Has there ever been a 1600 SAT score?

Yes, students have achieved a perfect 1600, though it’s extremely rare. According to the College Board, only around 8% of test-takers manage to reach the maximum SAT score each year.

What is a good score on the SAT in India?

A good SAT score depends on your target universities. Generally, 1200–1400 is competitive for selective schools, while 1350+ is considered strong for Ivy League and top US universities.

What is the lowest SAT score?

The lowest possible SAT score is 400, with 200 in Math and 200 in Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW), but such scores are very uncommon.

Do SAT questions repeat?

No, SAT questions do not repeat across exams, but similar question types and formats often appear, so practising with past papers helps familiarise you with the test style.

What is the average SAT Math score to be accepted by universities?

Most universities accept Math scores around 530 to 650, depending on how competitive the course is.

What if my SAT score is less than the cutoff?

If your score is below the cutoff, you can still apply, but your chances reduce unless your overall profile is very strong.

Is the 75th percentile a good SAT exam qualifying mark?

Yes, the 75th percentile is considered a strong score because it is higher than most test-takers.

What is the Average SAT Score for Top Universities (2026)?

Knowing what counts as a good SAT score helps you plan your college list confidently and improves your chances of getting into competitive universities. While the average SAT score gives you a baseline, most competitive colleges expect higher scores for admission.

In this blog, you’ll understand how the national average SAT score compares to what top colleges actually expect.

Key Highlights:

The national average SAT score is around 1050, and most universities prefer applicants who score above this.
A score between 1200 and 1400 is competitive for many universities, while 1350 and above is ideal for top-tier schools.
Universities like Arizona State University, East Carolina University, and Texas State University accept students with higher-than-average SAT profiles.

What is the National Average SAT Score?

The national average SAT score is around 1024 out of 1600, based on results from nearly 2 million test takers in the most recent testing year. This average includes a Reading and Writing score of about 519 and a Math score of about 505, showing a fairly balanced performance across both sections.

Average SAT Score for Top Universities

Top universities admit students with SAT scores that are well above the national average, with most accepted applicants scoring between the high 1300s and upper 1500s.

The table below shows the average SAT Reading & Writing, Math, and composite score ranges for leading universities:

University Name	SAT EBRW Score	SAT Math Score	Composite SAT Score Range
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	730-780	780-800	1510-1580
Stanford University	680-780	700-800	1380-1580
University of Chicago	745	775	1520
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	740-780	790-800	1530-1580
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	620-710	600-740	1220-1450
New York University (NYU)	720-770	750-800	1470-1570
University of California, Berkeley	660-750	680-790	1340-1540
Johns Hopkins University	735	780	1515
University of Rochester	700-760	730-790	1430-1550
University of Virginia (UVA)	705	725	1430
Tulane University	700	720	1420
Binghamton University	650	725	1300
Stony Brook University	640	695	1340
University of Florida	675	685	1360
Indiana University Bloomington	625	630	1255
Chapman University	640	640	1280
Pitzer College	690	720	1410
Boston University	670-750	690-780	1360-1530
Georgia Institute of Technology	680-730	710-790	1390-1520

Average SAT Score by State

Average SAT scores by state range from the mid-900s to the low-1200s, with Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math section averages usually falling between 480-620 per section.

The table below shows SAT performance across 15 major US states:

State	% of Students Taking the SAT	Number of Test Takers	Avg ERW Score	Avg Math Score	Avg Composite SAT Score
California	31%	120,205	549	537	1086
New York	48%	127,993	522	513	1035
Texas	40%	291,694	495	477	971
Florida	53%	229,784	493	455	948
Massachusetts	50%	43,398	559	550	1109
Illinois	35%	141,846	491	476	966
Pennsylvania	37%	67,012	546	529	1075
New Jersey	65%	77,320	531	519	1050
Virginia	44%	49,631	564	537	1101
Washington	44%	29,189	549	531	1081
Georgia	52%	69,136	532	507	1039
North Carolina	51%	23,495	590	571	1161
Michigan	56%	103,396	492	473	965
Arizona	55%	8,367	599	586	1185
Colorado	90%	58,078	510	488	998

Average SAT Score for Ivy League Colleges

The average SAT score for the majority of the Ivy League Colleges ranges from 1350 to 1590. On average, students score around 710 in Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) and 740 in Math.

Here is the list of famous Ivy League colleges and their SAT score range:

University Name	SAT EBRW Score (25th-75th)	SAT Math Score (25th-75th)	Composite SAT Score Range (Approx Mid‑50%)
Harvard University	700-780	710-790	1350-1590
Cornell University	680-760	720-800	1400-1560
University of Pennsylvania	700-770	720-790	1420-1560
Columbia University	700-780	710-790	1410-1570
Princeton University	740-780	770-800	1510-1580
Yale University	680-790	690-800	1370-1590
Brown University	720-770	740-800	1460-1570
Dartmouth College	710-770	730-790	1440-1560

Average SAT Score for State Schools and Public Universities

Public universities and state colleges admit students with SAT scores that are closer to the national average than those at elite private institutions. Many well‑ranked state universities consider composite SAT scores between 1150 and 1380 competitive for admissions, while less competitive universities admit students with scores closer to 1000-1100.

Below are the average composite SAT scores for several state schools and public universities in the USA:

University	Avg SAT EBRW Score	Avg SAT Math Score	Avg Composite SAT Score
University of Texas at Austin	690	665	1355
University of Georgia (UGA)	660	650	1310
University of Florida	685	697	1382
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)	630	680	1310
Virginia Tech University	650	680	1330
University of Utah	640	660	1300
Kansas University	580	570	1150
Kansas State University	580	570	1150
University of Wyoming	550	550	1100
Utah State University	600	580	1180
Indiana State University	520	555	1075
Southern Maine Community College	490	490	980
Jackson State Community College	500	500	1000
Eastern Michigan University	540	535	1075
Sam Houston State University	510	530	1040

How to Improve SAT Score?

Improving your SAT score is about smart practice and focusing on your weak areas. Doing the right exercises can help you gain points faster than just solving random papers.

Find Your Weak Spots

Check which questions you get wrong most often. Spend more time practising those types of questions to improve faster.

Learn Math Shortcuts

Learn targeted strategies such as plugging in answer choices, backsolving, and using approximation techniques for time-sensitive questions. These methods save minutes per section, which can increase your score by 50-100 points.

Practice Reading and Writing Skills

Focus on understanding passage structure, author tone, and argument logic. Practice annotating passages and summarising paragraphs in your own words, which improves speed and accuracy in EBRW.

Take Full-Length Practice Tests

Regularly take full-length, timed SAT practice exams under realistic conditions. This helps you manage time and stay calm during the test, factors that often account for a 20-30 points difference on test day.

Focus on Key Vocabulary and Math Concepts

Instead of memorising long word lists, focus on context-based vocabulary and high-frequency SAT words in reading passages. Practice the math topics that appear most often, like fractions, percentages, and equations.

From the Desk of Yocket

If you’re preparing for the SAT, remember that scoring above the average isn’t just about hard work. It’s about planning smartly. Fix your target score early, choose your test date wisely, and track your progress through consistent practice. Even small improvements in Reading & Writing or Math can significantly boost your overall score.

With Yocket Prep, you get structured practice plans, personalised score insights, and exam-like mock tests that help you focus on the right areas. It’s the simplest way to stay disciplined and get closer to your target score with confidence.