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.

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.

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