Your SAT score can range anywhere from a 600 on the very lowest end, to a 2400 on the very highest end since each SAT section (Critical Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) is worth between 200 and 800 points a piece.
The average overall score (50th percentile) in the United States for 2012 was a 1498:
- Critical Reading: 496
- Math: 514
- Writing: 488
If you want to get into one of the top-ranking schools in the U.S., you’ll need to score around the 90th percentile, which would mean a score of 2100 or above. That sounds high, but since all universities look at things like your extracurricular activities, GPA, and school involvement in addition to your scores, getting into college isn’t as difficult as it may seem.
Plus, students who take the test multiple times can actually choose which scores are reported to the universities with an option called Score Choice, so they’ll have the ability to knock out the scores that didn’t make the cut. And retaking the SAT gives you a chance to improve your SAT score quite a bit since you'll learn from your mistakes.
Related:
Average SAT scores for Ivy League Schools
Average SAT Scores for Top Public Universities By Region
Average SAT Scores for Top Private Universities by Region
Should You Take the ACT or the SAT?
