August FAQ: What Is a Good SAT or ACT Score (and What Should My Student’s Goal Score Be)?

“Is this a good score?” is one of the most common questions families ask us after an SAT or ACT. It sounds simple, but there is no single score that is “good” for every student.

A score can be well above the national average but lower than the typical range at a highly selective college. Another may not look extraordinary on a national chart but may be exactly what a student needs for admission or a scholarship. The more useful questions are: What does this score help the student accomplish, and what should the student aim for next?

Start with National Percentiles

Percentiles show how a student’s score compares with those of other students. College Board currently lists 1050 as the average SAT score and 1350 or higher as a top-10-percent score. ACT publishes a similar national-rank table for its 1-36 scale.

These comparisons provide context, but they cannot determine whether a score is good for an individual student. National percentiles do not account for a student’s college list, scholarship plans, academic record, or starting point.

Look at the Scores for Your Student’s Colleges

For college admissions, the most useful benchmark is usually the score range for recently enrolled students. Colleges commonly report a “middle 50 percent” range, extending from the 25th to the 75th percentile. College Board’s BigFuture College Search provides these SAT and ACT ranges for individual schools.

Suppose a college reports an SAT range from enrolled students of 1200-1380. One-quarter of those enrolled students who reported scores earned 1200 or below, half scored within that range, and one-quarter earned 1380 or above. A score near or above the midpoint may strengthen a student’s academic profile, while a score near the upper end can make the testing portion of the application particularly competitive.

These ranges are reference points, not admissions guarantees. Students above the 75th percentile are still evaluated on their grades, course rigor, essays, activities, recommendations, and other factors. Students below the 25th percentile may still have compelling applications.

Test-optional policies add another complication. At some test-optional colleges, the published range reflects only students who submitted scores. Because students with lower scores may withhold them, the range may be higher than it would be if every enrolled student submitted a score. Students should discuss whether to submit scores with a college counselor – whether a Mindfish counselor, an independent college counselor, or a school-based counselor – who can consider the score in the context of the student’s full application and help the family navigate the test-optional landscape one college at a time. 

Scholarship requirements can create a different target. Some merit awards publish specific SAT or ACT thresholds, so a score that has only a modest effect on admission could make a meaningful difference in financial aid. Students should research those requirements before the relevant testing and application deadlines.

Use a Diagnostic Test to Establish the Baseline

College data can tell a student where they may want to go; a diagnostic test helps establish where they are beginning.

Mindfish’s Practice Test Program allows students to take a timed, proctored practice SAT and ACT. Students receive an in-depth breakdown of both results, followed by a consultation in which we consider the scores alongside the student’s goals, schedule, strengths, and testing experience.

Testing both exams is valuable because a student may be better suited to one than the other. The results can also reveal whether timing, content knowledge, strategy, or endurance is holding the student back. Two similar total scores may require different preparation plans if the underlying section performances are different.

A diagnostic score is not a ceiling. It is a snapshot taken before focused preparation. It does, however, show the distance between the student’s current performance and the scores associated with their goals. A student beginning at 1120 and aiming for 1300 will need a different plan from a student beginning at 1420 and aiming for 1550. Although the second gap is smaller, gains generally become harder to produce near the top of the scale.

Set a Primary Goal and a Stretch Goal

We often find it more useful to establish two goals instead of making one score an all-or-nothing measure of success.

The primary goal should make the student competitive at a meaningful portion of their college list or meet an important scholarship or submission threshold. The stretch goal can reflect a reach college’s score range, a higher scholarship threshold, or the upper end of the student’s likely improvement.

Both goals should account for the student’s baseline, available preparation time, school responsibilities, and willingness to practice consistently. As we discuss in our post about average SAT and ACT score improvement, starting scores matter: improving an already high score often requires eliminating a very small number of remaining mistakes.

Goals can also change. Early in junior year, a student may not have a finalized college list. After several practice tests, the student and tutor will also have better evidence about the student’s likely scoring range. Revising a goal in response to new information is thoughtful planning, not a failure.

A Good Score Is One That Serves the Student’s Goals

The purpose of SAT or ACT preparation is not to chase a perfect score simply because one exists. It is to help a student earn a score that creates useful opportunities without allowing test preparation to overwhelm coursework, activities, or well-being.

The best place to begin is with realistic college and scholarship targets, current testing policies, and a properly administered diagnostic exam. From there, families can replace a vague question – “What is a good score?” – with a more helpful one: “What score would be good for this student, and what plan gives them a reasonable opportunity to earn it?”

Mindfish can help your family compare the SAT and ACT, interpret diagnostic results, and develop a preparation plan built around your student’s goals. Contact us to learn more about our Practice Test Program and personalized SAT or ACT tutoring.