SAT Score Breakdowns: Every Score From 400 to 1600

Use the score bands below to decide what to do next. For your actual section split and current estimate, use the Digital SAT score calculator first, then drill the section that is holding the total down.

SAT score improvement guides

Pick a target score for a section split, practice priorities, and a week-by-week plan. These are planning guides, not fixed guarantees.

1500-1600

Elite

Protect every easy and medium point; use hard Module 2 review.

1400-1490

Strong

Use timed modules to find the last section-specific misses.

1300-1390

Competitive

Target the weakest section with skill-filtered bank practice.

1200-1290

Above average

Clean up Algebra, punctuation, and pacing errors first.

400-1190

Building

Start with fundamentals and review every miss before adding speed.

How to use a score band

A score band is a starting diagnosis, not the plan itself. Two students with a 1350 can need completely different work if one is 750 Math / 600 Reading and Writing and the other is 660 Math / 690 Reading and Writing. Always turn the band into a section-specific decision.

Question to answer	Why it matters	Tool to use
Is my total score competitive?	A 1400 can be excellent for one college list and below range for another.	Compare college targets.
Which section is holding me back?	The same total score can hide a very different Math/RW split.	Use the score calculator.
What should I practice next?	The next drill should come from repeated misses, not from the score label.	Open the filtered question bank.

Every SAT score explained

Open the breakdown for your exact score to see its percentile, typical section split, target colleges, and study plan. Not sure where to aim? Read what counts as a good SAT score or check the average SAT score.

1500-1600 · Elite

1400-1490 · Strong

1300-1390 · Competitive

1200-1290 · Above average

400-1190 · Building

400 SAT score
410 SAT score
420 SAT score
430 SAT score
440 SAT score
450 SAT score
460 SAT score
470 SAT score
480 SAT score
490 SAT score
500 SAT score
510 SAT score
520 SAT score
530 SAT score
540 SAT score
550 SAT score
560 SAT score
570 SAT score
580 SAT score
590 SAT score
600 SAT score
610 SAT score
620 SAT score
630 SAT score
640 SAT score
650 SAT score
660 SAT score
670 SAT score
680 SAT score
690 SAT score
700 SAT score
710 SAT score
720 SAT score
730 SAT score
740 SAT score
750 SAT score
760 SAT score
770 SAT score
780 SAT score
790 SAT score
800 SAT score
810 SAT score
820 SAT score
830 SAT score
840 SAT score
850 SAT score
860 SAT score
870 SAT score
880 SAT score
890 SAT score
900 SAT score
910 SAT score
920 SAT score
930 SAT score
940 SAT score
950 SAT score
960 SAT score
970 SAT score
980 SAT score
990 SAT score
1000 SAT score
1010 SAT score
1020 SAT score
1030 SAT score
1040 SAT score
1050 SAT score
1060 SAT score
1070 SAT score
1080 SAT score
1090 SAT score
1100 SAT score
1110 SAT score
1120 SAT score
1130 SAT score
1140 SAT score
1150 SAT score
1160 SAT score
1170 SAT score
1180 SAT score
1190 SAT score

Common score-band mistakes

Assuming a total score is enough information without checking section split.
Retaking full tests repeatedly when a narrow bank drill would fix the repeated miss type faster.
Comparing your score to national averages instead of your actual college list.
Chasing the next score band before protecting easy and medium questions in the current band.

SAT® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product.

AboutPrivacyTermsResourcesContact