SAT percentiles: how your score compares
An SAT percentile is the share of students who scored at or below a given score. College Board publishes two kinds: user percentiles, based on the actual scores of students who graduated in the past three school years, and nationally representative percentiles, weighted to represent all U.S. 11th and 12th graders whether or not they take the SAT.[1] User percentiles are the fairer comparison with other applicants.
| Total score | User percentile | Nationally representative |
|---|---|---|
| 1600 | 99+ | 99+ |
| 1550 | 99 | 99+ |
| 1500 | 97 | 99 |
| 1450 | 95 | 99 |
| 1400 | 93 | 97 |
| 1350 | 89 | 94 |
| 1300 | 85 | 91 |
| 1250 | 80 | 86 |
| 1200 | 75 | 81 |
| 1150 | 69 | 74 |
| 1100 | 62 | 67 |
| 1050 | 55 | 58 |
| 1000 | 47 | 48 |
| 950 | 39 | 38 |
| 900 | 32 | 29 |
| 850 | 24 | 21 |
| 800 | 17 | 14 |
Read across from your score. A 1350 is at the 89th user percentile: 89% of recent SAT takers scored the same or lower. College Board’s page does not give the years behind each table, so treat the numbers as close guides, not exact ranks.[1]
The average SAT score in 2026
The average SAT score for the class of 2026 was 1045: 528 in Reading and Writing and 517 in Math, across 1,954,833 test takers.[2] The class of 2025 averaged 1029.[3]
| Class | Test takers | Total | Reading and Writing | Math | Met both benchmarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,954,833 | 1045 | 528 | 517 | 42% |
| 2025 | 2,004,965 | 1029 | 521 | 508 | 39% |
College Board also sets college and career readiness benchmarks: 480 in Reading and Writing and 530 in Math.[4] In the class of 2026, 42% met both.[2]
Good section scores
Section percentiles are not identical for the two halves of the test, so the same number can mean slightly different things in Reading and Writing and in Math.[1]
| Section score | RW user | RW national | Math user | Math national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 | 98 | 99 | 95 | 98 |
| 700 | 92 | 97 | 91 | 95 |
| 650 | 84 | 90 | 84 | 90 |
| 600 | 72 | 79 | 75 | 81 |
| 550 | 59 | 65 | 64 | 68 |
| 500 | 43 | 48 | 50 | 47 |
| 450 | 29 | 31 | 37 | 29 |
| 400 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 15 |
What is a good SAT score for the colleges you want?
A good SAT score for you is one at or above the middle of the range for students admitted to your target colleges. Colleges publish a “middle 50%” range: a quarter of admitted students scored below the low number and a quarter above the high number. The University of Florida, for example, reports 1420–1520 for students admitted to its class of 2030.[6] At that school a 1420 is at the bottom of the middle half, while at many others it would be near the top.
- Below the middle 50%: the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Consider a retake if your practice scores are higher.
- Inside the range: your score supports your application without setting it apart.
- Above the range: a further retake is unlikely to change much; time may be better spent elsewhere.
Estimate your score firstTurn the answers from an official College Board paper practice test into a score range with the SAT score calculator. To compare with an ACT result, see the ACT to SAT conversion.
Good scores for younger students
If you are in 10th or 11th grade, the PSAT/NMSQT uses the same two sections on a 320–1520 scale and feeds the National Merit program. The PSAT score calculator shows your total and Selection Index. For comparison, the average PSAT/NMSQT total in 2025–26 was 954.[2]
Frequently asked questions
Is 1200 a good SAT score?
Yes, it is above average. A 1200 is at about the 75th user percentile, higher than three in four SAT takers.
Is 1400 a good SAT score?
A 1400 is at about the 93rd user percentile. It is a strong score for most colleges, though selective schools often admit students with higher ranges.
What is the average SAT score?
1045 for the class of 2026 (528 Reading and Writing, 517 Math).
What SAT score is top 10%?
About 1360 and up on College Board’s user percentiles (90th percentile). The top 1% starts around 1530.