SAT Score Percentiles and Rankings 2022

The SAT Score Percentile shows the percentage of students whose score is equal to or lower than their score. Learn about SAT percentiles, SAT scores, percentile ranking and more.

TCM Staff

2nd January 2022

The SAT score percentile rank shows the percentage of students whose score is equal to or lower than that individual score. Percentiles show the percentage of scores that fall below a specific value. 

For example, if you score a 1300 on the SAT, that score is of the 97th percentile. This means 97% of test-takers scored below 1300, or that the person who achieves a 1300 score fared better than 97% of all test-takers.

What is the SAT Score Composed Of?

Here’s your SAT breakdown:

  • Math
  • Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
  • Essay (Optional, though some colleges require it)

 

Total Score

The total score (in the SAT score report) is the sum of the two section scores, with a range scale of  400–1600

SAT Percentiles Chart - Ranking for Total Score (2021-2022)

 

Total Score (1600-1190)

Nationally Representative Sample

SAT User

1600

99+

99+

1590

99+

99+

1580

99+

99+

1570

99+

99+

1560

99+

99+

1550

99+

99

1540

99+

99

1530

99+

99

1520

99+

99

1510

99

98

1500

99

98

1490

99

98

1480

99

97

1470

99

97

1460

99

97

1450

99

96

1440

98

96

1430

98

95

1420

98

95

1410

97

94

1400

97

94

1390

97

93

1380

96

92

1370

96

92

1360

95

91

1350

94

90

1340

94

89

1330

93

89

1320

93

88

1310

92

87

1300

91

86

1290

90

85

1280

89

84

1270

88

83

1260

87

82

1250

86

81

1240

85

80

1230

84

78

1220

83

77

1210

82

76

1200

81

74

1190

80

73





Total Score (1180-770)

Nationally Representative Sample

SAT User

1180

78

72

1170

77

70

1160

76

69

1150

74

67

1140

73

66

1130

71

64

1120

70

62

1110

69

61

1100

67

59

1090

65

37

1080

63

55

1070

61

54

1060

60

52

1050

58

50

1040

56

48

1030

54

46

1020

52

45

1010

50

43

1000

48

41

990

46

39

980

44

38

970

42

36

960

40

34

950

38

33

940

36

31

930

35

29

920

33

28

910

31

26

900

29

25

890

27

23

880

26

22

870

24

20

860

23

19

850

21

18

840

20

16

830

18

15

820

17

14

810

16

12

800

14

11

790

13

10

780

11

9

770

10

8



Total Score (760-400)

Nationally Representative Sample

SAT User

760

9

6

750

8

6

740

7

5

730

6

5

720

5

4

710

4

3

700

4

3

690

3

2

680

2

2

670

2

1

660

1

1

650

1

1

640

1

1

630

1

1

620

1-

1-

610

1-

1-

600

1-

1-

590

1-

1-

580

1-

1-

570

1-

1-

560

1-

1-

550

1-

1-

540

1-

1-

530

1-

1-

520

1-

1-

510

1-

1-

500

1-

1-

490

1-

1-

480

1-

1-

470

1-

1-

460

1-

1-

450

1-

1-

440

1-

1-

430

1-

1-

420

1-

1-

410

1-

1-

400

1-

1-

SAT Percentile Rankings by Gender and Race/Ethnicity 

SAT test scores have a complex institution. Factors such as gender, educational background, racial/ethnic background, household income, and parental education can indirectly impact the scores. Some studies link economic status to higher SAT scores, as data show students of richer economic backgrounds score better on the SAT. This makes sense, since students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to have lower access to regular attendance in school and preparation tools for the SAT. 

Race plays a role as well, as data shows Asians scoring higher than white people, and African-Americans scoring lower than white people. Reasons for comparatively lower scores may include culturally biased questions on the test. Furthermore, African-Americans in the USA are disproportionately from lower socioeconomic backgrounds than white Americans, which also affects SAT scores. 

Finally, psychology can influence SAT Scores, specifically in the following areas:

  • Long-term memory
  • Ability to process new information
  • Social and personality factors, like motivation and ability to maintain focus

Here are a few tables displaying the variety of scores based on a student’s gender, race and ethnicity. 

SAT Percentiles Chart Based on Gender

 

Total Group

Female

Male

Total Score

Section Score

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

1600

800

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99

1500

750

98

99

96

99

99

97

98

98

95

1400

700

94

94

92

95

95

94

93

94

90

1300

650

86

86

84

88

86

88

84

85

81

1200

600

74

73

75

77

73

79

72

72

71

1100

550

58

56

51

60

56

65

56

57

56

1000

500

40

39

41

41

38

44

39

40

38

900

450

23

23

26

23

21

28

23

24

24

800

400

10

10

13

10

9

14

11

11

13

700

350

2

2

4

2

2

4

3

3

6

600

300

1-

1

2

1-

1-

1

1-

1

1

500

250

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

400

200

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

SAT Percentiles Chart for American Indian/Alaska Natives and Asian/Asian Americans

 

Total Group

American

Indian/

Alaska Native

Asian/

Asian

American

Total Score

Section Score

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

1600

800

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99

1500

750

98

99

96

99+

99+

99

93

96

80

1400

700

94

94

92

99

99

98

79

86

67

1300

650

86

86

84

97

96

96

63

72

53

1200

600

74

73

75

92

90

92

46

54

40

1100

550

58

56

51

82

80

83

30

37

27

1000

500

40

39

41

66

64

65

17

23

15

900

450

23

23

26

46

44

48

8

12

8

800

400

10

10

13

25

23

29

3

4

3

700

350

2

2

4

6

6

11

1-

1

1

600

300

1-

1

2

1-

1

2

1-

1-

1-

500

250

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

400

200

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

 

SAT Percentiles Chart for Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos

 

Total Group

Black/

African-

American 

Hispanic/

Latino

Total Score

Section Score

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

1600

800

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

1500

750

98

99

96

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99

1400

700

94

94

92

99

99

99

98

98

98

1300

650

86

86

84

97

96

97

95

94

94

1200

600

74

73

75

93

90

93

88

85

88

1100

550

58

56

51

83

79

85

75

71

77

1000

500

40

39

41

67

63

68

56

53

56

900

450

23

23

26

45

41

49

35

33

38

800

400

10

10

13

21

18

28

15

15

20

700

350

2

2

4

5

5

10

3

4

6

600

300

1-

1

2

1-

1

2

1-

1

1

500

250

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

400

200

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

 

SAT Percentiles Chart for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders and Whites

 

Total Group

Native Hawaiian/

Pacific Islander

White

Total Score

Section Score

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

1600

800

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99

1500

750

98

99

96

99+

99+

99

98

98

97

1400

700

94

94

92

98

98

98

93

92

92

1300

650

86

86

84

95

94

94

83

81

82

1200

600

74

73

75

89

87

88

67

63

69

1100

550

58

56

51

76

74

77

46

44

51

1000

500

40

39

41

57

55

57

26

26

29

900

450

23

23

26

38

35

39

12

12

15

800

400

10

10

13

17

15

21

4

4

6

700

350

2

2

4

3

3

7`

1

1

2

600

300

1-

1

2

1-

1-

1

1-

1-

1-

500

250

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

400

200

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

 

SAT Percentiles Chart for People of Two or More Races

   

Total Group

Two or More

Races

Total Score

Section Score

Total

ERW

Math

Total

ERW

Math

1600

800

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

99+

1500

750

98

99

96

96

98

96

1400

700

94

94

92

92

92

91

1300

650

86

86

84

83

81

83

1200

600

74

73

75

70

66

72

1100

550

58

56

51

52

48

56

1000

500

40

39

41

32

30

35

900

450

23

23

26

17

15

20

800

400

10

10

13

6

6

9

700

350

2

2

4

1

1

3

600

300

1-

1

2

1-

1-

1-

500

250

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

400

200

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

1-

 

Test Scores

The scale for the following test scores is 10–40 and it includes: 

  • Reading Test

  • Writing and Language Test

  • Math Test

Cross-Test Scores

The scale for this test score is also 10–40. These scores display performance on select questions across the three tests and show a student’s abilities in the following domains: 

  • Analysis in History/Social Studies

  • Analysis in Science

Sub-Scores

Subscores in the scale of 1–15 offer feedback on student performance in the following skill sets:

  • Command of Evidence

  • Words in Context

  • Expression of Ideas

  • Standard English Conventions

  • Heart of Algebra

  • Problem Solving and Data Analysis

  • Passport to Advanced Math

SAT Essay Scores

The following three scores for the optional SAT Essay are on a 2–8 scale:

  • Reading Test

  • Analysis Test

  • Writing Test

These scores aren’t mixed or combined with any other test scores. The online score report shows the result in the students’ responses to each question and the students’ essays.

Score Ranges

Student’s abilities are better displayed by score ranges than points. Score ranges are taken from the standard measurement of error and show how much a student’s scores would likely vary if they took a different direction of the test under identical conditions.

Score Scales:

  • Total: ±40 points

  • Section: ±30 points

  • Test scores, subscores, and cross-test scores: ±2 points

What is a Good Score Percentile for SAT 2022?

The thumb rule for a good SAT score percentile is generally any score that ranks you in the top half of the test-taking candidates. So, scoring at the 50th percentile or higher is generally a good SAT score. 

Percentile

Math

EBRW

TOTAL

99th (Best)

790 and above

750 and above

1510 and above

90th 

680-690 

670

1340

75th (Good)

600 

610

1200-1210

50th (Average)

520

530

1050-1060

25th 

450 

460

910

10th 

380-390

400

800

1st (Least)

310 and below 

330 and below

680 and below

Conclusion

A good SAT composite score generally leads to a high SAT percentile rank. A student should secure an above-average percentile to achieve admittance in top colleges and universities. 

SAT percentiles also vary based on socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and gender. 

 

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