Is 1150 a Good SAT Score?

Every year, millions of high schoolers take the SAT to boost their chances of getting into the colleges they have always dreamed of. Along with the ACT, this standardized test forms another important instrument students use for admissions to judge whether applicants can manage college-level work successfully. If you have received an 1150 SAT score, you are certainly in a dilemma as to how this score will play in your college educational plan. The interpretation of this score is critical as it may affect your next steps; for example, you might need to prepare more or develop a strategy to apply to the college of your choice.

What is a Good SAT Score?

The SAT score range varies from 400 to 1600, depending on the total score. Each section and Reading/Writing are scored from 200 to 800. To determine how good a score is, one must look at the percentile ranking associated with it.

While the mean SAT composite score is 1050, which is a numerical reflection of the stand for the test having its center around 1000, with an average of 500 for each section too, scores, in turn, follow a normal distribution, forming a bell-shaped curve in which the majority of the students tend to be located around the mean. The number of candidates who get the highest and the lowest scores is fewer.

Calculating the percentiles for particular scores is a helpful tool in understanding score distribution. For example, a score of 1250 is the 81st percentile, which means that the tester is in the top fifth of all test-takers, a very high achievement. On the other hand, a score of 950, which corresponds to the 37th percentile, puts the individual in the below-average category.

SAT Score (Out of 800)

The following table illustrates SAT score percentiles for both the Math and Reading/Writing sections, showcasing the distribution disparities:

SAT Score (Out of 800)	Math Percentile (2022)	Reading and Writing Percentile (2022)
800	99	99+
750	95	98
700	91	93
650	85	85
600	76	73
550	63	59
500	46	43
450	33	27
400	19	13
350	6	3
300	1	1
250 and below	1–	1–

Although scores are comparable across sections, results vary. For example, a Reading/Writing score of 750 places an individual at the 98th percentile, which is extraordinary. However, the same score on the math scales shows their ability at the 95th percentile, so it is still very good but lower than the reading/writing section result.

Good SAT Scores for Popular Schools

The process of setting your target SAT score includes looking at the requirements of the colleges you want to attend. Here’s a comprehensive list of popular schools along with their 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores for 2022, US News rankings, and acceptance rates:

School	25th-Percentile SAT Score	75th-Percentile SAT Score	US News Ranking	Acceptance Rate
Princeton	1510	1570	1	6%
MIT	1520	1570	2	4%
Harvard	1490	1580	3	3%
Stanford	1500	1570	3	4%
Yale	1470	1560	5	5%
Penn	1500	1570	6	7%
Caltech	N/A	N/A	7	3%
Duke	1490	1560	7	6%
Johns Hopkins	1520	1560	9	7%
Brown	1500	1560	9	5%
Northwestern	1500	1560	9	7%
Cornell	1470	1550	12	7%
Columbia	1470	1530	12	4%
UChicago	1510	1560	12	5%
UC Berkeley	N/A	N/A	15	11%
UCLA	N/A	N/A	15	9%
Dartmouth	1500	1580	18	6%
Vanderbilt	1480	1570	18	7%
Rice	1500	1560	17	9%
Notre Dame	1420	1550	20	13%
U of Michigan	1360	1530	21	18%
Georgetown	1410	1540	22	12%
UNC-Chapel Hill	1330	1500	22	17%
Washington U St. Louis	1480	1560	24	11%
University of Virginia	1400	1510	24	19%
U of Southern California	1460	1540	28	12%
U of Florida	1320	1470	28	23%
UC San Diego	N/A	N/A	28	24%
UC Davis	N/A	N/A	28	37%
UT Austin	1230	1500	32	31%
UC Irvine	N/A	N/A	33	21%
Georgia Tech	1370	1530	33	17%
UC Santa Barbara	N/A	N/A	35	26%
U of Wisconsin	1370	1500	35	49%
NYU	1370	1510	35	12%
U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	1350	1510	35	45%
Boston College	1430	1510	39	17%
Tufts	1450	1530	40	10%
Purdue University	1210	1450	43	53%
Boston U	1370	1480	43	14%
The Ohio State University	1260	1420	43	53%
Wake Forest University	1400	1500	47	21%
U of Rochester	1410	1520	47	39%
U of Georgia	1220	1400	47	43%
Lehigh	1350	1480	47	37%
Case Western	1420	1520	53	27%
Northeastern	1450	1535	53	7%
William & Mary	1375	1520	53	33%
Brandeis	1360	1500	60	39%
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	1380	1500	60	65%
Villanova University	1390	1480	67	23%
Tulane	1400	1500	73	11%

Is 1150 a good SAT score?

Scoring an 1150 on the SAT means you are higher than the 67th percentile group of students; therefore, there is always room for improvement. By devoting your full attention to your study, you will raise your score and broaden your possibilities for the future. Students may choose to enroll in an intensive prep course that will provide them with all the information or seek pre-college materials that are free and offer all-inclusive support. 

Keep in mind that each goal is different, and the criteria for a sufficient score will depend on your ambitions. Although the test scores are important, the admissions offices look at different factors when they evaluate the candidates. Some institutions place greater weight on various factors other than grades, yet the wise thing will be not to limit yourself when it comes to choices. 

What is a Good SAT Score Today?

The current benchmark for a good SAT score is 1400 or more. Scoring on this scale places you in the 95th percentile–meaning that you outperformed 95% of test-takers. It is an impressive accomplishment for the number of test-takers who take the test annually. Though a 1400 score does not guarantee admission to the top universities, it nevertheless increases the probability of your admission. Such scores attract the attention of the admissions staff, which makes your application stand out among others. Pursuing higher scores, even by taking more attempts, is the recommended strategy for improving your chances of college admission and helping you feel content with your achievements.

Conclusion

Your pursuit of a better SAT score is now over! Knowing where your SAT scores are on a percentile is key for analyzing how well you have done and what the next step can be. Turito SAT prep will provide you with exactly what you need: perfect study materials, engaging interactive lessons, and a personalized experience to pinpoint your weak areas and successfully master SAT strategies. Book a free demo today and begin your journey to SAT success with Turito.

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