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