What percentile is a 1200 SAT score?

A 1200 SAT score is roughly the 74th percentile — meaning a student who scores 1200 performed better than about 74% of test-takers. It's a solid score that's competitive at many colleges, but falls short of the top-tier range (1400+) needed for highly selective schools.

What percentile is a 1400 SAT score?

A 1400 SAT score places a student at approximately the 95th percentile, meaning they scored higher than roughly 95% of test-takers. This is a strong score that's competitive at most selective universities and puts students above the 75th percentile cutoff at many highly ranked schools.

What is the average SAT score percentile?

The average SAT score (50th percentile) is approximately 1010–1060, meaning half of all test-takers score above that range and half score below. A score at the 50th percentile is average nationally but may not be competitive at more selective colleges.

Does SAT percentile matter for college admissions?

Yes — percentile matters more than raw score in many contexts. Admissions offices evaluate scores relative to their applicant pool using the middle 50% score range. Being at or above the 75th percentile for a school's enrolled students (the upper end of their middle 50%) is a meaningful benchmark.

SAT Score Percentiles 2026: What Your Score Really Means

Your SAT score is a number. Your SAT percentile is what that number actually means.

A 1200 means very different things depending on where you're applying. At some schools, it puts you well above the typical admitted student. At others, it falls below the 25th percentile of the incoming class. Percentile data is the translation layer between your score and your college list.

How SAT Percentiles Work

A percentile tells you what percentage of test-takers you scored better than. A score at the 80th percentile means you did better than 80% of students who took the test.

The College Board publishes percentile data annually based on recent graduating class performance. The figures below reflect 2026 Digital SAT data.

Total Score Percentiles (400–1600)

Score	Percentile
1580–1600	99+
1500	99
1450	98
1400	95
1350	91
1300	87
1250	81
1200	74
1150	66
1100	57
1060	50
1000	40
950	32
900	24
850	17
800	11
700	4
600	1

Math Section Percentiles (200–800)

Score	Percentile
800	99+
750	96
700	91
650	82
600	71
550	57
500	42
450	29
400	17
350	7
300	2

Reading & Writing Section Percentiles (200–800)

Score	Percentile
800	99+
750	97
700	92
650	83
600	69
550	53
500	36
450	21
400	9
350	3
300	1

How to Use Percentile Data

Step 1: Find your current percentile

Look up your most recent SAT score (or practice test score) in the table above to establish your baseline.

Step 2: Research your school list

For each school you're targeting, look up the middle 50% SAT score range. The Common Data Set for each school publishes this (search "[school name] Common Data Set"). Aim to be at or above the 75th percentile cutoff (the upper end of that range).

Step 3: Set a realistic target score

The gap between your current percentile and your target percentile tells you how much improvement you need. Moving from the 50th to the 74th percentile (roughly 1060 to 1200) is a 140-point improvement — achievable in one to three months of targeted prep. Moving from the 74th to the 95th percentile (1200 to 1400) is a 200-point jump — meaningful but possible with a longer, more structured prep plan.

Step 4: Focus on the section with the most room to grow

Your Math percentile and your Reading & Writing percentile may be very different. The section where you're weakest relative to your target is the one that deserves the most practice time.

What "Middle 50%" Means for Admissions

When colleges publish their SAT ranges, they usually report the 25th and 75th percentile scores for enrolled students — not the minimum score or the average. Being below the 25th percentile doesn't automatically disqualify you, but it means test scores will be a weakness in your application that other factors need to offset.

Being at or above the 75th percentile is generally considered a strength on that metric.

Percentiles Change Over Time

College Board recalculates percentiles each year based on the most recent graduating class. This means the same raw score can represent a slightly different percentile year over year as the test-taking population shifts. The figures in this article are based on 2026 Digital SAT data. For the most current tables, check the College Board's website directly.