What Are SAT Score Percentiles?

SAT score percentiles are a way to compare a student's SAT score to the scores of other students who have taken the test. A percentile rank indicates the percentage of test takers who scored at or below a particular score. For example, a student who scores in the 90th percentile has a higher score than 90% of test takers.

The College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, regularly releases percentile ranks for the test. These percentiles are based on the scores of all students who took the test in a particular year, including graduating high school seniors and undergraduates. It is worth noting that SAT score percentiles can change from year to year and from test to test depending on the difficulty level of the test and the pool of test takers. Percentile ranks are also available for the individual sections of the test.

Colleges and Universities use the SAT score percentiles and other factors like GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays to evaluate the applicant's profile. A high SAT score percentile is not the only parameter for college admission, but it can be important.

Different SAT score percentiles

Your SAT score report contains two types of percentiles displayed. First, your overall SAT score percentile is divided into types - the Nationally Representative Sample Percentile and the SAT User Percentile. These divisions help compare student scores and performances based on two reference populations.

Nationally Representative Sample Percentiles

The College Board regularly releases SAT score percentiles for the test, including the scores of all students who took the test in a particular year. These percentiles are based on a nationally representative sample of students who take the test, reflecting the scores of students from all diverse backgrounds and geographic regions. Here are some general SAT score percentiles for reference based on a nationally representative sample:

99th percentile: 1400 and above

98th percentile: 1390 and above

96th percentile: 1350 and above

90th percentile: 1320 and above

80th percentile: 1290 and above

70th percentile: 1250 and above

60th percentile: 1210 and above

50th percentile (average): 1060

40th percentile: 1000 and below

30th percentile: 960 and below

20th percentile: 920 and below

10th percentile: 880 and below

It is important to note that these SAT score percentiles are based on the scores of students in a nationally representative sample, so it is different from the percentiles based on the scores of all students who take the test in a particular year.

SAT User Percentile

The SAT User Percentile is a score comparison tool provided by the College Board, which administers the SAT. It is based on the scores of students who have taken the SAT, such as those in a high school, school district, or state. The User Percentile compares a student's score to the scores of other students in that specific group rather than all students who have taken the SAT.

The User Percentile is intended to provide context for a student's score and help them understand how their performance compares to that of their peers. It also allows educators, counselors, and other school officials to track and compare their students' performance over time.

To calculate the User Percentile, the College Board takes the scores of all students in the selected group who took the test and arranged them from highest to lowest. The student's percentile rank is then determined by the percentage of test takers who scored at or below their score. For example, if a student scores in the 80th percentile, 80% of that specific group scored at or below that student's score.



Good SAT score percentile to get admission.

A good SAT score percentile can vary depending on the colleges you are applying to and their admissions requirements. A higher percentile is considered better, meaning you scored higher than a greater percentage of test-takers. SAT score percentiles vary for different colleges. But each college will have a 25th, 75th, and average SAT score percentile.

25th SAT score percentile: The 25th percentile for SAT scores is typically around 1050-1100. This means that 25% of test takers scored at or below this score. However, the exact score can vary depending on the test date and the specific group of test takers (e.g., by gender, race, geographic region, etc.).

75th SAT score percentile: The 75th percentile for SAT scores is typically around 1250-1300. 75% of test takers scored at or below this score.

Average SAT score percentile: The average SAT score is around 1100-1200, but the specific score can vary depending on the test date and the specific group of test takers (e.g., by gender, race, geographic region, etc.). In terms of percentile, an average SAT score typically falls around the 50th percentile, which means that 50% of test takers scored at or below that score.

To get accepted to Ivy League Colleges

For admission to Ivy League schools, it is recommended to have an SAT score percentile in the 98th (around 1500) or higher. However, it is important to note that a high SAT score alone does not guarantee admission to an Ivy League school. Other factors such as grades, extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and interviews also play a significant role in the admissions process.

To get accepted to colleges other than Ivy Leagues

In comparison, for most other colleges and universities, a score in the 75th SAT score percentile (around 1250-1300) or higher is considered a good and competitive SAT score. However, the most important thing is to check the SAT score range of the colleges you are applying to, as each college will have different SAT score expectations and ranges.

It is important to note that SAT score percentile is not the sole factor considered during admissions. SAT/ACT scores, GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and interviews are vital in admissions.

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