What's a Good SAT/ACT Score?
It should first be noted that having a "good" SAT or ACT score is a subjective term and based on your personal standards, potential merit scholarships, and possible colleges. But from a quantitative standpoint, the higher your number, the better your score; the SAT ranges from 400-1600 points and the ACT from 1-36 points.
Before diving into these numbers though, we highly recommend taking a baseline test to see where you stand relative to the standards of schools to which you've chosen to apply. Once you've done so, you'll have a better idea of your chances of admission to specific schools.
Your composite score from either of these two tests corresponds to a percentile, which shows how you performed compared to all other test-takers. So if you scored a 22 on the ACT, this corresponds to the 64th percentile, meaning you scored better than 64% of the other individuals who took the ACT (or, if you scored an 1150 on the SAT, you would be in the 67th percentile, meaning you performed better than 67% of the other people who took the test).
The average ACT score is 20.8 and the SAT is 1059. Both tests follow a normal distribution, meaning that most students' scores fall within the middle of the curve, scoring either slightly above or slightly below average.
Reference this table to see what percentile correlates to your SAT or ACT score.
But what about your score specifically?
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the definition of a "good score" is a relative one. There are several variables that factor into a so-called good score, such as your GPA in school, extracurricular activities, dream schools, and more. That being said, if your score is lower than most of your potential school's admitted students, your chances of admission are much smaller.
But not to worry-- we're here to guide you through steps that will help you to accurately identify a reasonable goal for yourself.
First, make a list of the schools to which you want to apply. Try to balance your list with at least two safety, a few moderate, and one or more reach schools.
For each college you write down, research the 25th and 75th percentile scores of their admitted students (remember that the closer you are to the 75th percentile, the more competitive your application will be). You can choose to either do this for either the ACT or the SAT (or both if you're not sure which test to take).
After you've compiled your complete list of schools, compare all of the 75th percentile scores and find the highest one; this is the score you're trying to achieve.
Aside from being able to identify your goal, this list will also serve as a reference page for you while navigating the college application process. The reasoning behind setting your goal as the highest number on your list is so if you do fall a little short of it, your score will still be considered competitive.
If you're looking for a definite answer based on the general scope of test taking, there are rough numbers that make you a competitive applicant no matter where you apply. For the SAT, this magic number is 1400, and for the ACT it's 32.
Schedule a call with us to see how we can work together to reach your score goals.