A good SAT score depends on your target colleges and your overall profile. Here’s a concise framework to aim for a score that strengthens your applications in 2025. What counts as a “good” score
- For most selective colleges (roughly top 25–50 nationally), a total score in the 1400–1500 range is competitive with strong high school performance, especially if your GPA, coursework rigor, and extracurriculars are solid. A 1500+ is often considered very strong for highly selective programs. Keep in mind that individual colleges may vary in how they view SAT scores, and many schools also emphasize other strengths in the applicant pool.
- For highly selective institutions (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, similar), a 1550–1600 is ideal if aiming to stand out, but the majority of admitted students still come with a mix of high scores and standout non-score attributes. A sub-1400 can be salvageable if other components are exceptional, but it may limit options at the most selective schools.
- Some schools have test-optional policies or place less emphasis on the SAT; in those cases, the score may be less critical, though still part of the overall profile.
How to set a target
- Research target schools: look at the reported middle-50% SAT scores for admitted students and aim to be within or above that range.
- Consider your section strengths: a balanced 700–800 in math and 700–780 in evidence-based reading and writing (ERW) often yields a strong composite around 1400–1500.
- Include superscored or single-test strategies if available: know whether your target schools superscore their admitted score or consider your best single test.
Practical targets by profile (general guidance)
- If you’re aiming for broad admission in decent public universities: 1260–1340 (old scale) or 1200–1350 (new 1600 scale) can be reasonable, depending on state and program competitiveness.
- If you want to strengthen top public or selective private options: 1400–1500 is a safer, widely competitive target.
- If you’re targeting the most selective schools: 1520–1600 is the sweet spot, with a clear emphasis on other strengths to complement the score.
Other considerations
- Test-optional era nuances: many selective colleges still review scores when submitted, but some allow you to omit them entirely. If your score is below your target schools’ typical range, you may still be fine if your other credentials are outstanding.
- Score reports include percentile context: higher percentiles indicate your score relative to peers, which can be a useful benchmark.
- Subscores and test design: analyze your section-level performance to guide future study if you plan a retake.
If you’d like, share your target colleges or your current practice-test scores, and the context of your GPA and activities. It can help tailor a precise score goal and a plan to reach it.
