SAT Percentiles: Understand Your Standing
SAT percentiles indicate the percentage of test takers you scored higher than. Use percentile context with score targets and GPA to guide admissions strategy.
Percentile Bands (Illustrative)
SAT Score | Approx Percentile | Context |
---|---|---|
1530–1600 | 99th+ | Top competitive |
1400–1520 | 95th–98th | Highly competitive |
1230–1390 | 80th–94th | Competitive |
1050–1220 | 60th–79th | Broad-access |
Planning with Percentiles
- Compare your percentile to target colleges’ middle-50% ranges
- Use percentile plus GPA/rigor to decide test submission
- Focus prep on sections limiting percentile growth