What Is Average SAT Score & How to Calculate

In 2023, over 1.9 million high school juniors and seniors put their skills to the test by taking the SAT. When people talk about SAT scores, they usually mean the total score, which is the sum of the three individual test scores: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. These three scores are combined into one overall score, which is what most colleges and universities look at. 

However, you’ll also receive other scores on your SAT score report called subscores and cross-test scores, which provide more detailed information about your performance in specific areas and show you how well you did in specific areas of the test.

This blog dives into everything you need to know about the SAT average score, giving you the inside scoop on what it takes to ace this crucial college admissions exam.

What Is the Average SAT Score?

This score is broken down into two sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) and Math. The average SAT score in 2022 was 1050, which is the lowest it has been since the test was redesigned in 2016. This score reflects the performance of students who graduated from high school in 2022. SAT scores have been trending downward in recent years, mirroring a similar trend with ACT scores.

Similarly, for the graduating class of 2021, the average student in the class of 2021 scored 541 on the ERW section of the SAT exam and 538 on the Math section. These scores combine to give an overall SAT score of 1088.

Here’s a quick look at the average SAT scores of the graduating class from 2017 to 2022, based on data from the College Board.

Class	Average Math Score	Average ERW Score	Total Average Score
2017	527	533	1060
2018	531	536	1068
2019	528	531	1059
2020	523	528	1051
2021	528	533	1060
2022	521	529	1050

As you can see, the average SAT score has decreased by approximately 10 points since 2017. This decline is likely due to a number of factors, such as changes to the test itself as well as changes in the demographics of the student population who take the test.

Despite the decline in SAT scores, the test is still an important part of the college admissions process for many students. If you are planning to take the SAT, it is important to start preparing early and to use a variety of resources to help you improve your score.

How Is the Average SAT Score Calculated?

Calculating the national average SAT score is pretty easy. The College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, adds up the SAT scores of all the students in a graduating class who took the SAT. Then, they divide that sum by the number of test takers. This gives us the average SAT score for that graduating class.

The College Board calculates the national average SAT score every year. They do this by collecting SAT score data from all the high schools in the country. Then, they use the same method we just described to calculate the average score.

Average SAT Score vs. SAT Percentile

The national average SAT scores give you a general idea of how scores are trending over time and whether scores are generally getting better or worse over time, but they don’t tell you how well you did personally. National percentiles, on the other hand, put your score in context with other students. They range from 1 to 99 and show the percentage of students who scored the same or lower than you. So the higher your percentile, the better you did.

Your score report will include two types of percentiles: the nationally representative sample percentile and the SAT user percentile.

• The sample percentile compares your score to the predicted scores of all high school students, whether they took the SAT or not. The College Board conducts research studies to estimate what the scores of these students would be.
• The user percentile compares your score to the actual scores of recent high school graduates who took the SAT. If your percentile is 75, it means you scored as high or higher than 75% of the students who took the SAT.

From the Desk of Yocket

The average SAT score has been declining in recent years, prompting some colleges and universities to reconsider their policies on standardized testing. Changes to the SAT, demographic shifts in the student population, and the growing test-optional movement are all contributing factors to this trend.

While some view the de-emphasis of SAT scores as a positive step towards equity in college admissions, others argue that it undermines the test’s value in assessing college readiness. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to require SAT scores lies with individual institutions, but the ongoing decline in average scores is likely to continue shaping these policies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the highest possible SAT score?

The highest possible SAT score is 1600. This score is very difficult to get, and only a small fraction of students achieve it.

2. What is a good SAT score?

A good SAT score is one that will make your application competitive for the colleges you are interested in. The average SAT score at most colleges is around 1050, but some colleges have much higher average SAT scores. For example, the average SAT score at Yale University is 1470–1560.

3. What is the average SAT score?

The average SAT score for the class of 2022 was 1050, down from 1060 for the class of 2021. The average SAT score has been declining in recent years, and the 2022 average is the lowest since the test was redesigned in 2016.