What Is a Good SAT Score?
A score can look impressive nationally and still sit below the range at your first-choice college. It can also be more than enough for a school you would genuinely love to attend, so the useful benchmark is your college list, not somebody else's definition of good.
Start with your college list
National percentiles are interesting, but they can't answer the question you actually care about. A score is useful when it fits the range at the schools where you plan to apply.
Look up each college's current middle-50% range. If your score sits near the lower end, a retake may help; if it's already near the upper end, your time may be more useful elsewhere in the application.
Use the national numbers for context
College Board's SAT-user percentiles show how a score compares with recent test takers. They're a useful reality check, although they aren't college admission cutoffs.
Questions students usually ask
What is considered a good SAT score?
A good score is one that strengthens your application at the colleges you care about. Compare your result with each school's current middle-50% range instead of relying on one national cutoff.
Is 1200 a good SAT score?
College Board places 1200 in the 76th percentile among recent SAT users. Whether it helps your application depends on the colleges you're considering.
Is 1400 a good SAT score?
College Board places 1400 in the 93rd percentile. That's a strong national result, but you should still compare it with each college's published range and testing policy.