• Step 1: Set your goals
• Step 2: Develop a preparation strategy

What Represents a Good SAT SCORE?

SAT scores range from 200 to 800 points in each of the Verbal and Math areas of the SAT, or a total score of up to 1600 points. Since only about 20 of the over 1,000,000 students who take the SAT each year get a perfect score, how do you figure out what a good score for you would be?

There are two good ways

1. Find out what the college you desire to attend requires. This can be in terms of a minimum SAT score or an average score for admitted Freshman. You can get this information by either calling the school's Admissions Office directly or by buying (or looking at) a book in your local book store or library. These books are usually found in the Reference section and distributed by a variety of publishers or can be found on the Internet using the links below:

SAT Scores for the Nation's Top Colleges and Universities (US News & World Report)
College and University Admission Information by State

2. Score at least as high on the SAT as the national average for your GPA in high school. Colleges and universities use SAT scores to compare students from different high schools across the country. They don't usually know how difficult or easy your high school is or the classes you took. So they use your SAT to compare or "validate" your GPA. Your SAT score should be roughly equivalent to your GPA (or better!).

Use the table below to help you set your SAT goals:

Click here to learn about SAT Preparation Strategies