What Are Average SAT Scores?
Before you take the SAT or start studying, you will want to know what the average SAT scores are. This will give you an idea of what you should aim for and get above. Above-average SAT scores are possible and it is something that you want to achieve.
How SAT Scores Are Created
Before you can look at the average SAT scores, you need to know how the scores are calculated. The score range for the SAT is 400 to 1600 as a total. You will also have a range of 200 to 800 for each of the section scores. The one section is math while the other is a combined reading and writing score. The second score is the EBRW score.
What Are The Averages?
The average SAT score for the entire country is 1068. It is important to note that the average does change each year, but this score will hover around the 1000-point mark. With this average, you are looking at getting around 500 points per section.
When you look at each of the sections, the average for math is 531 and the EBRW is 536. As with the total score, these averages will vary depending on the year and how all students have done. However, they will never fall below the 500-point mark.
Most of the students who take the SAT will core in the middle of the score scale. It is also important to note that your score will relate to a percentile ranking. When looking at percentiles, if you have a 60th percentile score it means that you have done better than 60% of all students taking the SAT.
What Is A Good SAT Score?
Know that you know what the average scores are, you should consider what a good score will be. A score that is lower than 1070 is generally considered to be below average. This is something that you want to avoid because a 950 will land you in the 31st percentile. This means that you are in the bottom 31% of all students across the country.
Ideally, you will be looking to score more than 1070. This will be an above-average score which is good for most students. However, if you are able to score a 1250, you will be in the 81st percentile which means that you have scored better than 81% of students.
When it comes to the math and EBRW section scores, more people do well in math. This affects the percentile scoring which is something that you need to consider. A good score for math will be around 600 as this places you in the 61st percentile. A good score for EBRW will also be 600, but this places you in the 72nd percentile.
Before you start studying for the SAT, you need to know what the average score is. This will ensure that you have a base score to work toward. Scoring higher will always be better than the average is what you should focus on as this will give you a better transcript.