The SAT is a standardised test used by colleges and universities in the United States to assess a student’s readiness for college-level work. When it comes to interpreting SAT scores, it’s important to understand percentiles and score rankings. Percentiles are a way of comparing a student’s performance on the test to that of other students who took the test. Score rankings provide additional context for interpreting a student’s percentile, allowing them to see where they fall on a scale of possible scores. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at SAT percentiles and score rankings and what they mean for students and their college applications.
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SAT Score Percentiles
The SAT score percentile compares your score to the scores of other test-takers. For example, scoring in the 75th percentile means that you scored higher than 75% of test-takers The SAT score percentile is an important metric because it gives you a sense of how your score compares to other students.
The SAT score percentile ranges from 1 to 99, with 50 being the median score. The College Board released SAT score percentiles yearly, showing the percentage of test-takers who received each score. For example, the 2019 SAT score percentiles show that a score of 1200 puts you in the 76th percentile, while a score of 1400 puts you in the 95th percentile.
SAT Score Rankings
SAT score rankings provide a more detailed breakdown of how test-takers perform at different score levels. The SAT score rankings include the following categories:
Score Range | Result |
400-600 | Below Average |
600-800 | Average |
800-1000 | Above Average |
1000-1200 | Good |
1200-1400 | Very Good |
1400-1600 | Excellent |
Your SAT score ranking is determined by your total score on the exam, which ranges from 400 to 1600. The SAT is divided into two main sections: Math and Reading and Writing. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. Your total score is the sum of your scores in the two sections.
Improving Your SAT Scores
If you want to improve your SAT scores, the best way to do so is to prepare with practice tests and SAT prep books. Practice tests for the SAT are available online and in print and are designed to simulate the actual SAT exam. Taking practice tests can help you get familiar with the types of questions you’ll see on the exam and help you build your test-taking stamina.
SAT prep books are also a valuable resource for improving your SAT scores. These books offer tips and strategies for tackling each section of the exam, as well as practice questions and full-length practice tests. Some popular SAT prep books include The Official SAT Study Guide by the College Board, Jamboree’s Digital SAT Study Material and Barron’s SAT.
In addition to using practice tests and prep books, there are other steps you can take to improve your SAT scores. Here are some tips to help you achieve your maximum SAT score:
- Take an online SAT test: An online SAT test can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide targeted feedback on areas where you need to improve.
- Time yourself: The SAT is a timed exam, so it’s important to practise under timed conditions. Set a timer for each section of the exam to simulate the actual test environment.
- Focus on your weak areas: Use your SAT results to identify areas where you need to improve, and focus your study efforts on those areas.
- Review your mistakes: Reviewing your mistakes can help you identify patterns and avoid making the same errors on future exams.
Get plenty of rest and eat well: Taking care of your physical and mental health can help you perform your best on the SAT exam.Regardless of where you are at in your SAT prep, Jamboree can help! Our SAT faculty simplifies SAT by catering to your current level of proficiency and individual learning style. You can easily sign up for a free SAT doubt class and ask your doubts directly from our experienced faculty.
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