Is a 1010 SAT Score Good? Understanding Your Percentile and College Goals

The question of whether a 1010 SAT score is "good" is common among students preparing for college. The simple answer is: it depends. It depends on your personal college goals and where you want to apply. The truth is, what constitutes a good SAT score will change based on your goals. A good score is one that helps you get into your target school or supports your case for a merit scholarship. To fully understand the implications of a 1010 score, it's important to consider several factors, including national averages, percentile rankings, and the specific requirements of the colleges you're interested in.

Understanding the Basics of SAT Scoring

First, it’s important to note how the SAT is scored. The exam consists of a Math section and a Reading/Writing section. Each is graded between 200 and 800. These are then combined to create the SAT Combined score. The highest possible score on the SAT is a 1600.

National Average SAT Score

According to the College Board, the US national average total SAT score for the class of 2024 was 1024. The ERW national average score was 519, while the average score for the Math section was 505. In 2024, the average SAT score was 1024. A 1010 SAT score is just below the national average SAT score, which is around 1024. This means you scored slightly lower than most students who took the test.

Decoding Percentile Rankings

Your percentile tells you how you did on the SAT compared with everyone else who took the test. If you scored 1010 on the SAT, that means you did 50% better than other students. A score of 1010 puts you roughly in the 50th percentile, meaning you did better than half of the test-takers. Your score report will include two percentiles to help you compare your performance with that of other test takers. If your score percentile is 50, that means 50 percent of test takers scored at or below your score. If your score percentile is 75, that means 75 percent of test takers scored at or below your score.

Nationally Representative Sample Percentile: This measures your score against all US students in grades 11 and 12, weighted to include those who did not take the test.
SAT User Percentile: This measures your score against real scores of students from the past three graduating classes who took the current SAT test during high school.

Colleges use percentiles to compare you with other students.

How Colleges Use SAT Scores

Colleges and universities around the country do publish this kind of information. A good SAT score can impact your opportunities after high school. Many colleges and universities still require SAT (or ACT) scores for admissions, but most schools don’t publish a “required” SAT score. Generally, these figures are reported as a distribution of the 25th and 75th percentile of the SAT scores of admitted students. In other words, it gives you a way to determine, roughly, what an “average” score might look like for students at that college.

So, while these aren't "minimum" SAT score requirements (very few colleges have published minimums), they do give you an idea of what the admissions officers expect SAT scores of prospective students to look like. On College Raptor, we publish the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores for all colleges that report it, so you can see how your score stacks up. As a student, you can see how your SAT score stacks up against other students at this college by seeing where you fall in this distribution. If you’re near the middle of this range (median SAT), you can expect about an average chance of being admitted. However, your chances of admission will, of course, also be based on the rest of your application.

Target Schools and SAT Score Ranges

A good SAT score is a score that helps you get into the college or university you want-and that score can be different for each school. It's a good rule of thumb to achieve an SAT score that's higher than the middle 50 percent of scores. You won't learn about your target school's average SAT scores on your SAT report. Instead, once you get your report, you can cross-reference your score with those published by the school.

To find a college’s SAT score ranges, search "[School Name] SAT scores PrepScholar" on Google to find our Admission Requirements page with its SAT/ACT score ranges and info on GPA ranges and overall competitiveness.

Here’s how to find that information:

Make a list of schools you’d like to attend. Write down the names of six to 10 schools you’re interested in applying to. Try to include a mix of dream, target, and safety schools. If money and qualifications weren’t issues, where would you want to attend? These are your dream schools, also known as reach schools. Target schools are those where your grades, test scores, and class rank are similar to the average for the most recently admitted class. You should be happy to attend your safety schools, but they should also be schools that you can afford and that you feel confident you’ll be admitted to.
Find each school’s middle 50 percent. Search for the name of the school and “SAT score range” to find the middle 50 percent of SAT scores. This represents the range of scores between the 25th and 75th percentiles for the most recent class of admitted students. In other words, this is what’s left when you throw out the top and bottom scores. Write down these scores for each of your schools. It may be helpful to record the ranges for the Math and ERW sections as well.
Identify your goal SAT score from the list. Now arrange your schools in order of these score ranges, from highest to lowest. The schools at the top of the list would likely be your dream schools, with the target and safety schools in the middle and at the bottom of the list. The high end of the range (the 75th percentile score) for the school highest on your list is your target SAT score. If you can get a score at or near the 75th percentile for the most competitive school on your list, chances are you’ll be competitive at the other schools too.

Tip: Set a goal to score at or above the 75th percentile of SAT scores for the school you want to attend.

Colleges Within Range of a 1010 SAT Score

We've picked out a set of schools that are within range.

Schools that are harder to get into: These schools are hard for you to get into now, because they have average SAT scores that are higher than a 1010.
Schools with a decent chance of admission: These schools have average SAT scores that are close to a 1010. If you apply to these schools, you'll have a decent chance of admission.
Schools where you're likely to be admitted: With a 1010 SAT score, you're already strongly competitive for these schools. You're very likely to get admitted if you apply.

Beyond the Score: Holistic Review

Keep in mind that, again, these are not truly "average" SAT scores. Instead, they show you how about half of the admitted students scored. Based on this data, you can see that 50% of all students score somewhere within this range. But, it's not a rigid guideline. Schools look at more than just your SAT score when determining college admissions. Things like extracurricular activities, volunteer work, recommendation letters, GPA, the rigor of your class schedule, and more will play a role in whether or not you’re accepted.

Improving Your SAT Score

If you score a 1010 on your SAT, you likely should retake the test, especially if you are considering more competitive institutions. Students who retake the exam, on average, perform 50-70 points higher after additional practice. Whether you’re thinking ahead toward the SAT or want to improve upon an existing score, use the tips below to get started.

Take a practice test like the PSAT. Prepare for success on the SAT by taking the Preliminary SAT, or PSAT, as a sophomore or junior. You’ll get a feel for the test format and types of questions, and your scores can show you areas to focus on as you prepare for the SAT. Taking the PSAT as a high school student qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship. Each year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards more than 7,100 scholarships to students who are among the highest-scoring entrants in each state [5].
Work on your weaknesses. Focus on the areas where you received the lowest scores on your practice test. If you scored at or near your target score for the ERW section but fell short on your Math score, you’ll want to dedicate more of your practice time to math questions.
Plan to spend at least two to three months preparing for the SAT each time you take it. You have options when it comes to how you prepare, and many of them are free:
- Take a free, full-length practice test.
- Complete the free, interactive Official SAT Practice.
- Enroll in a SAT prep course.
- Hire a tutor.
- Buy a study guide or check one out from the local library.
Retake the test. You can take the SAT as many times as you want. This means that if your first score has room for improvement, you have the opportunity to improve it by retaking the test. The College Board recommends taking the SAT at least twice, once during the spring of your junior year and again in the fall of your senior year. For some schools, you can choose which scores to include on your score report. Others require that you submit all of your scores.
Set goals. Determine your target score by researching the 25th and 75th percentiles of accepted students at your potential colleges.
Take practice tests. Practicing tests with time limits, breaks, and no cheating helps you prepare for the real deal.
Create a game plan. If you perform weak in the math section, you’ll want to study the questions and principles you answered incorrectly.
Use resources.
Prepare for test day. Don’t crunch the night before.
Take the test more than once. Sit for the exam at least once during your junior year, and continue taking it in the coming months to improve your score.

What if Your Scores Are Still Too Low?

Your SAT score is only one part of your college application-and it may not even be mandatory. Over 1,800 schools in the US promised to make college entrance exams optional in 2023 [6]. If your scores are lower than your target score, you still have options. (And remember, the scorers on the lower end of the middle 50 for each school on your list also got in).

Read also: Computer Science College Guide

Strengthen your application. Schools look at more than just your SAT score when determining college admissions. If you feel your scores are lower than you’d like them to be, spend some time working on the other areas of your application. Talk to your teachers about how you can improve your grades. Ask for strong letters of recommendation. Spend time polishing your application essay. Start a new club at your school, volunteer, or look for an internship to help your extracurriculars stand out.
Adjust your college list. As you get ready to apply to schools, consider adjusting your list. Add one or two new target schools that you’d like to attend where your scores fall within the middle 50. You may even choose to add another safety school where your score is near or above the 75th percentile ranking.
Consider the ACT. Many schools accept ACT or SAT scores, and it’s not uncommon for students to perform better on one than the other. Neither the ACT or SAT is easier than the other, but they may have differences that make one of the two easier for you. For example, the ACT puts more emphasis on verbal skills, while the SAT may be better suited to emphasize math and logic skills. If possible, take both tests in your junior year so, then retake your preferred exam in the fall of your senior year.

A 1010 SAT score is about the same as a 19 on the ACT Exam. Both scores are a little above average and show that you're ready for college-level work. Colleges use SAT and ACT scores in a similar way, so if you're not sure which test to take, knowing the score match can help.

Merit Scholarships

A 1010 SAT score can help you get merit-based scholarships at some colleges. This means you might get money to help pay for school because of your test score. The amount of scholarship money can be different at each college. Some schools give awards or financial aid to students in this score range.

Test-Optional Policies

Students should also know that some schools no longer require the SAT (or ACT) as part of their admissions department. However, it’s still a good idea to sit for the exam even if the colleges on your list are test-optional schools. But what about colleges that are test optional? Finally, SAT percentile rankings can be a useful tool for you. Especially if you’re deciding whether or not to retake the SAT, percentiles really help put your SAT scores in context.

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