is well-known for its writing programs.

As a whole, the average SAT scores for the 50 best public universities in the US are 595–685 for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 600–713 for Math, and 1198–1397 for total SAT scores .

Roughly speaking, this means that if you hope to attend one of the top large public universities, you should aim for a total SAT score in the 1200s or 1300s.

*Note that through 2025, the University of California schools aren’t accepting SAT or ACT scores. (They’re not just test-optional, they’re test-blind, so they won’t look at scores if submitted.) However, as we discussed above, looking at historic SAT data can still give a good idea about the competitiveness of the schools and your general chances of admission.

Average SAT scores for Big Ten universities

What is the Big Ten? Like the Ivy League , it’s also an athletic league first and foremost. But in the Midwest, it’s a shorthand for many of the top large universities: the Universities of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, along with Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and Rutgers.

(For many decades, the conference had ten schools, hence the name, though currently it has fourteen.)

The schools of the Big Ten conference are known for combining academic achievement with athletic success. Most are public universities, but Northwestern is a top-tier private university. 

We can see that the average SAT scores at the Big Ten universities are high:

As a whole, the average SAT scores for the Big Ten conference are 576–674 for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 586–706 for Math, and 1162–1375 for total SAT scores .

That means that, broadly speaking, if you want to go to a Big Ten university, you’ll want your total SAT score to be in the 1200s or 1300s .

Check out the numbers here:

Average SAT scores for the top 50 colleges and universities in the US

So far we’ve been looking at specific types of schools. Wondering what the average SAT scores are for all of the top 50 schools in the US? Here are the ranges of the middle 50% of students at the top 50 schools (by admissions rate) in the US:

As a whole, the average SAT scores for the top 50 colleges and universities in the US are 684–751 for Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, 703–782 for Math, and 1387–1533 for total SAT scores . 

A good rule of thumb for anyone who wants to apply to a top-50 school is to aim for SAT section scores in the 700s, with a total score in the 1400s or 1500s .

Don’t see your dream school on this list? Wondering what the average SAT scores are for the rest of the colleges and universities? Check out this list of SAT score ranges at 499 colleges and universities across the country .

Average SAT scores by state

Wondering which state has the highest SAT score?

One answer might be Minnesota, where the average SAT score in 2021 was 626 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, 636 for Math, and 1263 total. This is over 200 points higher than the national average of 1060! Go Minnesota! 

This map shows the average total SAT scores by state. At first glance, it looks like the upper Midwest is really rocking their SATs:

But before we celebrate Minnesota too much. . . it’s actually a bit more complicated!

Some states have very low participation rates for the SAT—hardly any students take the tests. (Note that participation rates have been affected in recent years by the Covid-19 pandemic, and some states that normally have nearly 100% participation are down quite a bit.)

In fact, in Minnesota only 2% of students took the SAT. As we can imagine, this skews the data a lot, because the only students taking the SAT are probably very driven and prepared. 

If we map the participation rates across the US, it looks like this:

We can see that the SAT is most commonly on the East Coast of the US, as well as Illinois, Texas, Colorado, and Idaho, and a bit on the West Coast. This makes sense, since the SAT was first used primarily by selective colleges on the East Coast, while the ACT was traditionally used more by public universities and other regions of the US.

The states with the highest participation rates are those where all high school students are required to take the SAT, like Illinois.

If we look again at the average SAT scores in each states, but only states with a participation rate greater than 10% , then the map looks more like this:

If we include only the states where more than 10% of students took the SAT, then the state with the highest scores is Massachusetts, where the average SAT score in 2021 was 591 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, 593 for Math, and 1184 total .

The differences between states is actually most important for the PSAT, because the cutoffs for National Merit scholarships are determined separately for each state.

Check out the average score for your state here:

Wondering what to do next?

If you’ve never taken the SAT before, try doing a full official SAT practice test at home to get an idea of your score. This tells you where your starting place is.

You can then use our formula to estimate how much you can reasonably expect to increase your SAT scores .

If your scores are lower, it’s easier to increase your score by a bigger amount. If your scores are already in the 700s, then it’s harder to get those final gains.

With your estimated scores, you can already get a sense of where you’d be a competitive candidate—these are schools where your SAT score would be more or less “average,” falling within the middle 50% of students. Taking into account the other aspects of your application, like GPA and extracurriculars, you can start to build your college list .

Next . . . it’s time to raise those SAT scores ! Boosting your test scores is one of the easiest ways to increase your admissions chances. Smart, targeted practice can make a big difference. 

In some cases, you might also want to learn or review math or grammar concepts that you either didn’t cover in high school or have forgotten. (Since the SAT covers material that some students will have covered in their middle school math classes, it’s not uncommon for students to have forgotten how to graph a polynomial function or find the measure of an angle inscribed in a circle.) 

It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the format of the test overall, and there are many test-taking strategies that one can use to take the test more efficiently and avoid trick answers.

Finally, consider whether there are any other factors that affect your test-taking abilities. Do you get nervous on test days? Do you tend to run out of time on a particular section? Do you tend to lose focus after too long trying to read long passages? There are techniques for mitigating all of these and more.

Not sure how to study more effectively, struggling with certain concepts, or just generally want some help?

We’ve helped thousands of students boost their SAT scores with our SAT classes and one-on-one SAT tutoring . We’re happy to chat about your particular challenges .

You also might want to check out the ACT and see which test is a better fit for your strengths. You can read our comparison of the two tests and take a look at our deep dive into average ACT score data .

Once you’ve studied, it’s time to take the test !

Ideally, be strategic about when you schedule your tests.

Many students take the SAT multiple times, with between two to four times being the most common. In between each test date, learn from your experience with the previous test to study more effectively and target problem areas.

Once you know your final SAT score, revise your college list to make sure you have at least two “target” schools (where you’re in the middle 50%) and two “safety” schools (where you’re in the top 25%).

Make sure to pay attention to the other components of your college applications , too—your GPA, college essays, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and interview. Read more about how admissions officers read your application here .

Submit your applications your senior year of high school and relax!

Download SAT score ranges for 499 US colleges and universities

Here’s what you’ll get with this handy resource:

• Middle 50 SAT total scores for the top 499 U.S. colleges and universities
• Middle 50 SAT sectional scores for Reading & Writing and Math
• Admit rate for each college
• All based on the most recent available data (2020)

Emily graduated  summa cum laude  from Princeton University and holds an MA from the University of Notre Dame. She was a National Merit Scholar and has won numerous academic prizes and fellowships. A veteran of the publishing industry, she has helped professors at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton revise their books and articles. Over the last decade, Emily has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay. 

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, what is a good sat score a bad sat score an excellent sat score.

SAT/ACT Score Target

What is a good SAT score? You took the SAT , got your scores back, and now want to know how you did. Or maybe you want to know what score to aim for next time.

In this guide, we discuss how to figure out how your SAT scores stack up against those of all the other test takers . We'll then help you determine what a good SAT score for you is based on the colleges you are interested in. Finally, we provide the SAT score ranges of more than 50 popular schools and discuss what to do if your score turns out to be lower than you expected.

What's a Good SAT Score Compared to the Entire Country?

The SAT score range is 400–1600 for your total score and 200–800 for each of your two section scores . One section score is Math; the other is Reading and Writing.

As you would expect, the higher your score, the better you did compared with all the other test takers . But is there a certain SAT score cutoff that marks a "good" score?

To determine what makes for good SAT scores relative to everyone else's, you need to know exactly how SAT scoring works . Your total score out of 1600 (and each of your two section scores out of 800) corresponds to a percentile ranking . Your SAT percentile tells you what percentage of students you scored the same as or better than . So, for example, if you got a 60th percentile score, you've scored better than 60% of all test takers!

The mean, or average, SAT composite score is 1050. Note that the test is deliberately designed so that the mean score hovers around 1000 on the 1600-point scale—about 500 per section. The average score for Math is 521, and the average score for Reading and Writing is 529.

SAT scores follow a normal distribution. This means that student performance tends to cluster around the middle of the scale (1000 is the halfway point between the minimum score of 400 and the maximum score of 1600 ). Far fewer test takers score toward the higher and lower ends of the scale.

Here's an abbreviated SAT score chart with percentiles for 2022 SAT composite scores so you can check out the score distribution for yourself:

As you can see from the percentiles and corresponding scores, more students score toward the middle of the scale than at the top or bottom .

For example, a score jump from 1000 to 1100 (100 points) moves you from the 45th to the 63rd percentile—so you've moved up past nearly an entire fifth of test takers! But moving 100 points from 1250 to 1350 only brings you up about 10%, from the 81st to the 90th percentile. Finally, moving from 1450 to 1550, a 100-point margin near the top of the scale, nets you only about 3%!

In terms of what makes for good SAT scores based on this chart , you already know that 1050 is about average, so anything above that would be an above-average score. A 1250 places you in the 81st percentile—that is, in the top fifth of test takers—which is very good. A 1350 puts you in the top 10%, making it a strong score. A 1400 is in the 93rd percentile, or the top 7% of all test takers. And any score 1500+ puts you in the coveted top 1%–2%!

By contrast, anything lower than a 1050 is a below-average score . For example, a 950, which is in the 37th percentile, places you in the bottom third of test takers. And a 900, which is in the 29th percentile, places you nearly in the bottom fourth—not so great comparatively.

Here's a chart showing the SAT score percentiles for both the Math and Reading and Writing sections . The distributions are pretty similar, but there are some slight differences.

For example, fewer people do really, really well on Reading and Writing than on Math. You can tell this is the case because a 750 is a 98th percentile score for Reading and Writing, meaning you're in the top 2% of test takers. But that same score is in the 95th percentile for Math, placing you only in the top 5%.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Bonus: Want to get a perfect SAT score? Read our famous guide on how to score a perfect 1600 on the SAT . You'll learn top strategies from the country's leading expert on the SAT, Allen Cheng, a Harvard grad and perfect scorer. No matter your level, you'll find useful advice here - this strategy guide has been read by over 500,000 people.

Read the 1600 SAT guide today and start improving your score.

What's a Good SAT Score for You?

So far, we've discussed how your SAT score and corresponding percentile ranking show how you compare with other test takers. But how well you did compared with everyone else isn't the most important thing for you.

What is more important is what makes a good SAT score for you personally, based on the schools you are interested in .

A 1280 is an 84th percentile score, meaning that you scored the same as or better than 84% of test takers; therefore, this would be a solid score for schools such as Arizona State University (average SAT score: 1245) and Temple University (average SAT score: 1245).

However, it would be a very low score for highly selective institutions , such as MIT , Princeton , Duke , the University of Chicago , and Johns Hopkins .

Of course, not everyone is trying to get into highly selective schools. A score of 1040 (just below the 1050 average) is solid for less selective colleges such as Indiana University Northwest (average SAT score: 1050) and Texas A&M Commerce (average SAT score: 1050).

To sum up, a good SAT score is a score that makes you competitive for the schools you want to attend .

It's also worth noting that the higher your test scores are, the more likely colleges offering merit scholarships are to give one to you. For the purposes of this guide, we're going to focus primarily on figuring out the score you need for admission (not scholarships), but it's something to keep in mind. For more information, check out our guide to scholarships based on SAT and ACT scores .

Another thing to consider is that a high test score can help you get admitted to certain schools if you have a lower GPA than what their typical admits have . (However, this won't help you so much at highly selective institutions—they expect students to have high marks across the board!)

How to Find Your SAT Goal Score: A Five-Step Guide

In this section, we'll walk you through how to figure out what makes a good SAT score for you based on the schools you're applying to . Our quick five-step process requires only a worksheet (linked below), a writing utensil, and an internet-browsing device!

Step 1: Download This Worksheet

First, you'll need to download our worksheet so you can fill it out with information for your schools of interest. Click here to download it , or click the image below.

Step 2: Fill in the Schools You're Applying To

Next, fill in all the schools you want to apply to in the leftmost column . If you don't know what schools you're aiming for yet, feel free to use ones that have been suggested to you by parents, friends, teachers, or counselors.

Nevertheless, I recommend taking the time to do some research on schools you might want to attend first so that you have a realistic SAT goal score. The more your list reflects the schools you actually end up applying to, the more accurate your target score will be.

Step 3: For Each School, Google "[School Name] PrepScholar SAT"

For example, if I'm interested in the University of Alabama, I'd do the following search:

Click on the link to our SAT Scores and GPA page (or our Admission Requirements page—they'll both have the information you need), and scroll down to the 25th- and 75th-percentile composite SAT scores. The 25th–75th percentile range describes the scores of the middle 50% of all students admitted to a particular school.

For the University of Alabama , you'll find that the 25th percentile SAT score is 1060; this means that 25% of admitted students have a score of 1060 on the SAT. That would be a below-average score for admitted students to Alabama.

The 75th percentile SAT score for Alabama is 1280. That means that students with that score did better than 75% of all other admits. In other words, scoring at 1280 or above puts you in the top quarter of admits, giving you a very competitive score for admission!

If you score at or above the 75th percentile for any school, you'll have an excellent chance of getting in (assuming your other credentials are on point for the school). So that's a good SAT score for that school. If you're at the 25th percentile, however, you'll need to have a particularly strong application to boost your odds of getting in.

For each school on your list, Google the PrepScholar SAT score information, and write down the 25th- and 75th-percentile scores in the appropriate row for that school on your goal score sheet.

Step 4: Find Your Final SAT Target Score

To determine your target SAT goal score, look at the 75th percentile column. Find the highest SAT score in that column; that'll be your SAT score goal. By scoring at the 75th-percentile level for the most competitive school on your list, you'll be competitive at all the schools you're applying to. So that's a good SAT score for you!

Another advantage of choosing a high goal score is that if you end up falling 10–50 points short, it's not a huge deal because you'll still be competitive for most of your schools .

You might be thinking, "Hey, wait! Why did I fill out that entire sheet if I was just going to pick the highest 75th percentile score?" Well, the advantage of filling out this information is that you now have it handy as a reference . You'll be able to compare your own SAT score with the 25th–75th percentile ranges of all your schools of interest as soon as you get your scores back .

Step 5: Make Your Goal Known

As a last step, I suggest that you do two things with your target SAT score :

#1: Share it with your parents. This can turn into a helpful conversation about your personal goals and how you want to achieve your target SAT score. Plus, your parents can help hold you accountable throughout the test-prep process!

#2: Tape it to your wall. This will keep your goal score front and center in your mind, encouraging you to stay motivated to keep up with your SAT study schedule .

Here are the scores you need to get five stars on your college applications at some of the top U.S. schools.

Good SAT Scores for Popular Schools

To help you determine your goal score, we're giving you an SAT score chart with the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores for 2022 for over 50 popular schools . I've also provided the current US News ranking and acceptance rate to give you an idea of how selective each school is. All schools are arranged in order of ranking.

For an even longer list, check out our collection of good SAT scores for 101 popular schools .

*Test-optional schools through at least 2024. Check out our article to learn more about test-optional policies and schools! **Test-blind schools. For more information, check out our complete guide !

What If My SAT Score Is Too Low? Three Strategies

What if your SAT score ends up being lower than your goal score? What should you do? In this situation, you have a few options to consider. We'll go over them here and help you figure out which one is best for you.

Strategy 1: Retake the SAT

If you have the time to do additional preparation for the SAT and retake it , this is probably your most straightforward strategy.

That said, keep in mind that if you really want a better SAT score, you'll need to invest a lot of time into prep and really work on shoring up your weaknesses. These are the estimated time estimates for different total score improvements (not per section) on the SAT:

• 0- to 30-point improvement: 10 hours
• 30- to 70-point improvement: 20 hours
• 70- to 130-point improvement: 40 hours
• 130- to 200-point improvement: 80 hours
• 200- to 330-point improvement: 150+ hours

Strategy 2: Don't Worry About It

If you were just under your goal score (i.e., within 50 points), you might not actually need to do anything if that slightly lower score is still competitive . For example, if you were aiming for a 1560 for your most selective school but got a 1530, you'd definitely still be in the competitive range for that school.

Depending on how soon you'll be applying to college, it might make more sense to use the time and energy you'd spend preparing for and retaking the test on other parts of your application.

If you were more than 50 points short of your SAT goal score, consider Strategy 1 or 3.

Strategy 3: Adjust Your List of Schools

If you're 50+ points short of your goal score and don't have time to retake the test, you might need to make some adjustments to your list of schools . Although you definitely should still apply to your dream schools as reach schools , it's wise to pad out your list of match and safety schools to align with the lower scores.

For instance, maybe you were going for 1510 but got 1410 instead. With your goal score, you had NYU (middle 50%: 1370–1510) as one of your match schools. But with an actual score of 1410, this school is now more of a reach (its 75th percentile is more than 50 points higher than your score).

You also had Lehigh University (middle 50%: 1300–1430) as a safety school, but with your current score, it's better as a match school.

Finally, you might consider adding some additional safety schools that align better with your 1410 score, such as American University (middle 50%: 1220–1380) and Penn State (middle 50%: 1160–1370).

Read our guide to learn more about choosing appropriate safety, match, and reach schools .

Review: What Is a Good SAT Score for You?

So what are good SAT scores? Your total SAT score out of 1600 corresponds to a percentile ranking that compares you to everyone else who took the test. The current mean, or average, SAT score is 1050.

What is a good SAT score for you, though? The answer to this question depends on what schools you want to attend. In this article, we described a five-step process to figure out good SAT scores for you based on the middle 50% of scores for the colleges you're applying to. We also listed SAT score ranges for 50 popular schools.

Finally, we provided some advice on what to do if you don't hit your goal score. You can retake the test, do nothing (if you were pretty close to your goal score), or adjust your list of schools based on what kinds of SAT scores they're looking for.

All in all, what is a good SAT score? The most important thing to remember is that good SAT scores are specific to you . You won't necessarily need the same scores as your friends or peers, so don't feel the need to compare your goals with those of other people. What ultimately matters is that your SAT score is high enough to get you into the college of your dreams!

What's Next?

If you received a low SAT score, we have a low score guide ! We can also help you figure out whether or not you should retake the SAT .

Aiming for a high SAT score? Then check out our expert guide to getting a perfect 1600 , written by an actual full scorer.

Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Fred is co-founder of PrepScholar. He scored a perfect score on the SAT and is passionate about sharing information with aspiring students. Fred graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor's in Mathematics and a PhD in Economics.

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Understanding your digital sat score: the complete guide.

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a standardized exam used by colleges and universities to assess applicants’ readiness for college-level work. In 2024, the SAT will transition from a paper-based test to a digital, computer-based exam known as the digital SAT. This shift brings some changes to the test format, administration, and scoring.

As you prepare for the digital SAT, it’s crucial to understand how your scores will be calculated and reported. This guide provides an in-depth look at digital SAT scores – from the scoring process and scale to score reports and what your results mean for college admissions.

• 10 Key Takeaways
• The digital SAT has two main sections: Reading/Writing and Math.
• Scores range from 200-800 for each section, with a total score between 400-1600.
• Raw scores (number correct) are converted to scaled scores through equating.
• Adaptive testing and section time limits are key changes with the digital format.
• Score scales and ranges allow you to assess your performance and percentiles.
• Equating accounts for differences in test difficulty across various forms.
• Score reports provide detailed breakdowns of your skills and areas to improve.
• Sending scores to colleges is important for applications; research requirements.
• A “good” SAT score depends on your goals but 1200+ is generally strong.
• Your SAT score is one part of your application; other factors matter too.

How Digital SAT Scores Are Calculated

Reading and writing section, math section, key differences in digital sat scoring, understanding the digital sat score scale, 1. reading and writing, 3. total score, key differences between raw and scaled scores, converting raw scores to scaled scores, section scores, total score, what makes a good sat score, viewing your scores, sending scores to colleges, analyzing your performance, your digital sat score and college admissions, preparing for success on the digital sat.

The digital SAT, like the current paper-based test, will have two main sections:

• Reading and Writing

Within each section, there are two modules with an equal number of questions and timing.

The Reading and Writing section assesses your:

• Reading comprehension
• Command of evidence
• Knowledge of words in context
• Expression of ideas
• Standard English conventions

It consists of passages to read and interpret along with grammar, vocabulary, and language usage questions.

The Math section evaluates your:

• Mathematical reasoning
• Problem-solving
• Data analysis skills

It includes multiple choice and student-produced response questions covering areas like algebra, advanced math, and additional topics.

Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answer correctly in each section. There is no penalty for incorrect or omitted answers.

These raw scores are then converted to scaled scores ranging from 200-800 for each section. The scaled scores account for differences in difficulty across various exam forms through a statistical process called equating .

Finally, your total SAT score combines your scaled scores from the two sections. It ranges from 400-1600.

While the basic scoring approach remains consistent, the digital SAT introduces some enhancements:

• Section time limits  – Each section now has a specified time, allowing you to focus on one section at a time.
• Adaptive testing  – The difficulty level adapts based on your performance. Answering harder questions correctly can raise your score.
• No essay  – The optional SAT essay has been removed entirely.
• Combined sections  – Reading and Writing are now one combined score rather than two separate scores.

The digital SAT score scale allows you to assess your performance based on scaled scores for each section and your total score:

• Section scores  range from 200-800
• The  total score  combines the two section scores and ranges from 400-1600

This table provides an overview of the main score ranges:

Understanding the score scale helps you determine how your performance compares to other test takers nationwide.

Now let’s break down the specific scoring process for each digital SAT section:

• You receive a  raw score  based on the number of questions answered correctly.
• The raw score is  converted  to a scaled score from 200-800 through equating.
• Your scaled score reflects your skills in areas like reading, analysis, grammar, and writing.
• You receive a  raw score  based on correct answers.
• This raw score is  converted  to a scaled score from 200-800 through equating.
• Your scaled score reflects your mathematical reasoning and quantitative skills.
• Your section scaled scores are  combined  to determine your total SAT score.
• The maximum total score is 1600, averaging the two section scores.

It’s helpful to understand the distinction between raw scores and scaled scores:

• Raw scores  are the simple number of correct answers per section.
• Scaled scores  account for test form difficulty through equating and range from 200-800.
• Raw scores are never directly reported. Only scaled scores and total scores are provided.
• Scaled scores enable fair comparisons across different test administrations.

After taking the digital SAT, your raw scores must be converted to scaled scores. This is done through equating , using statistical techniques and test data to account for differences in test form difficulty.

The College Board releases official score conversion tables to show the mapping of raw scores to scaled scores for each section. Referring to these tables allows you to gauge your scaled scores based on your raw scores.

Minor variations in scaled scores may occur between forms due to slight differences in question difficulty. But equating ensures an equal level of performance results in the same scaled score on any version of the test.

Score Ranges for the Digital SAT

Understanding the score ranges for the digital SAT helps you interpret your results:

• Each section (Reading/Writing, Math) receives a scaled score between 200-800.
• A maximum section score of 800 reflects a perfect performance.
• Your total score combines the section scores, ranging from 400-1600.
• The maximum total score is 1600, averaging 800 on each section.

A “good” SAT score depends on your individual goals and the colleges you plan to apply to. However, here are some general SAT score benchmarks:

• The current  average SAT score  is around 1050-1060.
• A score above  1200  is generally considered quite strong.
• Top tier colleges often look for scores of  1400  or higher.
• A perfect SAT score is  1600 , with 800 on each section.

Always check the score ranges and averages for your target schools to determine your target scores. The digital SAT scales will align similarly to the current paper-based test.

Accessing and Understanding Your Digital SAT Score Report

Once you complete the digital SAT, you’ll be eager to get your scores! Here’s what you need to know:

• Scores are released online through your College Board account, typically in 2-3 weeks.
• Your report will include section scores, test scores, percentiles, and more.
• You can send scores to colleges directly through College Board for free initially.
• Research each college’s requirements and deadlines for score reporting.
• Review your strengths and weaknesses using the test interpretation tools.
• Compare your percentiles to understand how you did relative to others.
• Identify areas to focus on improving if you plan to retake the test.

While your digital SAT score is important for college applications, it’s not the only factor admissions officers consider. Contextual factors like your:

• High school grades and course rigor
• Extracurricular activities
• Personal essay and letters of recommendation
• Interview skills (if required)

also play a significant role. Aim for SAT scores aligned with your target schools, but remember that your digital SAT score is just one piece of your application profile.

To achieve your best possible score on the digital SAT:

• Take full-length practice tests  to get comfortable with the format and timing.
• Use TutorWand and get 10+ Full Length Mock Test at 70% OFF with Coupon Code – SATOCTOBER
• Focus on your weak areas  by using the detailed score reports to tailor your study plan.
• Practice questions  that adjust difficulty based on your performance.
• Simulate test day conditions  with a digital practice test experience.

With proper preparation, you can feel confident tackling the digital SAT and earning scores that will strengthen your college applications!

To study for the Digital SAT and gain Real Exam Experience , use the TutorWand Adaptive Platform , which includes 10+ Full Length Mock Tests and Topic Wise Unit Tests .

You will also receive AI-analyzed reports for your practice exam, which will include a full breakdown of all the questions you answered as well as a detailed explanation of each question and its correct answer .

We have posts on Digital SAT topics such as Important Tips and Tricks that will aid you on the exam.

5 Replies to “Understanding Your Digital SAT Score: The Complete Guide”

Hi Is it possible to bank a good reading and writing score then do a resit to improve a maths score.

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Even their biggest proponents acknowledge that standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT are imperfect tools for university admission. Expensive test prep can give affluent students a significant leg up. Critics have attacked some questions as culturally biased.

But in recent months, a handful of well-regarded universities have decided to once again require the tests after a COVID-induced suspension led as many as 2,000 schools to make them optional. Universities such as Dartmouth, MIT, Georgetown and Yale say they now believe that assessment testing is key to something crucial — helping schools identify promising students who might otherwise fly under their admissions radar.

We’re talking about the low-income student whose SAT score is 400 points higher than his school’s average. Or the student whose GPA suffered from family issues, but who still managed to ace the test.

“With a test-optional policy ... we were unintentionally overlooking applicants from less-resourced backgrounds who could thrive here,’’ wrote Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock, a cognitive scientist who said that will change starting next year.

Mercifully, optional testing was never an issue in Florida because state schools never dropped the requirement. In fact, Florida has actually added a testing option since COVID — the conservative and Christian-backed Classic Learning Test, which focuses on the classical Western and Christian canon.

State leaders were right to be stubborn (at least about the ACT and SAT). When combined with other traditional tools such as grade point average, student essays and teacher recommendations, standardized tests allow for a fairer, more holistic evaluation of applicants.

We’re not trying to criticize the many schools that went to optional testing after COVID began ripping through the nation four years ago. Most testing centers had to be closed because of social distancing. And given the already existing concerns about standardized tests, the path of least resistance clearly was to leave the testing decision up to students, who were told they could submit a score if they thought it would help but would not be penalized if they didn’t.

Dartmouth’s experience illustrates why that probably wasn’t the best move. When Beilock became president last year at the New Hampshire university, an Ivy League school that typically accepts about 6% of freshmen applicants, she asked for an internal study on standardized testing. She told The New York Times there were two main findings, one surprising and one not.

The not surprising: that test scores were a better predictor than grades, essays and teacher recommendations of academic success at Dartmouth. But researchers said their analysis of test score data also showed something unexpected — that lower-income students were withholding test scores that would have helped them get in.

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The applicants thought their scores were too low, when admissions officers would have seen them as evidence they had overcome social and financial obstacles. Beilock said the analysis didn’t support claims that the tests are racially or economically biased.

“The research suggests this tool is helpful in finding students we might otherwise miss,’’ she told the Times.

That sounds like a win for everyone.

Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news.

Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty.

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Harvard and Caltech Will Require Test Scores for Admission

The universities are the latest highly selective schools to end their policies that made submitting SAT or ACT scores optional.

By Anemona Hartocollis and Stephanie Saul

Harvard will reinstate standardized testing as a requirement of admission, the university announced Thursday, becoming the latest in a series of highly competitive universities to reverse their test-optional policies.

Students applying to enter Harvard in fall 2025 and beyond will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores, though the university said a few other test scores will be accepted in “exceptional cases,” including Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests. The university had previously said it was going to keep its test-optional policy through the entering class of fall 2026.

Within hours of Harvard’s announcement, Caltech, a science and engineering institute, also said it was reinstating its testing requirements for students applying for admission in fall 2025.

The schools had been among nearly 2,000 colleges across the country that dropped test score requirements over the last few years, a trend that escalated during the pandemic when it was harder for students to get to test sites.

Dropping test score requirements was widely viewed as a tool to help diversify admissions, by encouraging poor and underrepresented students who had potential but did not score well on the tests to apply. But supporters of the tests have said without scores, it became harder to identify promising students who outperformed in their environments.

In explaining its decision to accelerate the return to testing, Harvard cited a study by Opportunity Insights , which found that test scores were a better predictor of academic success in college than high school grades and that they can help admissions officers identify highly talented students from low income groups who might otherwise had gone unnoticed.

“Standardized tests are a means for all students, regardless of their background and life experience, to provide information that is predictive of success in college and beyond,” Hopi Hoekstra, dean of the faculty of arts and sciences, said in a statement announcing the move.

“In short, more information, especially such strongly predictive information, is valuable for identifying talent from across the socioeconomic range,” she added.

Caltech, in Pasadena, Calif., said that reinstating testing requirements reaffirmed the school’s “commitment as a community of scientists and engineers to using all relevant data in its decision-making processes.”

Harvard and Caltech join a growing number of schools, notable for their selectivity, that have since reversed their policies, including Brown, Yale, Dartmouth, M.I.T., Georgetown, Purdue and the University of Texas at Austin.

For Harvard, the move comes at a time of transition, and perhaps a return to more conservative policies.

Last June, the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious college admissions in cases involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina, raising fears that with the demise of affirmative action, those schools would become less diverse.

And in January, Harvard’s first Black president, Claudine Gay, resigned under pressure from critics who said she had not acted strongly enough to combat antisemitism on campus after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, and under mounting accusations of plagiarism in her academic work, which she stood by.

The provost, Alan Garber, was named interim president, while the dean of the law school, John Manning, became interim provost, the university’s second-highest administrative position. Mr. Manning is considered a strong potential candidate to replace Dr. Gay. His background stands out for his conservative associations, having clerked for the former Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia.

In the current climate on campus, a return to test scores could be seen as a return to tradition. It also may address concerns of many parents that the college admissions process, especially in elite institutions, is inscrutable and disconnected from merit.

Applications to Harvard were down by 5 percent this year, while those at many of its peer universities went up, suggesting that the recent turmoil may have dented its reputation. But it still received a staggering number of undergraduate applications — 54,008 — and admitted only 3.6 percent. Requiring test scores could make sorting through applications more manageable.

Critics of standardized tests have long raised concerns that the tests helped fuel inequality because some wealthier students raised their scores through high-priced tutoring. But recent studies have found that test scores help predict college grades, chances of graduation and post-college success, and that test scores are more reliable than high school grades, partly because of grade inflation in recent years .

But Robert Schaeffer, director of public education at FairTest, an organization that opposes standardized testing, said Thursday that the Opportunity Insights analysis had been criticized by other researchers. “Those scholars say that when you eliminate the role of wealth, test scores are not better than high school G.P.A.,” he said, adding that it is not clear whether that pattern is true among the admissions pool at super selective colleges such as Harvard.

Mr. Schaeffer said that at least 1,850 universities remain test optional, including Michigan, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and Syracuse, which have recently extended their policies. “The vast majority of colleges will not require test scores.” An exception, he said, could be the University of North Carolina system, which is considering a plan to require tests, but only for those students with a G.P.A. below 2.8.

Acknowledging the concerns of critics, Harvard said that it would reassess the new policy regularly. The school said that test scores would be considered along with other information about an applicant’s experience, skills, talents, contributions to communities and references. They will also be looked at in the context of how other students are doing at the same high school.

“Admissions officers understand that not all students attend well-resourced schools, and those who come from modest economic backgrounds or first-generation college families may have had fewer opportunities to prepare for standardized tests,” William R. Fitzsimmons, Harvard’s dean of admissions and financial aid, said in a statement.

Harvard said that in the interest of selecting a diverse student body, it has enhanced financial aid and stepped up recruitment of underserved students by joining a consortium of 30 public and private universities that recruits students from rural communities.

An earlier version of this article misstated Robert Schaeffer’s position. He is the director of public education at FairTest, not the director.

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Anemona Hartocollis is a national reporter for The Times, covering higher education. More about Anemona Hartocollis

Stephanie Saul reports on colleges and universities, with a recent focus on the dramatic changes in college admissions and the debate around diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. More about Stephanie Saul