Is a 1140 SAT Score Good for College?
A 1140 SAT score is slightly above the national average, which hovers around 1050-1060. The question of whether a 1140 SAT score is "good" for college admissions is not straightforward. The truth is, it depends on your personal college goals and where you want to apply. It’s a subjective assessment that depends on a student's individual circumstances and aspirations. To determine what number you should aim for, consider the colleges you want to get into and your own personal goals.
Understanding the SAT Score
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 average SAT score is around 1050, so if your score is higher than that, it’s above average. A score of 1350 or higher is in the top 10% of SAT test takers.
Benchmarking Your Score
One way to define “good” is to see how your score compares to your peers and other students at the colleges you’re hoping to attend. Another way to define “good” is to consider your own goals. Are you hoping to score higher than other students or hoping to come in somewhere near average? Whatever a “good” SAT score means to you, there are some numbers that you can use as a benchmark to see if you’ve met your goals.
Want to just know how your SAT score compares to all other students? Then you’ll want to look at the distribution of SAT scores. The percentiles highlight the percentage of students who earned that score or below. So if you scored a 1430, you did just as well or better on the SAT than 95% of other students. As you can see from this table, the 50th percentile falls around 1010 to 1020 out of 1600 - the median score.
College Admissions Landscape
Each school has its own score expectations, and a score that may be average at a highly selective school might be in the top percentiles at another.
Read also: Decoding Yale Admissions
If you're targeting highly competitive or selective universities, a 1140 might range from being on the lower side of their accepted student score ranges to well below the range. On the other hand, if you're applying to local, less competitive or regional schools, a 1140 score may be adequate for admission. It's essential to research the average admitted student scores of the schools you're interested in to help guide your decisions. If you apply to these schools, you'll have a decent chance of admission. With a 1140 SAT score, you're already strongly competitive for these schools. You're very likely to get admitted if you apply.
College Raptor displays the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT scores for admitted students on each school profile. 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.
Factors Beyond the SAT Score
Don’t ever count yourself out from applying to a school, even if your think your score is low compared to the school’s average. Your SAT score is only one piece of the puzzle. However, your chances of admission will, of course, also be based on the rest of your application. 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.
Keep in mind that many colleges have adopted test-optional policies, so you're not ruled out solely based on your score.
The Impact of a Good SAT Score
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.
Read also: SAT Requirements for LSU
Beyond just looking better on your college applications, higher test scores can mean that you qualify for more scholarships. Many colleges offer specific merit awards based on academic achievement.
Strategies for Improvement
When considering whether to retake the SAT, think about how much preparation you did for the first test and what additional resources or strategies you could use to boost your score. You can take practice tests, attend workshops, work with a tutor, or use self-paced online resources to improve.
If you want to increase your chances of getting into your dream or target schools, it’s important to pay attention to these numbers and aim for them when it comes to your test date!
Set goals. Determine your target score by researching the 25th and 75th percentiles of accepted students at your potential colleges. Take practice tests. Practice tests with time limits, breaks, and no cheating help you prepare for the real deal. Create a game plan. If you perform weakly on 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.
The Role of PSAT
The PSAT 8/9 is a diagnostic test that tells you about your strengths and opportunities for growth. The PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT are benchmark tests that can track your progress throughout high school and give you an idea of how you may score on the SAT when you take it in 11th or 12th grade. By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, your scores will be shared with National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the cosponsor of the test, who will determine whether you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Further information about the National Merit Scholarship Program is in Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Scores for Students and Families.
Read also: Decoding Princeton Admissions
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