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SAT Score Calculator
Our free SAT score calculator adds your two section scores into your total SAT score. Enter your Reading & Writing score and your Math score, each from 200 to 800, and it gives you your total out of 1600 plus approximate percentile context. Or switch to target mode and it works out the Math score you need for the total you are aiming for.
Target mode works out the Math score you need for a total you choose.
Enter your section scores in steps of 10, as they appear on your official SAT score report.
| Reading & Writing | |
| Math | |
| Approximate percentile | |
| National average (approx.) | ~1020–1050 |
| Target total | |
| Math score needed |
How it works
The SAT has two sections: Reading & Writing and Math. Each section is scored on a scale from 200 to 800, in steps of 10. Your total SAT score is simply the sum of the two section scores, which gives a range from 400 to 1600. There is no weighting, no curve applied by this calculator, and no extra credit for one section over the other: 700 plus 700 is 1400, whatever the mix.
Enter each section score exactly as it appears on your official score report from the College Board. If you only have a practice test result, enter those section scores instead, but remember that a practice score is a rehearsal, not an official result, and it can move up or down on test day. The calculator checks that both scores are between 200 and 800 and warns you if a score is out of range or not a multiple of 10, since official SAT scores always end in zero.
Each section: 200–800 • Total: 400–1600
The percentile tells you roughly where your total stands against other test takers in the US. A percentile of 75 means you scored higher than about 75 percent of students who took the test. The national average total is around 1020 to 1050 in recent years. A total of 1200 sits around the 75th percentile, 1300 around the 87th, and 1400 around the 95th. The percentiles on this page are approximate, based on recent national score distributions, and they shift a little from year to year as the group of test takers changes. Treat them as a rough guide for setting goals, not as an official result.
If you have a target total in mind, switch to target mode and enter the total you want plus your Reading & Writing score. The calculator works out the Math score you would need: for a target of 1400 with 620 on Reading & Writing, you need 780 on Math. If the Math score needed is above 800, the target is out of reach with that Reading & Writing score — even a perfect 800 would not get you there — so the calculator says so plainly and shows the highest total that Reading & Writing score can reach. The target marker on the diagram shows where your target sits on the 400–1600 scale, next to your current total.
Context matters as much as the number. Many US colleges are test-optional, so a score is one part of an application alongside grades, coursework, essays, and activities. A 1200 is a strong score for many good state universities, while highly selective schools often see applicants at 1450 and above. Check the middle 50 percent SAT range published by each college you are considering: if your score falls inside that range, you are competitive on test scores for that school.
Worked example
Say you scored 620 on Reading & Writing and 640 on Math. Here is the math, step by step.
Add the two section scores: 620 + 640 = 1260. That is your total SAT score out of 1600. Both section scores are inside the 200 to 800 range and both end in zero, so they are valid official-style scores. A total of 1260 sits at roughly the 82nd percentile, approximately, meaning you scored higher than about 82 percent of test takers. That is well above the national average of around 1020 to 1050, and it is a competitive score for many US colleges, though the most selective schools typically look for higher totals.
Now suppose you raise your Math score by 60 points, from 640 to 700, while Reading & Writing stays at 620. Your new total is 620 + 700 = 1320, which is roughly the 89th percentile, approximately. A 60-point gain in one section moves the total by exactly 60 points, because the total is a straight sum. That is why targeted practice on your weaker section is usually the fastest way to lift your total: every point gained in either section counts the same.
FAQ
How is the total SAT score calculated?
Add your two section scores together. Reading and Writing is scored from 200 to 800, Math is scored from 200 to 800, and the total runs from 400 to 1600. For example, 620 plus 640 equals a total of 1260.
What is a good SAT score?
The national average is around 1020 to 1050. A score of 1200 is around the 75th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 75 percent of test takers. Competitive colleges often look for 1300 or higher, and highly selective schools often see 1450 or higher.
What is the highest SAT score?
The highest possible total SAT score is 1600, which means 800 on Reading and Writing and 800 on Math. The lowest possible total is 400. Scores come in steps of 10.
Do colleges still require the SAT?
It depends on the school. Many US colleges are test-optional, so you can choose whether to send scores, while some schools require them again. Check each college's admissions page for its current policy before you apply.
How do I work out the Math score I need for a target total?
Subtract your Reading & Writing score from your target total. For a target of 1400 with 620 on Reading & Writing, you need 780 on Math. Switch to target mode above and the calculator does it for you, and warns you if the score needed is above 800, which means the target is out of reach with that Reading & Writing score.
Are the percentiles on this calculator exact?
No. The percentiles shown are approximate and based on recent national score distributions. They shift a little from year to year as the testing population changes, so use them as a rough guide, not an official result.