How Good is My SAT Score and can a SAT tutor help me?

After spending long years preparing yourself for your SAT, not to mention the additional studying and training that you’ve put yourself through just to get a highly satisfactory rating, you finally have your scores. However, you’re not sure what to conclude about it.

Questions such as “what does my SAT score measure”, “what does my SAT score mean”, “is my SAT score high or is it low”, and “will I get to my dream college with my SAT score” are just some of the questions that you have to answer even after taking the SAT test.

Beginning as an Army IQ test, the SAT has been slightly changed in the past and has since then been given to students as a college admissions test, using it as an accurate predictor of academic potential.

As a standard tool that’s used to measure a student’s aptitude and readiness for higher education, the SAT can predict future academic success. Even though it’s debatable to say that since there are many successful people who did not do very well on the SAT, it is still an undeniable fact that it is a huge factor in determining your academic path.

The answer to the question “what does my SAT score mean?” can highly depend on what you want to do with your SAT score. For example, if you are a junior student who took the test, any score is considered as a good score since it allows you to have valuable information to determine the academic areas that you can improve and use that to get better scores when you take the SAT again. However, the case is different when you’re a senior who’s applying to a college. Normally, your score will help you narrow down your choices of colleges or universities to apply.

Here are some things and points that can help you make sense of your SAT score!

SAT Score Range

To get a grasp of what your SAT score means, you have to get yourself acquainted with the range of possible SAT scores. The score range for the SAT is 400–1600, which is the sum of your scores on the Mathematics and ERW or the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections. Both of those sections have a score range of 200–800. Though it might be normal for all college and university applicants to aim and hope for a perfect score in their SAT, it’s actually unnecessary and overrated.

The good news is, a “good score” mostly depends on the college or university program that you are looking forward to being admitted to!

25th and 75th Percentiles

To determine whether your score is “good”, you can search “[College or University Name] SAT”. The results of that search should show you what is commonly known as the Freshman Admit Profile, which would further let you know what the average SAT or the 25th/75th percentile is.

In simplest terms, scores above the 75th percentile are considered to be a good score. If you achieved that and have an impressive transcript, background, and application, then you have significantly high chances to be admitted! In the case of schools that only disclose their average SAT, a recommended score of 100 points higher than the said school’s average is advised to ensure that the student belongs to the top 25% of applicants.

Points To Improve your SAT Score

Working with an SAT Tutor while studying and practicing with an official SAT practice tests can be very helpful. In fact, students who spend an average of 6–8 hours per week have an increase of 90 points in their average scores! If you took the test when you were a junior student or whether you are a senior student who’s planning to take the test for the second time, then you’re at an advantage since you significantly had more time to prepare and study. Aside from that, you will definitely be more relaxed and at ease at your second or third time.

Moreover, if you’re an SAT repeater, you will also be able to take advantage and have the privilege of the superscoring policy at certain colleges and universities. The superscoring policy is when colleges add your best Math and ERW scores and refer to it whether you shall be admitted to their program. Even if those scores are not taken at the same time, they can still be considered. So in these cases using an SAT Tutor in one area can make a difference!

Other Takeaways

It’s not enough to only prepare good scores in your SAT. Applying to your desired college does not only require good scores. Even if you get a perfect score, there is still no 100 percent guarantee that you will get admitted if your whole application isn’t what the college is looking for. With this, it would also be a good investment to also focus on other things, and not just achieving a good SAT score. For example, there are colleges and universities that are looking into other considerable factors such as a good GPA, an impressive list of extracurriculars, and a good track record.

College and University Standards Pertaining To The SAT

Since every college and university has its own admission requirements and application processes, you should at least get yourself prepared and acquainted with some of them.

In the University of Florida, based on their 2020 freshman profile, the middle 50% of the admitted students had these ranges and results:

Middle 50% GPA 4.4–4.6 ACT 30–33 SAT 1320–1460

*Based on University of Florida’s Admissions

On top of achieving these ranges and score details based on the previous batch of students they have accepted and admitted, you shall also provide your personal details information attached in your UF application. For the UF supplement, an additional set of short-answer questions shall be given as UF reviews your application. Aside from this, you will also be asked to submit one personal essay that will allow the admissions office to get to know you.

In the case for Florida Atlantic University, a set of courses and their corresponding units are required to be considered for admission. These are the only courses that will be calculated in GPA utilized to determine eligibility for admissions.

Course Units Conditions English 4 3 with substantial composition Mathematics 4 Algebra 1 level and above Natural Science 3 2 with laboratory Social Science 3 Foreign Language 2 Should be of the same language Academic Electives 2

*Based on Florida Atlantic University’s Freshman Requirements website

For GPAs, SATs, and ACTs data, here is Florida Atlantic University’s student profile for 2019–20:

Middle 50% of Admitted Freshmen (Student Profile 2019–2020)

GPA

Fall: 3.8–4.48 Summer: 3.4–3.82

rSAT

Fall: 1120–1260 Summer: 1040–1150

ACT

Fall: 22–27 Summer: 20–23

*Based on Florida Atlantic University’s Freshman Requirements website

With all this data and information, the Florida Atlantic University adds that meeting the aforementioned minimum criteria does not guarantee a 100% admission, and thus may express and appeal through the Faculty Committee on Student Admission.

At Harvard College, their admission requirements and application process may differ from the first two mentioned. In their case, there will be no score cutoffs.

For the SAT, they will be reviewing your highest test scores in each section across all test dates, including other test scores that you wish and agree to disclose. An evaluation of your highest composite score and other scores will be gathered from your ACT. Harvard College will also take into consideration your educational background.

However, the data from the college says that the majority of the hopeful applicants admitted represent a range of scores from 600–800 on the SAT test subjects. Here are the 25th and 75th percentiles of the students’ ACT and SAT:

SAT 25th Percentile 1470 75th Percentile 1570

ACT 25th Percentile 33 75th Percentile 35

*Both are based on Harvard College’s website

With all this information about school profiles across different universities and colleges, you can use them as helpful indicators and pointers that can help you determine which college you are best fit to apply to.

Lastly, you should not stress and pressure yourself too much whenever you take the test. Regardless of your SAT score, there will always be the right college and program for you — you just have to prepare to the best of your ability!

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