SAT Score Chart: Full Range and Percentiles

An SAT score on its own — say, 1320 — only means something when you can see where it sits against everyone else. That is what a score chart does: it maps each total to a percentile, showing the share of test-takers you scored above. This guide gives you the full chart, explains the 400 to 1600 range and the two section scores, and shows how to use it to set a realistic target. For the mechanics behind the numbers, see how the SAT is scored; for the full programme, our Digital SAT tutoring page.

The SAT score chart at a glance

This chart shows each score band and the approximate percentile it represents — the higher the bar, the larger the share of test-takers you are scoring above:

The full SAT score-to-percentile table

Percentiles shift a little each year, so treat these as close approximations rather than exact figures. For the very top of the scale, see is 1500 a good SAT score; for the middle, the average SAT score.

How the section scores work

Your total is the sum of two equally weighted section scores, each from 200 to 800:

Because both sections carry equal weight, your fastest route to a higher total is often the section with the most gettable marks — for many students that is Math, as explained in the Digital SAT Math guide, while the Reading and Writing guide covers the other half.

Using the chart to plan

Once you know your current score and your target from the chart, the gap tells you the work ahead. A move from 1100 (64th) to 1300 (86th) is a 200-point climb — substantial but achievable with a structured plan, as set out in how to improve your SAT score and how long to study for the SAT.

How SAT percentiles actually work

A percentile is not your score out of 100 — it is the percentage of test-takers you scored at or above. A 75th-percentile score means you matched or beat roughly 75% of students. This matters because the chart is not linear in difficulty: the same 50-point gain represents a much bigger jump in rank near the middle than near the top. Moving from 1050 to 1100 lifts you about 14 percentile points; moving from 1500 to 1550 lifts you only a couple, because so few students score that high. It is exactly why the final stretch to a top score is the hardest, as we explain in is 1500 a good SAT score.

Reading the chart for each section

The same percentile logic applies to each section score from 200 to 800. A section score around 600 sits well above the section average of roughly 520 to 525, and around 700 is into the top tier. Because your total is simply the sum of the two, two students with the same total can have very different section profiles — and that profile, not just the total, can matter to specific university programmes. A strong Math score carries more weight for engineering or computer science, for example, while balanced scores suit broad applications. Use the chart to set both a total target and, if relevant, a section target.

The bottom line

The SAT runs from 400 to 1600, built from two equal sections of 200 to 800. On the percentile chart, 1050 is average, 1200 is above three-quarters of test-takers, 1400 is top 6%, and 1500 is top 2%. Read the chart against your target universities, find the gap, and plan from there.

Related reading: how the SAT is scored, the average SAT score, is 1500 a good SAT score, and our full Digital SAT tutoring programmes.

Frequently Asked Questions