What is the Average SAT Score?

SAT or the Scholastic Aptitude/Assessment Test, and now known as the SAT Reasoning Test, is a common test that produces standardized scores, for admissions into various colleges in the United States. A student's performance on this test determines her/his eligibility into the different types of colleges in the US. The range of scores attained in this aptitude test varies from 600-2400. Three subjects comprise the SAT, namely Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing. Each of these sections has been allotted 800 points on the test. A lot of you are probably concerned about what the average SAT score is. These average scores required to gain admission in various colleges vary greatly. Here, we will tell you about these averages.

How SAT Scores are Calculated

On the three subjects that are tested on the SAT, your score is determined on a scale of 200-800 points. When a total of your scores on the three subjects is calculated, it gives you the raw and not the final score. This raw score is then converted to the final score, on the scale of 200-800. As such, your real score may range anywhere between 600-2400. An average SAT score in each subject will range around 500. To determine the scores, one point is given to each right answer while 1/4th point is deducted from each point for one wrong answer. You, however, cannot be marked wrongly on essays and the like. This rule is true of absolute answers, such as on multiple choice questions and Math. Questions that have not been attempted are not marked on the SAT. SAT scores percentiles are given to the test taker in each subject, for the purpose of comparison with the rest of the test takers. If you have scored 500 in a subject, and your percentile is 50, this clearly implies that you have performed better than 50% of the students who took the test in this particular subject.

Average SAT Scores

The average SAT scores based on the type of college you want to gain admissions to are as follows:

• Ivy League Universities: 2100-2200
• Top Private Universities: 2100
• Top Public Universities: 1800-2100

While these are the requirements of the top universities in USA, the average score of students on the SAT is around 1540 out of 2400, and the average scores per subject are as follows:

• Critical Reading: 508
• Mathematics: 520
• Writing: 508

These are the general average scores, and the average SAT subject test scores for the year 2010 have been determined as follows:

• Critical Reading: 501
• Mathematics: 516
• Writing: 492

Anyone who scores an average SAT score of 1500 can avail of the gamut of options available for college admissions. However, if you happen to get 2100 and above, it will give you direct access to the Ivy League, with a SAT score percentile of 90%. This percentile stands for the fact that you have scored 90% better than all the others who have taken the test, and as such enables a comparison between the better and the average students. Some students also attain perfect scores on the SAT, i.e., 2400. Around 20 of the 1 million students who take the test every year are likely to attain a perfect score. Some colleges not only determine your overall SAT scores, but also the SAT scores by subject. As such, performing well in one subject, but poorly in the other cannot be considered as your ticket to a good college.

You may reappear for the SAT if your scores aren't suitable enough. Each attempt of yours is included in the final SAT score that you will present to a college. You may attempt numerous times, but the last six scores are considered when determining the final score. This average SAT score is exactly what it is, average. Furthermore, the requirements of scores in different colleges varies greatly. If you want to get into a good college of your choice, you will have to find out these requirements, and the average figures perhaps will be rendered useless. If you want to perform better on the SAT, you have to start preparing well in advance. A lot of students opt for special coaching to fare well in this test. If you think you need it, go ahead and make use of all the available resources to you, in order to get into a college of your choice. In fact, if you get a superb score, it is likely that the college will provide you with different scholarships to pursue your education and career. It is then, well worth a try to get into one of the best universities by working hard right from the start. Good luck with your prep!