Updated June 2017
SAT scoring has undergone significant changes post March 2016. The redesigned SAT has become an indispensable component of college admissions and test takers in 2017-18 have a fair idea of what to expect from the exam. So, it is equally important to know the target score range and average SAT scores required by a college in order to align your preparation towards admission at your dream institution.
New SAT Score:
The newly laid down SAT scores are not equivalent to the old system. The redesigned SAT has a lot of dissimilarities in terms of composite range and sections covered. The new exam focuses more on the knowledge, skill and understanding required to succeed in college. An important change is the right-only scoring which means that there are no negative marks for guessing.
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As per new guidelines, SAT will be now scored out of 1600 with only 2 sections. It will include:
- Math
- Evidence-based Reading and Writing.
The aggregate score of each section will be in the range of 200 to 800 resulting into a composite of 400 to 1600. The new system is divided into sub-scores for every test giving test takers greater insight into their performance.
In addition, test takers have the option of taking an essay at the end of SAT. The optional essay requires students to produce a written analysis of the text provided. The section aims to test reading, writing and analytical skills of students. Test takers get 50 minutes to write the essay. The score ranges from 2-8 for each of the three dimensions of the essay. These essay results are reported separately. Students have to determine whether their target schools require essays. If yes, consider the essay an equally important part of the new SAT.
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So, what’s a good SAT score?
Any score that lands you admission at a target program of your choice is a good SAT score. To determine this, you need to see the average numbers of the students targeting the SAT for your program. Obviously, you should aim for a score or atleast over 1400 to get admitted to a good college. We have drawn up a table that tells about New SAT Scores required for top 25 colleges:
Here is a table that tells about New SAT Scores required for top 25 colleges
| S. No. | Name Of Colleges | New SAT Scores (25th – 75th Percentile) | Average SAT Scores |
| 1 | California Institute of Technology | 1530-1600 | 1540 |
| 2 | University of Chicago | 1500-1590 | 1520 |
| 3 | Harvard University | 1470-1600 | 1510 |
| 4 | Yale University | 1490-1600 | 1530 |
| 5 | Washington University in St. Louis | 1460-1580 | 1510 |
| 6 | Princeton University | 1470-1590 | 1510 |
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1480-1590 | 1510 |
| 8 | Vanderbilt University | 1480-1590 | 1510 |
| 9 | Columbia University | 1470-1590 | 1500 |
| 10 | Stanford University | 1450-1590 | 1500 |
| 11 | Northwestern University | 1450-1570 | 1500 |
| 12 | Duke University | 1470-1590 | 1490 |
| 13 | Dartmouth College | 1430-1580 | 1490 |
| 14 | University of Pennsylvania | 1450-1570 | 1490 |
| 15 | Rice University | 1450-1570 | 1490 |
| 16 | Tufts University | 1440-1550 | 1480 |
| 17 | Johns Hopkins University | 1450-1560 | 1480 |
| 18 | Brown University | 1410-1570 | 1490 |
| 19 | University of Notre Dame | 1440-1540 | 1490 |
| 20 | Carnegie Mellon University | 1430-1560 | 1490 |
| 21 | Northeastern University | 1400-1530 | 1470 |
| 22 | Cornell University | 1390-1550 | 1460 |
| 23 | Colorado School of Mines | 1390-1450 | 1410 |
| 24 | Georgia Institute of Technology | 1380-1530 | 1450 |
| 25 | Emory University | 1370-1510 | 1430 |
How to Read New SAT Scores?
If you are determined to seek admission into your desired college, you must understand the new SAT scoring system. The range commonly provided by college determines the SAT scores of admitted students. This range is normally given as a range between 25th to 75th percentiles. It implies that 25% students admitted have scored below or at that number and same for 75th percentile. So, if you score below the 25th percentile, your new SAT score is below average. If you score above the 75th percentile, consider your score as above average for your target colleges.
Once you have understood your new SAT scores, you have to determine your goals accordingly to seek admission in the college of your choice. To do that, make a list comprising your target colleges. Add the 25th percentile or average score and 75th percentile of each school to this list. Finally, calculate your target SAT score. It can be the 75th percentile for colleges providing this score or 100 points for institutions providing average composite SAT scoring.
Many of the colleges still report the older SAT scores for admission since the redesigned SAT is just a year old. For instance, California Institute of Technology has reported a SAT middle 50% range of 2240-2340 for the class of 2020. Some institutions like University of Notre Dame have reported the older SAT scores and the concordant newer SAT scores at mid 50% range (1440-1540).
Note that this table consists of deemed SAT scores because official stats for newer SAT are not provided by the colleges. The new SAT scores have been determined by taking into account the older SAT score requirements and inputs from test takers and official websites. Please take these as a rough guide to prepare for the exam.
Learn how to beat the average SAT score
