# What is an SAT percentile? | 1600.now Source: https://1600.now/sat-faq/what-is-a-sat-percentile --- Scores and interpretation An SAT percentile compares your score with a defined group. A 90th percentile means 90% of that group scored at or below your score; it does not mean you answered 90% of the questions correctly. Written by [Luke Finigan](https://1600.now/about) 2 min read Updated Oct 2, 2026 ### Name the comparison group College Board provides comparisons with different populations, including SAT users and nationally representative students. The group and reporting period matter: the same score can have different percentile values in different tables. Read the label on the report before comparing two percentiles. A national percentile, a state percentile, and a school percentile do not describe the same group. ### Percentile is not percentage correct Suppose a score report says 90th percentile. It describes relative rank in its reference group, not 90 correct answers out of 100 and not a 90% chance of admission. The digital SAT does not convert a percentile back into a fixed number of correct answers. Use the current College Board table for score-to-percentile lookups instead of relying on a static list that may describe a different cohort. ### Use it alongside college data A high national rank can still sit below a particular college’s historical score range. Conversely, a college’s 25th percentile is not its minimum admitted score. Check the institution’s current testing policy and the year and population behind its score range. [College score targets](https://1600.now/what-sat-score-do-i-need) help organize that comparison. ### Sources and current rules - [College Board: score percentiles](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/what-scores-mean/percentiles) ### Related SAT answers - **[How is the SAT scored?](https://1600.now/sat-faq/how-is-the-sat-scored)** SAT Reading and Writing and Math each receive a 200–800 score; adding them gives a 400–1600 total. Digital scoring uses responses across both modules and question characteristics, so a correct-answer count alone cannot determine the score. - **[What is a perfect SAT score?](https://1600.now/sat-faq/what-is-a-perfect-sat-score)** A perfect SAT total is 1600: 800 in Reading and Writing plus 800 in Math. The total is a scaled score, so it is not a public count of how many questions you answered correctly. [Browse SAT resources →](https://1600.now/sat-resources)