Part of the SAT preparation is knowing the average SAT score. The awareness of the national average helps students set a realistic target as per their potential. Also, you get an insight into your preparation relative to the competition for admission to your dream colleges. Once you know the average SAT score, you know what baseline score you need to score to get into a decent college.
Why does the Average SAT Score matter?
The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, combining two main sections:
- Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW)
- Mathematics
The average score is at the 50th percentile, which significantly represents that half of the candidates scored higher than the average score, and half of the candidates scored lower than this average score.
Knowing the expected average score allows you to use that for your planning to give your level best in your attempt in alignment with your level and preparation, and your mock tests, while keeping the expected average score in mind.
The Average SAT Score in 2025
- The highest possible score in the SAT is 1600. Both sections of the SAT (RW and Math) contain a maximum weightage of 800 points.
- The total number of questions in both sections is 54 and 44, respectively. Every correct answer gets you a +1. Also, there is no negative marking.
- The scores are further scaled between 200- 800 in both sections. The scaling of scores is a step to maintain the impartiality of the test for every student. As the difficulty level of the test could vary from test to test, scaling is a very beneficial step for students.
- The expected average score in 2025 is around 1050. This is predicted by the College Boards and educational experts by keeping in mind the level of expected competition amongst the students.
- The average SAT score in the year 2021 was 1060
- This further declined in the following years from 1060 in 2021 to 1050 in 2022 and gradually to 1028 in 2023, and around 1024 in 2024.
- The observed decline in the average SAT score is likely a result of the COVID Pandemic, which affected the academic performance of students with irregularity of classes, disruptive schedules, and mental stress
- This year’s average is suspected to be higher because there has been a rapid increase in the number of better online platforms available for the students to prepare strategically and analyse their progress via the numerous mock tests, and a better understanding of the adaptive and digital nature of the test.
Score Ranges by College Tiers
The score ranges for the SAT vary widely among different college tiers. Also, for the test-optional colleges, high scores on the SAT strengthen your application. The universities publish the middle 50% SAT range, which suggests that 25% of the students have scores above this range, while the other 25% have scores below this range.
1. Ivy League and Top 20 Schools
The admissions in the Ivy Leagues and the top schools like Harvard and Stanford are secured only by the top 5% of students scoring the top score between 1450-1580. The combination of high SAT scores, strong GPAs, and extracurricular participation provides you with an edge for admission to these top universities.
2. Top 50 National Universities
The National universities, such as Boston, NYU, University of Southern California, accept applicants with SAT scores ranging between 1350-1500. This score provides a good opportunity for the top universities and may help you get admission in the Ivy League with a competent application, with extracurriculars and skills mentioned.
3. Mid-Tier Public and Private Colleges
These colleges accept applicants with an SAT score of 1150-1350. This generally includes the top 25-50% of the applicants. A few such colleges are Penn State, University of Arizona, and Loyola University
4. Public and State colleges
These colleges do accept applicants with average SAT scores; one among such universities is Texas State University.
How can Princeton Review help you improve your average SAT score?
- Personalised study plans- Every student has a different target score, which requires a specialised, targeted study plan. The Princeton Review creates a personalised study plan that helps in the preparation according to your true potential for the optimum results.
- Expert-led classes– The experts at Princeton Review target your weak areas and guide you to improve in every section. These professionals help you achieve above-average SAT results
- Flexible timings– The flexible timings allow you to manage your SAT preparation along with everything else that may not seem as important, but is just as relevant in the college application spectrum, like GPA and whatever other extracurriculars you have. A very good application can get you in even if your score is quite a bit lower.
- Detailed score reports help in tracking your progress throughout the preparation and identifying the areas demanding improvement.
Regular practice tests– Helps improve scores with consistent practice and boosts confidence