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What's a Good SAT or ACT Score?

National benchmarks, percentiles, and the only definition that really matters

It's the question every family asks first: what's a good score? The honest answer is that "good" is relative. A score that's excellent for one student's college list might fall short for another's. But there are clear national benchmarks to orient around — and one definition that matters more than all the rest.

This guide gives you both: the national context (averages, percentiles, and how SAT and ACT scores compare), and the practical framework for figuring out what score your student should actually aim for.

The One Answer That Matters: Your Target Colleges

Here's the definition to anchor on: a good score is one that lands at or above the middle of the range for the colleges your student wants to attend. Every college publishes the "middle 50%" of its admitted students' scores — the band between the 25th and 75th percentiles. If your student scores at or above a school's 75th percentile, their score is an asset at that school. If they're below the 25th, it's working against them.

That means the same 1300 can be a fantastic score for one student and a stretch for another, depending entirely on where they're applying. Before obsessing over national percentiles, build a college list and look up each school's range. Our college score requirement pages list the middle-50% SAT and ACT ranges for the 20 colleges Greater Philadelphia families apply to most.

National Benchmarks

For context, here's roughly where scores fall nationally. The average SAT is about 1050 (out of 1600) and the average ACT composite is about 19–20 (out of 36). Percentiles shift slightly each year, so treat these as approximate:

SAT ACT (approx.) Percentile (approx.) Generally competitive for
1500–160034–36~99thThe most selective colleges (Ivy League, MIT, Stanford)
1400–149031–33~95thHighly selective schools (top 20–40)
1300–139028–30~90thSelective schools; strong merit-aid candidate
1200–129025–27~75th–80thMany state flagships and solid private colleges
1100–119022–24~60th–70thA wide range of four-year colleges
~1050~20~50thThe national average

A useful way to read this table: each step up the rows roughly corresponds to a meaningfully more competitive tier of college. But remember — these are national reference points, not targets. Your student's target is set by their college list, not by a percentile.

SAT vs. ACT: Comparing Scores

Because the two tests use different scales (400–1600 for the SAT, 1–36 for the ACT), families often need to compare them — for instance, when a student has taken both, or when a college lists ranges for each. The official SAT-to-ACT concordance tables published by College Board and ACT make this translation. The middle column above gives the approximate equivalents: a 1400 SAT is about a 31 ACT, a 1200 is about a 25, and so on.

Colleges accept both tests equally and will consider whichever is stronger, so there's no advantage to one test's scale over the other. If your student hasn't chosen a test yet, our SAT vs. ACT guide walks through how to decide.

"Good" Depends on Your Goal

Beyond a specific college list, here's how to think about score goals by situation:

  • Most selective colleges (single-digit admit rates): Scores in the top few percentiles — roughly 1500+ SAT or 34+ ACT — are typical of admitted students, though never the whole story.
  • Highly selective schools: The 1400s / low-30s range keeps an application competitive at most schools ranked in the top 20–40.
  • State flagships and strong privates: A score in the 1200–1350 / 26–30 range is competitive at a broad set of well-regarded schools.
  • Merit scholarships: Aim above a school's admit range. Merit awards often reward scores at or beyond the 75th percentile, and a few points can move a student into a higher award tier.
  • Test-optional applications: If a school is test-optional, a good score is one at or above its middle 50% — submit it; otherwise consider withholding. See our test-optional guide.

What Score Improvement Is Realistic?

If your student's current score isn't where it needs to be, the encouraging news is that the SAT and ACT are learnable tests. With focused preparation, gains of 100–200 points on the SAT (or several points on the ACT) are realistic for many students, and larger jumps happen with sustained work over a longer runway. The starting point is a diagnostic to see exactly where the gap is.

How much a student can gain depends on their starting score, the time available, and the consistency of their prep. A tutor can help set a realistic target and build a plan to reach it — our timeline guide covers when to begin.

Find a Tutor to Reach Your Target Score

Once you know the score your student is aiming for, browse our full directory of SAT and ACT tutors across Greater Philadelphia, or explore by location:

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average SAT score?
The national average SAT score is approximately 1050 out of 1600 — roughly 520–530 on each of the two sections (Reading & Writing and Math). A score above 1050 is above the national average. Averages shift slightly year to year, so check College Board's current report for exact figures.
What is the average ACT score?
The national average ACT composite is approximately 19–20 out of 36. A composite of 21 or higher is above the national average. As with the SAT, the exact figure moves a little each year, so confirm with ACT's current report.
Is a 1200 SAT a good score?
A 1200 places a student around the 75th percentile nationally — meaning they scored higher than roughly three-quarters of test takers. It's a competitive score for many state flagships and a wide range of four-year colleges. Whether it's 'good' for your student depends on their target schools: compare it to each college's middle 50% range.
Is a 1400 SAT or 31 ACT a good score?
Yes — a 1400 SAT (about a 31 ACT) sits around the 94th–95th percentile and is competitive for highly selective colleges, including many ranked in the top 20–40 nationally. For the most selective handful of schools, scores in the 1500+ / 34+ range are more typical.
What's a good SAT or ACT score for scholarships?
Many merit scholarships, especially at public universities, reward scores at or above a school's 75th percentile, and some have specific score thresholds tied to award tiers. A score that's merely 'good enough' to be admitted may not be high enough for the top merit award — so if scholarships are a goal, aim higher than the admit range.
How do I know what score my student actually needs?
Look up the middle 50% SAT/ACT range for each college on your student's list — the band between the 25th and 75th percentiles of admitted students. Aim for the 75th percentile or above to be a strong applicant. Our college score requirement pages list these ranges for the 20 colleges Greater Philadelphia families apply to most.