What is a good SAT score and how is it calculated?
Soumya Joy | Mar 29, 2019, 13:54 IST
Anybody who has appeared for the SAT test, knows for a fact that a good SAT score determines the students’ credibility to get into the desired college and universities. Thus, higher your SAT score, the greater are your chances to get into the top ranked colleges.
What is a good SAT score?
The SAT has two sections - Mathematics and Reading/Writing, both of which are scored on a scale from 200 to 800. To get into one of the top 100 selective schools, you must have a composite SAT score of at minimum 1200, preferably 1400 or more. Composite SAT scores of more than 1400 are taken as the top five percent of test takers.
Percentile rank is a number between 1 and 99, giving a brief about how you have scored as compared to other students. It further represents the percentage of students whose scores fall at or below your score.
Further, you need to know that a good SAT score does not really guarantee you admission to any of the top schools, because the ultimate admission depends on more than just grades and test scores.
But top test scores do lead to merit scholarships in some selected schools. Some universities and colleges around the world award merit scholarships based on the GPA earned in high school and admission test scores to recruit only the academically talented students. For more information, please check out this list. In India, students who score 1350 or higher will be recognized as SAT India Top Performers and will be eligible for scholarship.
College Board India Scholars Program
Scholarships available to ALL students.
Note: To receive scholarship award, students must apply and enroll at a participating India Global Alliance member university.
How is SAT score calculated?
To get a better insight, take a look at the break-up of the SAT score report and find out what the numbers mean.
SAT Score Structure
SAT Score Structure Break-Up in Detail
What is a good SAT score?
The SAT has two sections - Mathematics and Reading/Writing, both of which are scored on a scale from 200 to 800. To get into one of the top 100 selective schools, you must have a composite SAT score of at minimum 1200, preferably 1400 or more. Composite SAT scores of more than 1400 are taken as the top five percent of test takers.
Further, you need to know that a good SAT score does not really guarantee you admission to any of the top schools, because the ultimate admission depends on more than just grades and test scores.
But top test scores do lead to merit scholarships in some selected schools. Some universities and colleges around the world award merit scholarships based on the GPA earned in high school and admission test scores to recruit only the academically talented students. For more information, please check out this list. In India, students who score 1350 or higher will be recognized as SAT India Top Performers and will be eligible for scholarship.
College Board India Scholars Program
Scholarships available to ALL students.
| Merit Scholarships | Merit-Cum-Need Scholarships |
| Annual household income > INR 4,00,000 | Annual household income < INR 4,00,000 |
| Take the SAT in Class 12 | Take the SAT in Class 12 |
| SAT Score : 1350+ | SAT Score : 1350+ |
| Award: Various amount towards College Tuition for each year of programme of study, based on India Global Alliance member university’s decision. | Award: 100% College Tuition (for each year of programme of study) |
Note: To receive scholarship award, students must apply and enroll at a participating India Global Alliance member university.
How is SAT score calculated?
To get a better insight, take a look at the break-up of the SAT score report and find out what the numbers mean.
SAT Score Structure
- Total score: 400–1600
- Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section: 200–800
- Math Section: 200–800
- SAT Essay: Three scores ranging from 2–8
SAT Score Structure Break-Up in Detail
| SAT Score Reported | Details | Score Range |
| Total score | Sum of the two section scores | 400–1600 |
| Section scores (2) | Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math | 200–800 |
| Test scores (3) | Reading, Writing and Language and Math | 10–40 |
| SAT Essay scores (3) (Optional) | Reading, Analysis and Writing | 2–8 |
| Cross-test scores (2) | Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science. Based on selected questions in the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Tests. These scores show how well you use your skills to analyze texts and solve problems in these subject areas. | 10–40 |
| Subscores (7) | Reading and Writing and Language: Command of Evidence and Words in Context. Writing and Language: Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions. Math: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math. | 1–15 |
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