Average SAT Score
Achieving an above average SAT score can open many doors in your scholastic future.
The SAT Reasoning Test is a national college admissions test that analyzes a soon to be graduated high school student’s knowledge of four key subject categories, which are critical reasoning, mathematics, and writing. The writing sample portion of the test was introduced in 2006. Overall, the SAT takes 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete. SAT scores are accepted for admissions by most 4 year universities and colleges, but the test results aren’t always required for admission.
Overall, just under half of all graduating high school student take the SAT each year. Students who live along the Eastern seaboard are far more likely to take the SAT than students who live in the Midwest. In Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York, over 80% of all graduating students take the SAT. In Midwestern states such as Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska, less than 10% of all graduating students take the SAT. In the Midwest, students are far more likely to take the ACT.
Average SAT Scores For Universities
Having the ability to outperform average SAT scores for universities will help to secure the success of your acceptance at a scholastic institution of your choice. Other factors also include possessing a high GPA, top class rank and completing a difficult curriculum.
Currently the SAT test is out of 2,400 points, which is evenly weighted between the three key sections. The writing section is rather new and is not required by all schools, so many SAT scores are still reflected as being out of 1,600 points.
In 2007, the average SAT score was just over 1,500 (out of 2,400). The range of SAT scores is significant.
- Less than .02% of all test takers achieve an SAT score of 2,400.
- The top 1% of all test takers have an average score of 2,290 or greater.
- To be in the top 10%, a SAT score of 1,950 is needed.
- Approximately 45% of all test takers have average SAT scores between 1,400 and 1770.
- The lowest possible SAT score is around 500, although less than 1% of all test takers score below 790.
- Less than 15% of all test takers score below 1,200.
The average SAT score, based on a 2,400 point scale, seems to be directly correlated with high school grade point averages. Students who had A+ GPAs in high school have an average SAT score of 1,817. Students with an A average in high school average a score of 1,715. Students with a B average in high school average a score of 1,432 on the SAT. Students with a C average in high school average a score of 1,248 on the SAT.
Minimum SAT Score
The minimum average scores required for admittance to most schools fluctuates greatly. The average SAT score required by most IVY leagues schools is at least 1,900, although exceptions are made frequently. Most public universities will require SAT scores to be within the top 80% of all students. If a test taker does not achieve favorable results in high school, they can attend a junior college for a year to prove themselves academically. After a successful year in junior college, the SAT score becomes less important for admissions.