High School Students

Understanding SAT Score Percentiles

College and university admissions officers also focus on SAT score percentiles. Therefore, knowing your SAT percentiles is an important aspect of the preparation process. Do you really know what SAT percentiles mean?

This article will explore percentiles in an effort to shed some light on a sometimes confusing topic. Hopefully, you will understand the way percentiles come into play with undergraduate admission and should you have a projected SAT score of your own handy you will probably be able to determine your own percentile.

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What Are SAT Score Percentiles?

In addition to the composite score you get on the SAT (i.e., that number between 400 and 1600), you’ll get a percentile ranking ranging from 1 to 99. The SAT gives you a percentile ranking for your overall composite score as well as for each of the two section scores: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math.

Your percentile tells you how you did on the SAT compared with everyone else who took the test.

Your percentile score is not like a grade out of 100. For instance, getting a percentile of 90 doesn’t mean you got exactly 90% of the questions right. It just means that compared with everyone who took the SAT, you scored higher than 90% of them.

How are Percentiles useful?

SAT Percentiles Chart – Ranking for Total Score (2021-2022)

Total Score (1600-1190)	Nationally Representative Sample	SAT User
1600	99+	99+
1590	99+	99+
1580	99+	99+
1570	99+	99+
1560	99+	99+
1550	99+	99
1540	99+	99
1530	99+	99
1520	99+	99
1510	99	98
1500	99	98
1490	99	98
1480	99	97
1470	99	97
1460	99	97
1450	99	96
1440	98	96
1430	98	95
1420	98	95
1410	97	94
1400	97	94
1390	97	93
1380	96	92
1370	96	92
1360	95	91
1350	94	90
1340	94	89
1330	93	89
1320	93	88
1310	92	87
1300	91	86
1290	90	85
1280	89	84
1270	88	83
1260	87	82
1250	86	81
1240	85	80
1230	84	78
1220	83	77
1210	82	76
1200	81	74
1190	80	73

Colleges use percentiles to compare you with other students. Getting an SAT score in the 90th percentile would make you competitive for many schools since you scored better than 90% of students nationwide.

Paying attention to your percentile ranking and composite score can give you the best idea of your performance and help you make strategic choices about colleges to apply to.

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What Are the Percentile Ranges for the SAT?

OK, so you get that percentile rankings are essential. But if you haven’t taken the SAT yet or have taken it and plan to retake it, what composite SAT score should you shoot for to get a specific percentile ranking?

Luckily, the College Board releases data about composite scores and matching percentile rankings to help you figure this out. These numbers change slightly yearly, but we have the most recent info from 2018. We’ve summarized the SAT percentile ranges here in a percentile chart. Just find your score to see your estimated percentile.

In the end, raising your percentile is dependent on a higher score. So instead of worrying about where you may line up in terms of a percentage, try to focus on effective test-day strategies and techniques that will increase and expand your already impressive score. Study hard, stay the course, and don’t forget that knowledge is power. Knowing your percentile and checking in with it every so often as you take mock SAT exams will help bring you insight and clarity into your path forward.