What is a "good" SAT score?

williamc posted on 16 Jul 2010 4:39 PM

SAT scores are just one of several factors considered in the college application process.  However, their importance shouldn’t be underestimated. While college admissions officials will often tout the holistic approach they use in making decisions, a good SAT score often can make or your break your acceptance.  

While a “good SAT score” is extremely important in the college application process, a “good SAT score” is different for every student. The test makers have built the test so that the median score is around 500 for all three sections. This means that roughly half of all the students who take the SAT score above and below a 500 in each of the three sections. In order to determine what a “good score” is for you, you will need you need to consider the score ranges of the schools you are interested in.

For many state schools and less competitive private schools, a student should shoot for scores in the mid 500s and a combined score above a 1600.

For most selective public and private schools, a good score is usually above a 600 in all three sections or a combined score above a 1900.

For top tier schools, a good score is usually above a 700 in all three sections or a combined score over 2200.

If you create a profile on mindfish.com, you will be able to select the schools you are interested in and see the scores you need to shoot for. While it is tempting to look at the low number of a school’s score range when deciding what score you need, you need to consider that most students on the low side of the range have extraordinary circumstances surrounding their acceptances. Consequently, we have listed the mean of the schools scores so that you can try and shoot for the upper 50% of a school’s score range.

Below are a few top schools and their corresponding SAT score ranges.  Focus on achieving the scores you need for the colleges you are interested in and avoid comparing your scores to your friends’ scores when deciding if you have a “good score” is.

Duke

·         Critical Reading: 660 - 760

·         Mathematics: 680 - 780

·         Writing: 660 - 760

Harvard

·         Critical Reading: 690 - 780

·         Mathematics: 690 - 790

·         Writing: 690 - 780

MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

·         Critical Reading: 650 - 760

·         Mathematics: 720 - 800

·         Writing: 660 - 760

Middlebury

·         Critical Reading: 640 - 730

·         Mathematics: 650 - 740

·         Writing: 650 - 740

Pomona

·         Critical Reading: 710 - 780

·         Mathematics: 690 - 770

·         Writing: 690 - 770

Stanford

·         Critical Reading: 660 - 760

·         Mathematics: 680 - 780

·         Writing: 670 - 760