Scoring scale and percentiles were aligned to the paper SAT. Averages are reported for the current test format.
What Is the Average SAT Score?
Written by Ascend Academic mentors—students from top universities helping others succeed.
The average SAT score gives families a reference point. It’s usually reported as a national or state mean. Here’s how to use that context without overfitting to one number.
How the Average Is Calculated
The College Board calculates the mean total score (Reading & Writing + Math) for all test-takers in a given cohort. They may also report medians and section-level averages. These figures appear in annual SAT Suite reports and on the "Understanding SAT Scores" pages.
Averages can vary by state, school type, and year. Participation rates and who takes the test also affect the distribution. Always use the most recent official data when planning.
What “Average” Means for Your Student
Scoring at or above the national average puts your student ahead of roughly half of test-takers. That's one benchmark—but many families aim higher, especially if their college list includes selective schools.
Use our SAT score percentiles to see where a given score sits in the distribution, and our good SAT score guide to set a target based on your student's goals.
Beyond the Average
Focus on whether your student is improving over time and whether their score supports their college list. A single snapshot matters less than trajectory. For a plan tied to your goals, book a free consultation or explore SAT tutoring.
FAQ
It depends on their college list. Some schools have higher midranges; use their admitted-student data as the target.
Written by Ascend Academic mentors
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