What's the Lowest SAT Score?

the Lowest SAT Score possible is 400 points which are scored by combining 200 in Maths and 200 in Reading and Writing.

Cracking the entrance exam and entering into a college is becoming stressful and tougher. Clearing the SAT with a good score isn't everyone's cup of tea, however, a low-test score doesn’t mean you cannot enter into a college.

What is the SAT?

SAT is a standardized test used for getting admission in the United States. Originally it is known as Scholastic Aptitude Test, later it is called the Scholastic Assessment Test or simply SAT. It is owned by the non-profit organization of the United States.

This test is taken to measure the literacy, numeracy, and writing skills of students who are needed for academic success in college. The SAT test is for high school students. The marks scored in SAT along with the college GPA provides a better opportunity to get admission to college than the high school GPA alone. 

The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil, and paper-based examination. SAT contains three sections-  Maths, Evidence-based reading and writing, essay(optional). SAT Essay scores are reported separately from the total number. Some colleges keep essay as a compulsory option while some keep it optional.

The importance of SAT scores in college admission procedure varies from college to college. SAT scores play an important role in your college application. Hence the lowest score on the SAT can alter the probability of you getting accepted to your dream college.

Read More: What is SAT?

What is the Lowest SAT Score?

A Lowest SAT scores possible is 400 with 200 from math and 200 gained from reading and writing tests. 

The low score SAT score depends upon the college you choose. SAT is general uses a scale from 400-1600. The Math section is for 800 points and rests for the other 800 points (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section) for which totally comes to 1600

Earlier, the average SAT score is 1600, but it has been revised to 1000 now. The bottom 25% of scorers have about 1270 earlier and 850 revised. Any score below 1100 old/750 revised is rare – only 10% of test-takers score that low.

So, don’t worry if you have low test scores because there are few colleges/universities offering admission.

Read More about- How to calculate SAT score?

 

Colleges/Universities Accepting Low SAT Scores

Here is the list of colleges that accept students with the lowest SAT test score.

College/University Name	25th Percentile	75th Percentile	Acceptance Rate
Fort Valley State University	430	698	44%
Arkansas Tech University	500	620	91%
Central State University	710	880	57%
Idaho State University	450	570	100%
Bethune-Cookman University	710	880	54%
Wiley College	640	1020	39.5%
Lane College	720	860	60%
Grambling State University	410	490	43%
Rust College	730	890	52.1%
Paine College	740	930	32%
Mount Mercy University	500	590	63%
Paul Quinn College	730	950	54%
University of West Georgia	430	510	60%
Jarvis Christian College	720	880	54%
Paine College	740	930	32%
Albany State University	750	900	9035%
Livingstone College	755	920	37%
Langston University	760	1040	53.8%
Wesley College	750	1050	60%
Pine Manor College	770	970	41%
Nebraska Christian College	760	1060	33.5%
Virginia Union University	780	970	57%

You may read: How to send SAT scores to college?

How to Choose Your College with Low SAT Score?

always check for the minimum criteria before choosing your college/university and also if it fits you. Ask yourself for a few questions and check it out.

• Does the college you choose have the major to pursue further studies?

• Check whether the students who have completed the major have ended in their chosen career

• Research whether the college is in a small or big town

• Check for the number of students with the college

• What is the percentage of students working or attending college after masters? How many are unemployed?

Also, you have to choose a college/university which is safety colleges and some are match colleges and reach colleges.

What do these colleges' actual meaning? Well, a safety college is the one where your score exceeds the normal admission college criteria, a match school is the one where you meet the criteria, and a reach school is one where you fall just under the criteria.

• Safety Colleges: Score exceeds the middle 50% range (50 points)

• Match Colleges: Your score reaches down within the middle 50% or just above

• Reach Colleges: Score below the middle 50%

Worried about joining a college with low SAT scores? Research on Colleges that don't require SAT to get accepted easily. 

Why do colleges accept Low SAT Scores? Are they Good or Bad?

There are many reasons for colleges accepting students with low SAT scores.

In order to increase admissions or to encourage students, they offer low SAT scores. There are a number of the best colleges such as Wake Forest, Bryn Mawr, and George Washington University, that do not require SAT scores for admission.

This doesn’t mean they are not excellent colleges/universities; They just do not think the SAT is the best norm for admission into their college/university.

Blogs you may read:

• SAT score range

• How many times can you take the SAT?

• How is the SAT scored?