A good digital SAT score for most students is a 1200 or higher, while a 1400 or higher is the minimum good score to apply to a selective college.

  • A 1200 means your score is better than about 75% of your classmates, which is good for mildly competitive colleges
  • A 1400 means your score is better than about 90% of your classmates, which is the minimum for a selective college

What is an average SAT score?
The average SAT score changes every year. According to the 2021 College Board report, the average SAT score for the class of 2023 was 1028. Keep in mind that the digital SAT scores could be slightly different but probably not significantly since the scoring methodology is unchanged. 

What is a perfect SAT score?
A perfect score on the SAT is a 1600. This would require a perfect 800 on both the Math and Reading/Writing sections, which are scored on a scale of 200 to 800.

Learn more about this issue with our in-depth article exploring What is a Good Score on the SAT?