Average SAT Scores and Percentile

To be frank, the most important part of the SAT test is your SAT score. Everyone wonders what an average SAT score is and what he needs to get into a certain college.

Quick Answer

An average SAT score is about 1500, or put differently about a score of 500 on the Writing, Math, and Critical Reading sections.

Somewhere in the Middle

An average score means 50th percentile, so if you earn an average score, about 50 percent of test takers will have SAT scores lower than yours and 50 percent of test takers will have scores higher than yours. A score of this level fulfills the minimum requirement for most state colleges and universities.

More Selective Universities

However, if you're interested in applying to the nation's top universities, most applicants have a score in the 90th percentile or above. This means you should have a score of 2100 or higher. Keep in mind that an SAT score at this level won't automatically earn you an acceptance letter, but a high SAT score will certainly help your application look better!

On the other side, a lower SAT score doesn't necessarily mean you won't be able to get into a good university or college since your application is comprised of your SAT score, GPA, extra-curricular activities, and statement of interest.

StudyBeans Tip

Now you know what kind of score you need to get into your prospective universities, so go for it! Don't forget though to work hard on the rest of your college application (i.e. GPA, extra-currics, and statement of interest).