I was recently asked by a student what a good SAT score was. The answer depends on the student and the colleges to which they are applying. From the perspective of many colleges, a somewhat lower score for a student from a small rural public school might be similar to a higher score from a student at a top private high school. This sort of approach is more common with private colleges than public ones. Public colleges tend to use more guidelines of grades and test scores in forming a freshman class.
But the real answer to what is a good SAT score really depends on the colleges to which you apply. Find the middle 50% of test scores for the colleges to which you are applying. If your SAT scores fall into that middle range you are generally going to be competitive for admission. To find the middle range of test scores you can look at the College Navigator web site. Find the college you are considering and click on the admissions tab. This will give you information about acceptances and rejections as well as average SAT and ACT test scores. Note that I said you would be competitive for admissions. If you are looking at some of the very selective colleges, test scores alone won’t tell you your chances of admission.
For most colleges, if your SAT scores put you in the top 25% of their average test scores, you will have a good chance of admission. Similarly, if your test scores put you in the bottom 25% of the average SAT scores, admissions will be more difficult. But remember, very few colleges will make a decision for acceptance or rejection based solely on your SAT scores.
what is a good ACT score? the highest i’ve gotten is a 30, but i don’t know where that is in relation to other students.
Comment by Jessica — November 30, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
Jessica,
Whether a particular score is good depends on the colleges to which you are thinking of applying. Generally a 30 composite on the ACT is considered a good score. Nationally, a 30 puts you in the 96% of all students taking the test. This score would make you competitive at almost every college in the country.
Congratulations.
Todd Johnson
Comment by Todd Johnson — November 30, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
A selection index of 174 on the PSAT’s as a sophomore.. How is that?
Comment by Celina — December 18, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
Celina,
As I mentioned in the previous comment, the question of what is a good score depends on what particular colleges you might be considering. A 174 is a good score, particularly as a sophomore. However, it would most likely not be high enough to qualify you as a National Merit semi-finalist next year when you take the PSAT as the qualifying exam for National Merit.
How much higher your score would need to be for National Merit depends on your state of residence.
Take some practice SAT and ACT tests to see on which test you do the best and then concentrate your efforts on improving your score on that test. All colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT so you want to focus on your best test.
Comment by Todd Johnson — December 18, 2008 @ 10:02 pm