good essay score for sat

SAT Essay Scores Explained

On january 19th, 2021, college board announced that they will no longer administer the sat subject tests in the u.s. and that the essay would be retired. read our blog post  to understand what this means in the near term and what the college board has in store for students down the road., our articles on subject tests and the sat essay will remain on our site for reference purposes as colleges and students transition to a revised testing landscape..

Why are there no percentiles for the essay on an SAT score report?

No percentiles or norms are provided in student reports. Even colleges do not receive any summary statistics. Given Compass’ concerns about the inaccuracy of essay scoring and the notable failures of the ACT on that front, the de-emphasis of norms would seem to be a good thing. The problem is that 10% of colleges are sticking with the SAT Essay as an admission requirement . While those colleges will not receive score distribution reports from the College Board, it is not difficult for them to construct their own statistics—officially or unofficially—based on thousands of applicants. Colleges can determine a “good score,” but students cannot. This asymmetry of information is harmful to students, as they are left to speculate how well they have performed and how their scores will be interpreted. Through our analysis, Compass hopes to provide students and parents more context for evaluating SAT Essay scores.

How has scoring changed? Is it still part of a student’s Total Score?

On the old SAT, the essay was a required component of the Writing section and made up approximately one-third of a student’s 200–800 score. The essay score itself was simply the sum (2–12) of two readers’ 1–6 scores. Readers were expected to grade holistically and not to focus on individual components of the writing. The SAT essay came under a great deal of criticism for being too loosely structured. Factual accuracy was not required; it was not that difficult to make pre-fabricated material fit the prompt; many colleges found the 2–12 essay scores of little use; and the conflation of the essay and “Writing” was, in some cases, blocking the use of the SAT Writing score—which included grammar and usage—entirely.

With the 2016 overhaul of the SAT came an attempt to make the essay more academically defensible while also making it optional (as the ACT essay had long been). The essay score is not a part of the 400–1600 score. Instead, a student opting to take the SAT Essay receives 2–8 scores in three dimensions: reading, analysis, and writing. No equating or fancy lookup table is involved. The scores are simply the sum of two readers’ 1–4 ratings in each dimension. There is no official totaling or averaging of scores, although colleges may choose to do so.

Readers avoid extremes

What is almost universally true about grading of standardized test essays is that readers gravitate to the middle of the scale. The default instinct is to nudge a score above or below a perceived cutoff or midpoint rather than to evenly distribute scores. When the only options are 1, 2, 3, or 4, the consequence is predictable—readers give out a lot of 2s and 3s and very few 1s and 4s. In fact, our analysis shows that 80% of all reader scores are 2s or 3s. This, in turn, means that most of the dimension scores (the sum of the two readers) range from 4 to 6. Analysis scores are outliers. A third of readers give essays a 1 in Analysis. Below is the distribution of reader scores across all dimensions.

What is a good SAT Essay score?

By combining multiple data sources—including extensive College Board scoring information—Compass has estimated the mean and mode (most common) essay scores for students at various score levels. We also found that the reading and writing dimensions were similar, while analysis scores lagged by a point across all sub-groups. These figures should not be viewed as cutoffs for “good” scores. The loose correlation of essay score to Total Score and the high standard deviation of essay scores means that students at all levels see wide variation of scores. The average essay-taking student scores a 1,080 on the SAT and receives just under a 5/4/5.

College Board recently released essay results for the class of 2017, so score distributions are now available. From these, percentiles can also be calculated. We provide these figures with mixed feelings. On the one hand, percentile scores on such an imperfect measure can be highly misleading. On the other hand, we feel that students should understand the full workings of essay scores.

The role of luck

What is frustrating to many students on the SAT and ACT is that they can score 98th percentile in most areas and then get a “middling” score on the essay. This result is actually quite predictable. Whereas math and verbal scores are the result of dozens of objective questions, the essay is a single question graded subjectively. To replace statistical concepts with a colloquial one—far more “luck” is involved than on the multiple-choice sections. What text is used in the essay stimulus? How well will the student respond to the style and subject matter? Which of the hundreds of readers were assigned to grade the student’s essay? What other essays has the reader recently scored?

Even good writers run into the unpredictability involved and the fact that essay readers give so few high scores. A 5 means that the Readers A and B gave the essay a 2 and a 3, respectively. Which reader was “right?” If the essay had encountered two readers like Reader A, it would have received a 4. If the essay had been given two readers like Reader B, it would have received a 6. That swing makes a large difference if we judge scores exclusively by percentiles, but essay scores are simply too blurry to make such cut-and-dry distinctions. More than 80% of students receive one of three scores—4, 5, or 6 on the reading and writing dimensions and 3, 4, or 5 on analysis.

What do colleges expect?

It’s unlikely that many colleges will release a breakdown of essay scores for admitted students—especially since so few are requiring it. What we know from experience with the ACT , though, is that even at the most competitive schools in the country, the 25th–75th percentile scores of admitted students were 8–10 on the ACT’s old 2–12 score range. We expect that things will play out similarly for the SAT and that most students admitted to highly selective colleges will have domain scores in the 5–7 range (possibly closer to 4–6 for analysis). It’s even less likely for students to average a high score across all three areas than it is to obtain a single high mark. We estimate that only a fraction of a percent of students will average an 8—for example [8/8/8, 7/8/8, 8/7/8, or 8,8,7].

Update as of October 2017. The University of California system has published the 25th–75th percentile ranges for enrolled students. It has chosen to work with total scores. The highest ranges—including those at UCLA and Berkeley—are 17–20. Those scores are inline with our estimates above.

How will colleges use the domain scores?

Colleges have been given no guidance by College Board on how to use essay scores for admission. Will they sum the scores? Will they average them? Will they value certain areas over others? Chances are that if you are worrying too much about those questions, then you are likely losing sight of the bigger picture. We know of no cases where admission committees will make formulaic use of essay scores. The scores are a very small, very error-prone part of a student’s testing portfolio.

How low is too low?

Are 3s and 4s, then, low enough that an otherwise high-scoring student should retest? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. In general, it is a mistake to retest solely to improve an essay score unless a student is confident that the SAT Total Score can be maintained or improved. A student with a 1340 PSAT and 1280 SAT may feel that it is worthwhile to bring up low essay scores because she has previously shown that she can do better on the Evidence-based Reading and Writing and Math, as well. A student with a 1400 PSAT and 1540 SAT should think long and hard before committing to a retest. Admission results from the class of 2017 may give us some added insight into the use of SAT Essay scores.

Will colleges continue to require the SAT Essay?

For the class of 2017, Compass has prepared a list of the SAT Essay and ACT Writing policies for 360 of the top colleges . Several of the largest and most prestigious public university systems—California, Michigan, and Texas, for example, still require the essay, and a number of highly competitive private colleges do the same—for example, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

The number of excellent colleges not requiring the SAT Essay, though, is long and getting longer. Compass expects even more colleges to drop the essay requirement for the classes of 2018 and 2019. Policies are typically finalized in late spring or during the summer.

Should I skip the essay entirely?

A common question regarding SAT scores is whether the whole mess can be avoided by skipping the essay. After all, if only about 10% of colleges are requiring the section, is it really that important? Despite serious misgivings about the test and the ways scores are interpreted, Compass still recommends that most students take the essay unless they are certain that they will not be applying to any of the colleges requiring or recommending it. Nationally, about 70% of students choose to take the essay on at least one SAT administration. When looking at higher scoring segments, that quickly rises to 85–90%. Almost all Compass students take the SAT Essay at least once to insure that they do not miss out on educational opportunities.

Should I prepare for the SAT Essay?

Most Compass students decide to do some preparation for the essay, because taking any part of a test “cold” can be an unpleasant experience, and students want to avoid feeling like a retake is necessary. In addition to practicing exercises and tests, most students can perform well enough on the SAT Essay after 1–2 hours of tutoring. Students taking a Compass practice SAT will also receive a scored essay. Students interested in essay writing tips for the SAT can refer to Compass blog posts on the difference between the ACT and SAT tasks  and the use of first person on the essays .

Will I be able to see my essay?

Yes. ACT makes it difficult to obtain a copy of your Writing essay, but College Board includes it as part of your online report.

Will colleges have access to my essay? Even if they don’t require it?

Yes, colleges are provided with student essays. We know of very few circumstances where SAT Essay reading is regularly conducted. Colleges that do not require the SAT Essay fall into the “consider” and “do not consider” camps. Schools do not always list this policy on their website or in their application materials, so it is hard to have a comprehensive list. We recommend contacting colleges for more information. In general, the essay will have little to no impact at colleges that do not require or recommend it.

Is the SAT Essay a reason to take the ACT instead?

Almost all colleges that require the SAT Essay require Writing for ACT-takers. The essays are very different on the two tests, but neither can be said to be universally “easier” or “harder.” Compass recommends that the primary sections of the tests determine your planning. Compass’ content experts have also written a piece on how to attack the ACT essay .

Key links in this post:

ACT and SAT essay requirements ACT Writing scores explained Comparing ACT and SAT essay tasks The use of first person in ACT and SAT essays Understanding the “audience and purpose” of the ACT essay Compass proctored practice testing for the ACT, SAT, and Subject Tests

About Art Sawyer

Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and co-founded Compass Education Group in 2004 in order to bring the best ideas and tutors into students' homes and computers. Although he has attained perfect scores on all flavors of the SAT and ACT, he is routinely beaten in backgammon.

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Hi! I’m a high school junior who took the October and November SATs. I got a 1500 on October and then retook it to get a 1590 in November. I’m very happy with my score, but my essays are troubling me. I got a 6-4-6 in October and thought I would improve in November, but I got a 6-3-6. I really cannot improve my actual SAT score, but I don’t understand the essay. I’ve always been a good writer and have consistently been praised for it in English class and outside of class. Is this essay score indicative of my writing skill? And will this essay hurt my chances at Ivy League and other top tier schools? None of the schools I plan on applying to require it, but, since I have to submit it, will it hurt my chances? Thank you so much.

Maya, The essay is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Honestly, a 6-4-6 is a fine score and will not hurt your chances for admission. It’s something of an odd writing task, so I wouldn’t worry that it doesn’t match your writing skills elsewhere.

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What's a Good SAT Score?

College Board

• January 24, 2020
• Last Updated December 7, 2023

If you’re wondering what a good SAT score is, you’re not alone. It’s one of the top questions we get from both students and parents. The answer depends on what you want to do with your score.

Any score, especially if it's your first time taking the SAT, is helpful because it helps you identify the academic areas you still need to improve on. A strong score for a senior applying to college will depend on the college you're applying to, and the other elements of your application profile. After taking the test once, you can concentrate on strengthening any weak areas and retake the SAT.

A “good” SAT score can vary based on individual student backgrounds and the colleges you're targeting. For example, a student with a low high school GPA might consider a certain score as a significant achievement, while an honors student might have higher expectations for their score band. Additionally, colleges with high acceptance rates might have different score expectations compared to more selective colleges.

Think of your college application as an intricate recipe. Your SAT score is just one ingredient. Some schools require that you submit your SAT score, but many schools are test-optional . Even with test-optional schools taking the SAT could help you stand out on applications. Also, your score is just one part of that dynamic list of ingredients.

When you combine your score with  everything else in your application , like your GPA, your extracurricular activities, and your personal essay, you might get something really great—like a delicious acceptance letter.

The key takeaway is this: A good score is one that works with the rest of your application to get you in to a college you’re excited about or helps you identify strengths that propel your career options.

The following information will help you figure out where you want to go and what scores can help you get there.

1. Think About Your Future

Imagine your ideal college experience. What do you see? Are you in a big city or a small town? Is there a strong theater program or a state-of-the-art computer lab? Use the  College Search tool  on BigFuture™ to find schools that match what you’re looking for and put together a  college list .

2. Understand the Score Range

The score range for the SAT is 400−1600; that’s your  total score . It’s the sum of your scores on the  Reading and Writing section and the Math section, which each have a score range of 200−800.

3. Don’t Obsess Over the Numbers

We’re serious. Your SAT score might be a significant part of your college application, but it’s not the only part. Even if you get a 1600, there’s no guarantee you’ll get in if the rest of your application doesn’t match what the college is looking for.

4. Check Average SAT Scores

The average scores of accepted students vary from school to school. Highly selective colleges accept a small percentage of applicants, so most of the students they admit have SAT scores near the top. Other colleges, like  community colleges , admit a higher percentage of applicants, so the average scores there are usually lower.

To find out the average SAT score ranges for the schools on your list, use the  Compare Colleges tool   on BigFuture.

Next Steps: Practice and Improve

No matter what score you get, you can almost always do better. Here are two easy ways to improve your score:

1. Practice more

Specifically, review the knowledge and skills that you need to focus on and then practice with Official digital SAT prep on Khan Academy.

2. Take it Again

Students who take the SAT a second or third time consistently get higher scores. Here's why you might do better if you take the test again:

• You’ll have learned more in school.
• You’ll have more time to study.
• You’ll know what types of questions to expect.
• You’ll be more relaxed.

You’ll also be able to take advantage of the  superscoring  policy at some colleges. Superscoring is when colleges add your best Reading and Writing score to your best Math score—even if those scores are from different dates—to get your best total score.

One More Thing

Don’t stress out. No matter what your SAT score is, there’s a college that’s right for you—you just have to  find it . Good luck!

Learn more about the SAT, including how to register.

Related Posts

Official digital sat prep on khan academy overview.

What Is a Good SAT Score?

A good SAT score is one that helps you get admitted to a college that you want to go to.

The average SAT score is around 1050. Any score above that would be above average. A score of 1350 would put you in the top 10% of test takers and help make your application competitive at more selective schools.

In choosing colleges to apply to, consider factors such as the cost of tuition and availability of financial aid, location, and campus atmosphere. Also consider whether the college offers academic and extracurricular programs that interest you. To set your target SAT score, first explore a range of colleges that can offer you the mix of things you want. Then, look at the average SAT score for an admitted first-year student and use that as your target. The College Board college planning website BigFuture contains all of this information and is an excellent resource for researching colleges.

Note: Bear in mind that your SAT score is only one factor among several on your application. Your grades, application essay, and extracurriculars also shape admissions officers' perceptions of your application.

Improvement Through Practice

If you have time to take the SAT again—especially if you just took it as a junior—it's possible to bring your score up considerably by practicing with Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy ® . Research shows that following these tailored recommendations helps students increase their scores. With time and effort, you can get closer to achieving your target score.

The Official Digital SAT Study Guide is also available if you want a comprehensive resource on the digital SAT.

Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy

Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy will make a tailored study plan for you, giving you the preparation that will benefit you the most for test day.

• Go to Khan Academy

What's a Good SAT Score?

Read this blog post to learn more about what is a good SAT score.

• Go to College Board Blog

The Official Digital SAT Study Guide

The Official Digital SAT Study Guide provides a comprehensive resource for understanding updates to the SAT in the digital format.

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SAT Essay Scores: All about SAT Essay Score Range

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SAT Essay Scores: Score Calculation and SAT Essay Score Range

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Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Jun 29, 2024

Highlights:

• SAT essay score is measured by 3 sections: reading, analysis, and writing .
• Each section of SAT essay is calculated on a 2 to 8 level .
• From 2021, SAT essay was discontinued .
• Achieving 20 out of 24 SAT exam essay scores was accepted by most of the top universities. 

SAT essay score is measured on a scale of 2 to 8 for each section . Your SAT essay scores were measured on 3 dimensions: reading, analysis, and writing. Certain universities consider SAT exam essay scores vital for admission, despite it being optional. Until 2021, SAT essay score was also an optional section, but this year the essay section was discontinued. SAT essay score is not required anymore, but if you want to showcase your writing skills, you can consider taking an AP English course. Achieving 20 out of 24 SAT writing scores was accepted by most of the top universities . 

SAT Essay Score Range

The SAT Essay Score ranges from 2 to 8 according to their proficiency level. SAT Essay is evaluated on three criteria – Reading, Analysis, and Writing.

SAT Essay is scored by two different people in between 1 and 4. Their grades are then summed up to give you a three-part grade. The highest grade you can receive is 8 for three, and while the lowest possible score can be 2 for each of the three sections of the SAT Essay Paper.

SAT Essay Score Calculation

The SAT essay reading part of your grade assesses how well you read the essay that was provided. The SAT essay analysis part assesses how well you explained your point. The SAT essay writing part assesses how good your syntax and flow was.

The steps on how the SAT Essay is evaluated are given below:

• 2 distinct raters will examine your essay;
• 4 for Advanced level
• 3 for Proficient level
• 2 for Partial level
• 1 for Inadequate level
• After both of them completes the evaluation, the 2 scores for each of the dimensions are added.
• Candidates will receive 3 scores for the SAT Essay: One for each dimension which ranges from 2 to 8 points.

What is a Good SAT Essay Score?

For candidates wondering “What is a good essay score on SAT?”

Well, a good SAT Essay Score is scoring 19 out of 24. If a candidate manages to get above 22 out of 24, it is considered as an excellent SAT Score .

Average SAT Essay Score

There are different ways and parameters for calculating the average SAT Essay Scores. However, an average SAT Essay score is 14 out of a maximum of 24 points for all the three sections. Logically, Average SAT Score should be equal to 15 for all three sections. But apparently, it comes out to be 14. The Analysis dimension is the part of the SAT essay task that is most different from what students have had to do on other standardized test essays. The average SAT Essay score is 5 out of 8 for the Reading section, 3 out of 8 for the Analysis Section, and 5 out of 8 for Writing.

SAT Essay Score Percentile

The rough breakdown of the SAT essay score percentile based on the most recent College Board data is given in the table below:

In order to apply to the top foreign Universities of the English speaking nations, Candidates are required to obtain a decent SAT Essay Score. Universities like Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Stanford University require a decent SAT Essay score of 5-6 out of 8 in Reading, at least 4 out of 8 in Analysis, and 5-6 out of 8 in Writing.

To attain a good SAT Essay score, students need to practice more and more with the reading part. Try to understand what the author is trying to say and then take time to analyze and organize your thoughts and finally present it in a better way. This is one of the quick and easy ways to boost your SAT Essay Score.

ACT Essay Vs SAT Essay

ACT Vs SAT score conversion helps to determine the better performance of the candidate in these exams.

SAT Essay Sample

Here are SAT example essays for you:

Each section of SAT essay ranges on a scale of 2 to 8, and achieving a score of 6 in every section is considered a good score. Your SAT essay score will be based on your reading, analysis, and writing levels. From 2021 SAT essay scores are not a part of the exam. 

Ques: What is a good essay score on the SAT?

Ans: Each section of SAT essay ranges on a scale of 2 to 8, and achieving a score of 6 in every section is considered a good score. A score of 20+ on SAT essay was acceptable for the top-ranked universities worldwide.

Ques: Is the SAT essay hard?

Ans: Candidates doing regular practice with SAT sample papers and with a good knowledge of English reading and writing can easily achieve a good score on SAT essays.

Ques: Is 14 a good SAT essay score?

Ans: Achieving a SAT essay score of 14 out of 24 is an average score. On average, achieving a score of 20+ is considered a good SAT essay score.

Ques: Is 20 a good SAT essay score?

Ans: Achieving a score of 20 on SAT was considered a good score and was accepted by most of the top universities. The total sum of the three-part SAT essay score was 24.

Ques: Does SAT essay score matter?

Ans: SAT essay score does not matter on your score report. SAT essay was discontinued in 2021. There are other ways to show your writing skills by taking another English essay exam.

Ques: Is a 90% on an essay good?

Ans: Achieving a 90% score on SAT essay was comparatively hard, and you need to write your essay with a perfect intro and conclusion for a higher score.

Ques: Who grades SAT essays?

Ans: SAT essay scores are graded on a scale of 2 to 8 for each section. Your SAT essay score will be based on your reading, analysis, and writing levels.

Ques: Can I send my SAT score without the essay?

Ans: From 2021 SAT essay scores are not a part of the exam. You can send your total SAT score to the universities by visiting the College Board’s official website.

Ques: Is it easy to get 40% on an essay?

Ans: Getting 40% on SAT is relatively easy. You need to write a perfect essay with a good introduction and conclusion to achieve a good score. 

Ques: How to start a SAT essay?

Ans: A perfect introduction to SAT essay describes and paraphrases the argument, and you need to introduce the specific passage and argument that you will discuss in the essay. One thing you need to remember is that your conclusion should sum up all the points you made.

* The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

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What’s Covered:

What is the average sat score, how to set your target sat score, what is the average sat score at top schools, what to do if your score is too low, how does the sat impact my college chances.

What is a good SAT score? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. A “good score” depends on a variety of factors, including personal context, overall average test scores, and the schools on your college list. 

SAT scores are incredibly important at top schools. Many use students’ transcripts and test scores to filter out unqualified applicants, so it’s important to know how you compare to accepted students to understand your chances.

Keep reading to learn some strategies to determine what a good SAT score is for you, how to set an SAT goal for yourself, and what the average SAT score is at some of the top colleges in the country. 

Alone‌, ‌an‌ ‌SAT‌ ‌score‌ ‌is‌ ‌just‌ ‌a‌ ‌number—‌it’s‌ ‌how‌ ‌your‌ ‌SAT‌ ‌score‌ ‌compares‌ ‌against‌ ‌others‌ ‌that‌  give‌ ‌it‌ ‌context.‌ ‌Let’s‌ ‌face‌ ‌it: ‌if‌ ‌you‌ ‌scored‌ ‌the‌ ‌highest‌ ‌on‌ ‌an‌ ‌exam‌ ‌but‌ ‌only‌ ‌answered‌ ‌half‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌  questions‌ ‌correctly,‌ ‌your‌ ‌50%‌ ‌means‌ ‌something‌ ‌different‌ ‌than‌ ‌your‌ ‌75%‌ ‌on‌ ‌an‌ ‌exam‌ ‌where‌  the‌ ‌highest‌ ‌score‌ ‌was‌ ‌98%.‌ ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌table‌ ‌below‌ ‌shows‌ ‌SAT‌ ‌scores‌ ‌along‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌average‌ ‌percentile‌ ‌of‌ ‌2020‌ test-takers ‌who‌  scored‌ ‌below‌ ‌that‌ ‌number.‌ ‌The‌ ‌higher‌ ‌your‌ ‌SAT‌ ‌User‌ Percentile,‌ ‌the‌ ‌better‌ ‌your‌ ‌score‌ ‌is‌  perceived to be‌ ‌by‌ ‌colleges‌ ‌and‌ ‌scholarship‌ ‌committees.‌ ‌

When we talk about SAT scores, we are actually talking about three different data points. Students who take the SAT receive one score from 200-800 for the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test (EBWR), and another score ranging from 200-800 for the Math test, leading to a composite score ranging from 400-1600, which is the sum of the section scores.

According to the 2021 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report , the average ERW score was 533, the average Math score was 528, and the average overall composite score was 1060. 

SAT College Readiness Benchmarks 

The SAT College Readiness Benchmarks offer college-bound students an indication of how prepared they are for higher education, and are predictive of students’ performance in college-level courses. SAT scorecards use a color-coded scale to represent readiness. 

• Green: Section score meets or exceeds the benchmark
• Yellow: Section score is within one year of academic growth for the benchmark
• Red: Section score is below the benchmark by more than one year of academic growth

The current SAT College Readiness Section Scores are: 

A great SAT score for one student is potentially a disappointment for another. Below we share a few factors to consider when determining what a good SAT score is for you. 

There is a certain amount of subjectivity to consider when looking at SAT scores. A great SAT score for one student may not be a great score for another student. If you’re trying to set a target for your SAT score, there are a few different factors you should consider. 

1. What Is Your Starting Point?

Take a practice SAT to find out your starting point. Take the test under actual testing conditions, using the same resources and time constraints you’d have during an official test. This will give a realistic picture of where you’re starting from in your studying journey. Alternatively, you could use your PSAT score. Check what percentile you achieved on your PSAT and compare it to the same percentile SAT score to get a rough idea of what you might score on the SAT. 

Once you start studying, your score will hopefully improve. In general, the lower your score is to begin with, the more improvement you’ll see. If your score on a particular section is below 500, you may feasibly improve up to 200 points. For higher scores, you can aim to improve between 100 and 150 points. 

You should also realize that you’ll likely take the actual SAT test more than once, and your score will likely continue to improve each time you take it. Most students take the SAT two or three times, and the greatest score increases on actual tests occur between the first and second test administration. 

No matter where you’re starting from, establishing a baseline can help you set realistic goals for your SAT score based on the time you have before college applications and scholarship deadlines. 

2. What Colleges Do You Want to Attend?   

The other factor you’ll need to consider when setting a target score is what the SAT score range is at the colleges you want to attend. Generally, the more selective a college is, the higher the average SAT score of admitted students will be. Therefore, if you want to attend a selective college, you should expect to achieve a top SAT score to be a competitive applicant. 

Most colleges release their middle 50% ranges, meaning that the middle 50% of accepted students scored in that range, with 25% scoring below and above. For example, if a school’s middle 50% SAT range is 1320-1450, 25% of students scored below 1320, 50% scored 1320-1450, and 25% of students scored above 1450. It’s important to have a score that is up to par with these ranges.

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Test-Optional Schools and COVID-19

A handful of schools had established test-optional admissions policies before COVID-19. Test-optional admissions allow students to decide whether or not to submit standardized test scores with their applications. However, due to the disruption of the administration of standardized exams because of the pandemic, many colleges have adopted test-optional policies, at least in the short term. 

Should I Submit My SAT Score? 

CollegeVine suggests taking a standardized test if you can do so safely and submitting scores that are at (or above) the 25th percentile for the school you’re applying to. Applicants who submit test scores are accepted at higher rates than those that do not and strong standardized test scores can only bolster your candidacy. For example, if you’re applying to Bowdoin, which has a middle 50% range of 1340-1510, you should submit a score of 1340 or higher. 

It should be noted that the pandemic has changed norms around standardized tests which makes comparing scores year to year a challenge—‌for example, about 700,000 fewer students in the high school Class of 2021 took the SAT at least once compared to the Class of 2020. Despite fewer test-takers, the average score of the Class of 2021 was 1060, nine points higher than the Class of 2020’s average score of 1051. 

Determining what a good SAT score is for you has a lot to do with where you’re applying. If you’re interested in attending a top college, you should aim for a score that lands you comfortably in the top 50% of admitted students.  

All hope isn’t lost if your score falls outside of the SAT score range of your prospective schools, however, you’ll need to demonstrate achievement and excellence in other areas of your application. 

Middle 50% SAT Scores at Top 20 National Universities

Middle 50% SAT Scores at Top 20 Liberal Arts Schools

If your SAT score doesn’t fall within the mid-to-high range of the middle 50% SAT scores at your desired college, you should try to get that score up before you apply. This is because many selective colleges use the Academic Index to filter out applicants. If your grades and scores aren’t good enough, you may be automatically rejected. 

Of course, it is possible to get in with lower scores, especially if you have stronger grades, or if you’re an underrepresented minority, legacy, or recruited athlete. But you should always strive for a score that’s as competitive, if not more, than those of accepted students. 

Here are our tips for improving your score:

1. Make a Study Plan

Use your target score to help create a study plan. Work backwards from the date you intend to take your test and break down your prep work into manageable chunks. Set time aside each day to prep for the test, especially for your weaker sections and concepts. 

Take at least a few timed practice tests, but don’t only take practice tests. It’s important to hone in on your weaknesses so that they’re no longer an issue. You can drill certain types of questions, or take practice section tests. 

2. Learn the Two-Passes Strategy

The two-pass strategy helps ensure you have time to answer all the questions that you find easy. The strategy is simple: first, answer every question that you know or that seems obvious, and skip the more challenging questions. After answering the “easy” questions, return to the ones you passed over.  

Make sure that you practice using this strategy in advance so that you can get your timing on each section just right. You should also pay special attention to your scantron, as you don’t want to accidentally mess up the numbering.

3. Use the Resources Available

SAT prep materials and courses are abundantly available, many of which are free. The most notable of these is offered by Khan Academy—the official study partner of the College Board. It’s been shown that studying 20 hours on Khan Academy leads to a 115-point average improvement. 

• Your Guide to Online SAT Prep Classes
• Your Guide to Free SAT Prep Classes

CollegeVine also has an abundance of useful information on its blog. Check out these awesome articles about SAT prep:

• Links to Every Free SAT Practice Test + Other Resources
• 15 Hardest SAT Math Questions
• Tips to Prepare Yourself for Your SAT Test Day
• How to Pace Yourself on Every Section of the SAT
• 10 Tips to Improve Your SAT Score

4. Apply to test-Optional Colleges 

Another option for students who underperformed on the SAT is to apply at a school with test-optional admissions. Test-optional schools have been around awhile—Bowdoin, one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country , has had a test-optional admissions policy since 1969. For the 2021-2022 admissions cycle, however, most colleges have gone test-optional due to the pandemic. 

Test-optional admission is particularly beneficial for candidates with strong credentials—such as fantastic extracurricular activities and excellent grades—but lackluster test scores. They are also great for groups who generally are disadvantaged by standardized tests, like women, immigrants, students of color, people with disabilities, and first-generation students. 

Despite the large number of colleges offering test-optional admissions, your SAT score remains a strong predictor of your future collegiate success. Colleges use standardized test scores along with GPA to determine your level of academic achievement, a major consideration in the college admissions process. Simply, strong test scores are a proven method to improve your chances of gaining admissions to the schools on your college list. 

CollegeVine can help you learn how your SAT score affects your chances at hundreds of colleges across the country. Our free Admissions Calculator uses factors like your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and more to give you a personalized estimate of your chances at the schools of your choice!

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., what is a good sat test score.

• A perfect SAT score is 1600.
• The minimum score is 400.
• The average for the class of 2023 was 1010

Most of you reading this aren’t 33 yet; instead, you’re probably looking to take the SAT for the first time. It’s a daunting test, not least because of its length: three hours, not including breaks or the (optional) essay. The Reading section alone is a continuous 65 minutes. That’s a long time to focus! The good news is that with practice, you can sharpen your skills and achieve your own personal “good” score. What number is that, exactly?

The Importance of a Baseline

If you haven’t taken the SAT yet, be like Hasan Minhaj and sign up for a free practice SAT online or at any of our locations across the country.

Comparison #1: Your SAT Score vs. the National Average

If your ultimate SAT score (or superscore ) is close to the national average, then you’ll have a solid chance of gaining admission to a variety of schools. ( Good grades really help! They’re the single most important factor in college admissions decisions.) The higher your SAT score, the better your chances of admission at selective schools will be. Plus, high SAT scores also drive merit-based aid at many schools, so earning an above-average score can also save you lots of money — and spare you from accruing significant college debt. In contrast, a score that is well below average is considered low at just about any four-year school. You may be able to balance low scores with a standout college application at some colleges, but even if you're accepted, the school may ask you to take some college-readiness courses before enrolling. And you won’t be as likely to earn merit-based financial aid. 

Comparison #2: Your SAT Score vs. Typical Scores at Your Target Schools

It matters less how students perform at the national level than how they perform at a few key local levels — namely, your target schools. (These numbers are, of course, related: A selective school will be able to boast student SAT scores that exceed the national average by greater margins than those at its less competitive counterparts.) Not sure how you measure up? You can use our college search to find the online profiles of schools you want to research. Look up the profiles of the schools on your wishlist, and click over to the “Admissions” tab. Our college profiles report the middle 50% range of test scores for entering first-year students. Do your scores fall in the lower end of a school's range? That school may be a longshot (though still possible with some SAT prep !). Do your scores fall well within the school's average range? That college or university could be a match! The scores you see are your goals to set — and, ideally, the ones to beat. Remember that the higher you can score, the more likely you are to make yourself eligible for merit-based aid.

The Takeaway

Unless you earned a perfect SAT score, you can always improve your score. Find out your baseline , and then see how it compares to typical scores at your target schools . While colleges consider a lot of factors when they make admissions decisions, standardized test scores are an important piece of your college application. Higher scores mean more college options for you. A good SAT test score can also help you snag additional merit scholarship money — even at test-optional schools .

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What is a good essay score?

So assuming I’m aiming around a 1500-1600 for my sat score (I’m not applying to ivies but for scholarships yes) what essay score would be around that equivalent? I have absolutely no clue about how the essay scores work. I only got one chance to take it, and I got a 6 on reading, 6 on analysis, and 8 on writing. Thanks!!

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SAT Essay Tips: 15 Ways to Improve Your Score

SAT Writing , SAT Essay

Whether you've never written an SAT Essay or didn't get the score you wanted on your last test, you can benefit from knowing more: both about the essay itself, and what really matters when the graders are reading your essay.

To introduce you to what you'll have to do, we've gathered up these 15 tips to master the SAT essay . If you can reliably follow all these points, you'll be able to get at least a 6/6/6 on the SAT essay—guaranteed.

UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered

In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.

While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.

What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.

The Challenge

The SAT Essay is a very short assignment. You only get 50 minutes to read a 650-750 word passage, analyze the devices the author uses to structure her/his argument, and write a full-fledged essay —and it can pass in a flash if you don't have a method for attacking it.

Writing an SAT essay requires a very specific approach that's unlike the essays you've been writing for English class in school. The goal of this strategy is to cram in as many as possible of the desired components in the 50 minutes you've got. In this article, we give you 15 key tips for the SAT essay.

The first five tips in this article relate to what the College Board tells us about what's a good essay. The next five are truths that the College Board doesn't want you to know (or doesn’t make explicit). And the last five tips for SAT essay writing show you how to build an SAT essay, step by step.

What the College Board Does Tell You: 5 Tips

The College Board explains the main components of the successful SAT Essay in its scoring criteria. Here they are, condensed:

#1: Give a Clear Thesis

The SAT essay rubric states: "The response includes a precise central claim.”

What this means is that your essay needs to make a clear argument that the reader can easily identify.  All you have to do to create your "precise central claim" is to identify the main idea of the passage and list the methods the author uses to support it.

Fortunately, the SAT provides you with the passage’s main idea, so you don’t have to go hunting for it yourself. I've bolded the claim in this (fake) sample prompt so you can see this for yourself:

Write an essay in which you explain how Sam Lindsay builds an argument to persuade her audience that more works of art should feature monsters . In your essay, analyze how Lindsay uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of her argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage.

Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Lindsay’s claims, but rather explain how Lindsay builds an argument to persuade her audience.

Now, here's an example of a thesis statement for an essay responding to this prompt:

In the article “Monsters Monsters Everywhere,” Sam Lindsay uses personal anecdotes, vivid language, and appeals to emotion to persuade her audience that more works of art should feature monsters.

It's fine to copy the exact words describing the author’s central claim from the prompt into your thesis statement—in fact, this guarantees that the graders will see that your thesis is there and on-topic.

#2: Include Both an Introduction and a Conclusion

The SAT essay rubric states: "The response includes a skillful introduction and conclusion.”

Including an introduction paragraph in your essay is absolutely essential to getting a Writing score above a 4 (out of 8). The introduction paragraph introduces the reader to what you’ll be talking about and allows you to set up the structure for the rest of the essay. Plus, an introduction can be a pretty good indicator of the quality for the rest of the essay—a poorly constructed introduction is often a warning that the essay that follows will be equally discombobulated.

It's best to have both an introduction and a conclusion, but if you’re running short on time and can only have one, definitely pick the introduction. The main reason for this is that a good introduction includes your thesis statement. For the SAT essay, your thesis (or your "precise central claim") should be a statement about what devices the author uses to build her/his argument.

Introductions can be tricky to write, because whatever you write in that paragraph can then make you feel like you’re locked into writing just about that. If you’re struggling with the introduction paragraph, leave yourself 10 blank lines at the beginning of the essay and jump into writing your body paragraphs. Just make sure you remember to go back and write in your introduction before time’s up!

#3: Use Effective Language and Word Choice

There are a couple of parts of the Writing score section on the SAT essay rubric that pertain directly to style.

The SAT essay rubric states this about a perfect-Writing-score essay: "The response is cohesive and demonstrates a highly effective use and command of language."

For most of us, "command of language" is an area that takes a long time to develop, so unless your language skills are really rough or you're prepping at least a year ahead of time (or both), you'll probably get more out of focusing on the other components of the essay.

The SAT essay rubric also states: “The response has a wide variety in sentence structures. The response demonstrates a consistent use of precise word choice. The response maintains a formal style and objective tone.”

This basically boils down to: don't be repetitive and don't make grammar mistakes. In addition, you should avoid using first person statements like "I" or "My" in the essay, along with any other informality. You're writing the equivalent of a school paper, not an opinion piece.

Bad (Too informal):

“I think that Sam’s super persuasive in this article cause she’s just so passionate. It made me feel kinda bad that I don’t really monster it up in my everyday life.”

Good (Formal):

“Lindsay’s passionate defense of how drawing monsters 'allows us to laugh at our personal foibles' causes her audience to put themselves in her shoes and empathize with her position.”

Finally, try to use different words to describe the same idea—don't use "shows" 15 times. Take the chance to show off your vocabulary ( if, and only if , the vocabulary is appropriate and makes sense) . This component is the biggest reason why revising your SAT Essay is essential—it's fast and easy to change repeated words to other ones after you're finished, but it can slow you down during writing to worry about your word choice. If you're aiming for a top score, using advanced vocabulary appropriately is vital.

#4: Only Use Information From the Passage

All the relevant information is in the passage, so avoid getting drawn into the topic and using your outside knowledge—you want to be sure to show that you’ve read the passage.

In real life, there are many ways to support a thesis, depending on the topic. But on the SAT, there's one kind of correct support: specific details drawn from the passage you’re asked to analyze . We'll show you more below.

#5: Focus Your Essay on Relevant Details

You don’t have to mention every single detail that makes the argument effective. In fact, your essay will be more coherent and more likely to score higher in Analysis if you focus your discussion on just a few points . It's more important to show that you're able to pick out the most important parts of the argument and explain their function that it is to be able to identify every single persuasive device the author used.

Think about it as if you were asked to write a 50-minute essay describing the human face and what each part does. A clear essay would just focus on major features—eyes, nose, and mouth. A less effective essay might also try to discuss cheekbones, eyebrows, eyelashes, skin pores, chin clefts, and dimples as well. While all of these things are part of the face, it would be hard to get into detail about each of the parts in just 50 minutes.

And this is the eye, and this is the other eye, and this is the...other eye...and the other eye...and the other...wait...what's going on here?

What the College Board Doesn’t Tell You: 5 Secrets

Even though the SAT essay has clearly stated, publicly-available guidelines, there are a few secrets to writing the essay that most students don't know and that can give you a major advantage on the test.

#1: Read the Prompt Before the Passage

Why? Because the prompt includes the description of the author’s claim. Knowing what the author’s claim is going into the article can help keep you focused on the argument, rather than getting caught up in reading the passage (especially if the topic is one you're interested in).

#2: Your Facts Must Be Accurate…But Your Interpretation Doesn’t Have to Be

A big part of the Analysis score for the SAT essay is not just identifying the devices the author uses to build her argument, but explaining the effect that the use of these devices has on the reader . You don’t have to be completely, 100% accurate about the effect the passage has on the reader, because there is no one right answer. As long as you are convincing in your explanation and cite specific examples, you’ll be good.

Here's an example of an interpretation about what effect a persuasive device has on the reader (backed by evidence from the passage):

Lindsay appeals to the emotions of her readers by describing the forlorn, many-eyed creatures that stare reproachfully at her from old school notebook margins. The sympathy the readers feel for these forgotten doodles is expertly transferred to Lindsay herself when she draws the connection between the drawn monsters and her own life: “Often, I feel like one of these monsters—hidden away in my studio, brushes yearning to create what no one else cares to see.”

Now, you don't necessarily know for sure if "sympathy for the doodles" is what the author was going for in her passage. The SAT essay graders probably don't know either (unless one of them wrote the passage). But as long as you can make a solid case for your interpretation, using facts and quotes from the passage to back it up , you'll be good.

#3: You Should Write More Than One Page

This has always been true for the SAT essay, but for the first time ever, the College Board actually came out in The Official SAT Study Guide and explicitly said that length really does matter . Here's the description of a one-paragraph, 120-word-long student response that received a Writing score of 2/8 (bolding mine).

“Due to the brief nature of the response , there is not enough evidence of writing ability to merit a score higher than 1. Overall, this response demonstrates inadequate writing .” (source: The Official SAT Study Guide , p. 176 )

You’ll have one page for (ungraded) scrap paper that you can use to plan out your essay, and four pages of writing paper for the essay—plan on writing at least two pages for your essay .

#4: Be Objective When Reading the Passage

Being able to stay detached while reading the passage you'll be writing the essay about can be tricky. This task might be especially difficult for students who were used to the old SAT essay (which pretty much made it mandatory for you to choose one side or the other). You’ll have to practice reading persuasive essays and gaining objectivity (so that you are able to write about how the argument is constructed, not whether it’s good or bad).

A good way to practice this is to read news articles on topics you care deeply about by people who hold the opposite view that you do . For instance, as a composer and violist/violinist, I might read articles about how children should not be encouraged to play musical instruments, since it holds no practical value later on in life (a view I disagree with vehemently). I would then work on my objectivity by jotting down the central ideas, most important details, and how these details relate to the central ideas of the article .

Being able to understand the central ideas in the passage and details without being sidetracked by rage (or other emotions) is key to writing an effective SAT essay.

Don't let the monster of rage distract you from your purpose.

#5: Memorize and Identify Specific Persuasive Techniques

Once you’re able to read articles objectively (as discussed in point #4 above), the next step is to be able to break down the essay passage's argument . To do this successfully, you'll need to be aware of some of the techniques that are frequently used to build arguments.

The SAT essay prompt does mention a few of these techniques (bolding mine):

As you read the passage below, consider how Lindsay uses

• evidence, such as facts or examples , to support claims.
• reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
• stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion , to add power to the ideas expressed.

It’s certainly possible to wing it and go into the test without knowing specific names of particular persuasive devices and just organically build up your essay from features you notice in the article. However, it's way easier to go into the essay knowing certain techniques that you can then scan the passage for .

For instance, after noting the central ideas and important details in the article about how more works of art should feature monsters, I would then work on analyzing the way the author built her argument. Does she use statistics in the article? Personal anecdotes? Appeal to emotion?

I discuss the top persuasive devices you should know in more detail in the article " 6 SAT Essay Examples to Answer Every Prompt ".

How to Get All the Necessary Components in 50 Minutes: 5 Step-By-Step Strategies

When you write an SAT essay, you only have 50 minutes to read, analyze, and write an essay, which means that you need a game plan going in. Here's a short step-by-step guide on how to write an effective SAT essay.

#1: Answer the Prompt

Don’t just summarize the passage in your essay, or identify persuasive devices used by the author—instead, be sure to actually analyze the way the author of the passage builds her argument. As  The Official SAT Study Guide states ,

"[Y]our discussion should focus on what the author does, why he or she does it, and what effect this is likely to have on readers."

College Board makes a point of specifying this very point in its grading rubric as well—an essay that scores a 2 (out of 4) or below in Analysis " merely asserts, rather than explains [the persuasive devices'] importance. " If you want to get at least a 3/4 (or a 6/8) in Analysis, you need to heed this warning and stay on task .

#2: Support Your Points With Concrete Evidence From the Passage

The best way to get a high Reading score for your essay is to quote from the passage appropriately to support your points . This shows not only that you’ve read the passage (without your having to summarize the passage at all), but also that you understand what the author is saying and the way the author constructed her argument.

As an alternative to using direct quotations from the passage, it’s also okay to paraphrase some of what you discuss. If you are explaining the author's argument in your own words, however, you need to be extra careful to make sure that the facts you're stating are accurate —in contrast to scoring on the old SAT essay, scoring on the new SAT essay takes into account factual inaccuracies and penalizes you for them.

#3: Keep Your Essay Organized

The SAT essay rubric states: “The response demonstrates a deliberate and highly effective progression of ideas both within paragraphs and throughout the essay.”

The main point to take away from this is that you should follow the standard structure for an SAT essay (introduction-body-body-conclusion) . Using a basic four- to five-paragraph essay structure will both keep you organized and make it easier for the essay graders to follow your reasoning—a win-win situation!

Furthermore, you should connect each paragraph to each other through effective transitions. We'll give you ways to improve your performance in this area in the articles linked at the end of this article.

#4: Make Time to Read, Analyze, Plan, Write, and Revise

Make sure you allocate appropriate amounts of time for each of the steps you’ll need to take to write the essay—50 minutes may seem like a long time, but it goes by awfully quick with all the things you need to do.

Reading the passage, analyzing the argument, planning your essay, writing your essay, and revising are all important components for writing an 8/8/8 essay. For a breakdown of how much time to spend on each of these steps, be sure to check out our article on how to write an SAT essay, step-by-step .

#5: Practice

The more you practice analysis and writing, the better you’ll get at the task of writing an SAT essay (as you work up to it a little at a time).

It's especially important to practice the analysis and writing components of the essay if you are a slow reader (since reading speed can be difficult to change). Being able to analyze and write quickly can help balance out the extra time you take to read and comprehend the material. Plus, the time you put into working on analysis and writing will yield greater rewards than time spent trying to increase your reading speed.

But don't forget : while it’s okay to break up the practice at first, you also really do need to get practice buckling down and doing the whole task in one sitting .

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning of improving your SAT essay score. Next, you actually need to put this into practice with a real SAT essay.

Looking to get even deeper into the essay prompt? Read our complete list of SAT essay prompts and our detailed explanation of the SAT essay prompt .

Hone your SAT essay writing skills with our articles about how to write a high-scoring essay, step by step and how to get a 8/8/8 on the SAT essay .

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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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How to stand out to colleges when attending a competitive high school.

This branded content article is sponsored by IvyWise

The college admissions landscape has always been challenging for students, but these days, it’s harder than ever — and it’s never too early, or too late, to start perfecting your strategic plan.

Students are tasked with creating college applications that need to be exceptionally strong, especially for those at competitive high schools. Every student is evaluated against others in their school when applying to college, so getting a student to stand out through their application — and rise above their competition — is imperative.

“College admissions officers review applications in the context of an applicant’s high school and region, so they have high expectations for students from competitive high schools,” Dr. Kat Cohen , founder and CEO of IvyWise , the world’s premier educational consulting company, told The Post.

Dr. Cohen and the IvyWise team are well-versed in the NYC high school landscape, as they have worked with students from the most well-known schools, including Brearley, Chapin, Collegiate, Dalton, Horace Mann, Riverdale, Spence, Stuyvesant, and Trinity — as well as top high schools in the wider tri-state area and boarding schools popular among the New York elite. IvyWise is not just an NYC powerhouse: they work with students in over 80 countries, so they know precisely how students will be read, not only in the context of their high schools and region, but also in the context of the wider pool of global applicants. This is how IvyWise students get into selective schools at much higher rates , multiple times over the overall admit rates.

Many of the colleges and universities that have traditionally been popular among NYC students have seen stark decreases in their acceptance rates over the past few years — making expert guidance all-the-more critical. For example, Northeastern’s admit rate plummeted from 18.05% for the class of 2024 to 5.64% for the class of 2027 (class of 2028 data is not yet available). Similarly, those looking to stay in the city at NYU will find that challenging, too: their admit rate decreased from 16.20% for the class of 2024 to 8% for the class of 2028.

Students at competitive high schools are learning that they can’t rely on just getting good grades and need to focus on what will set them apart from their fellow high-achieving peers. With the constantly-changing landscape of admissions, many families are turning to expert consultancies, like IvyWise, whose team is comprised of former deans and directors of admission with over 400 years of collective admissions and real decision-making experience, to ensure their students get into their top-choice schools by creating bespoke high school roadmaps spanning all four years, including customized summer and test prep plans.

The secret sauce at IvyWise is their signature Roundtable service, which simulates the real-world admissions committee evaluation process. During the application season, the entire team of IvyWise counselors meets weekly to review students’ applications, including college lists, all essays and supplements, test scores, and more, giving students invaluable feedback and areas of improvement to implement before hitting ‘submit’ to their best-fit universities.

An IvyWise alum, who went to a competitive high school in New York, said of the service : “The Roundtable feedback was [immensely] helpful in this process. My essays were very well written because of all of [my counselor’s] personal feedback and the feedback that I received from Roundtable!”

While many people might assume that they have to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars to get expert college admissions guidance, at IvyWise, programs that include unlimited access to Roundtable start at $14,000. A comprehensive, multi-year college admissions counseling program is about $50,000, which is lower than at other consultancies that don’t employ former admissions officers. Cohen says, “We have a wide range of pricing, including serving 10% of our students pro bono.”

Cohen stresses how important it is to work with a counselor who has first-hand experience in admissions. “IvyWise counselors have sat in the room where these tough decisions are made, we know what colleges are looking for, and we understand the intricacies of enrollment management,” said Dr. Cohen, adding that the admissions landscape is far too complex and nuanced to trust your child’s future to someone with no admissions experience or might be just a graduate of a selective institution. “Every IvyWise college admissions counselor is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and we  strictly adhere to the NACAC code of ethics ,” she adds.

A parent from New York who used IvyWise’s services to help her daughter gain Single-Choice Early Action acceptance to Princeton, said: “It all went so smoothly. My husband and I felt comfortable staying out of the application process because we knew our daughter was in such good hands with [her counselor]. IvyWise allowed us to keep the peace during what could easily have been a miserable year. And ultimately, the results speak for themselves!”

Luckily for you, we caught up with the IvyWise experts! As students gear up for the new school year, here are the steps they should think about to help them stand out to college admissions officers.

Standardized testing is a must … even when it doesn’t “need” to be.

Many of the most selective institutions either have already gone back to requiring standardized test scores or will be reinstating the requirement soon. Brown, Caltech, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale will return to requiring test scores this year, while other universities like Georgetown, MIT, Purdue, the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech have already returned to requiring tests when applying.

Colleges that remain test-optional will likely still expect students from competitive high schools to submit standardized test scores. “Optional” is not really optional for these students. At a competitive high school where students are more likely to take standardized tests and submit test scores, a student who does not do so could stick out poorly. For example, over 93% of Stuyvesant’s class of 2023 took the SAT, according to the most recent school profile.

The IvyWise team stays abreast of the latest testing policies and score submission data at selective universities. At Notre Dame, about two-thirds of the admitted class of 2028 submitted test scores, compared to 44% of all applicants. At Rice, a whopping 78% of admits to the class of 2028 submitted scores.

Automatically assume that your student won’t be able to score well on the ACT or SAT, so it’s not even worth trying? Not so fast: “As with anything in college admissions, starting early and building a strategic plan under the guidance of a true expert are crucial,” advises Dr. Cohen, “Standardized tests are marathons, not sprints. Both the SAT and ACT are coachable tests!”

If feasible, students should consider enrolling in test prep courses or working with a tutor. IvyWise’s test prep tutors have an average of 15 years of experience and have scored in the 95 th percentile or above on the standardized test to which they teach. IvyWise keeps their fingers on the pulse of the ever-evolving standardized testing landscape, including the upcoming ACT changes for the online version in spring 2025 and paper-and-pencil in fall 2025, in order to be able to best tutor their students. They analyze the student’s diagnostic tests through computer analysis to determine which is the better test for the student’s individual strengths and pinpoint the areas of improvement to focus on, making the process as efficient and effective as possible.

A personal statement must be exactly that.

The personal statement is a way for the admissions officer to draw back the curtain and see another side of the applicant, so it should tell an admissions officer something they can’t learn anywhere else in the application. All students are unique and complex, so they need to show different sides of who they are in their personal statements. Colleges are looking for intellectual vitality and diversity. This matters, so students need to dig deep!

IvyWise college admissions counselors really get to know their students personally to help them find their voices and bring their unique stories to life. One student had a gift and passion for music and composing, with an academic interest in STEM, especially math and physics. He originally planned on applying exclusively to music conservatories, but the student’s IvyWise counselor encouraged him to tie his STEM interests into his study of music theory and composition. This made him realize that research universities could also be a great fit for him, and he expanded his college list — ultimately earning acceptances to many top universities and music conservatories. He is thrilled to be enrolling at Harvard this fall! His personal statement revolved around the idea of “contrast,” using a compositional technique as a metaphor for his interests in STEM and music.

This is an example of where the importance of a trusted guide who has relevant admissions experience comes into play. When seeking help with your admissions journey, it is important to choose a counselor who has professional insight into exactly what admissions committees look for, like each of the counselors at IvyWise has. Merely having gone through the college application process as a student is not the same as having worked on the admissions side of the desk — oftentimes, those who claim they can help college-bound students just because they themselves got into top universities lack the crucial insight that is needed to properly advise students, especially given each student’s unique story, needs and goals. “But even having admissions experience isn’t enough – that’s why we also invest so heavily in professional development, sending our counselors and staff on college visits and to industry conferences,” Dr. Cohen adds. 

Another parent, whose son got into Brown through Early Decision, said: “We can’t thank IvyWise enough for all of their help, guidance, patience, advice, etc. with our student these past few months (as well as with our other student 6 years ago!) and the fantastic job they did helping our student produce great applications.”

Go the extra mile — or two — with extracurricular activities

There are no objectively “good” activities for all students to be involved in — an activity is valuable as long as it is authentic to the student and reflects who they are and what matters to them. When it comes to evaluating extracurricular activities , admissions officers are looking for depth, leadership, impact, responsibility, and how these activities relate to the applicant’s interests. Students — especially those at competitive high schools — should think about going outside the classroom to find additional opportunities to make an impact.

“[My IvyWise counselor] was a huge help in narrowing my interests in engineering. She pushed me to explore my interests, whether it was taking an online course or doing a summer internship. I could never have accomplished what I did without the help of [my counselor] and the whole IvyWise staff,” recalls an NYC-based student who got accepted to Cornell University.

An IvyWise counselor recently worked with a student who attended a tri-state area boarding school and was interested in atmospheric science. The IvyWise team helped him develop his interest in meteorology by identifying a wonderful summer program for him — Hurricane Camp at the University of Miami. IvyWise also suggested that he start two weather-related clubs, one at school and one outside of school. His counselor also guided him to enroll in the most rigorous science courses available at his high school and ultimately build the right college list of schools that would allow him to pursue his passions. All of this targeted interest development led to very successful applications, and he is currently set to attend the University of Michigan, his top choice, in the fall.

IvyWise not only finds commonalities between a student’s interests, but they also offer Research Mentorship , a program that pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to learn how to conduct college-level research, complete 20-plus-page papers, and give them the opportunity to become published researchers before graduating from high school. This gives students a competitive edge and helps them stand out in the admissions process.

Make summers count!

The summer months are a great time for students from competitive high schools to be productive and stand out from their peers. College admissions officers look at how applicants spent their summer breaks — so be thoughtful and impactful when developing your summer plans!

Long vacations and short community service experiences are usually not impressive, as more selective schools want to see commitment, and quality and meaningful experiences that last at least four weeks.  While summer 2024 may be winding down, students should start thinking of creative ways to spend summer 2025, as it will be here before they know it! As Dr. Cohen puts it, “Often, interesting summer activities are those the students develop themselves — such as launching or expanding an initiative supporting a local cause, starting and running a small business, or conducting a niche independent research project. We help students think outside the box. I always say, ‘If you can’t find it, found it!’”

Dr. Cohen recalls a student who made the most of her summer: “Our team recently worked with a student from NYC to provide personalized and specific recommendations for extracurricular activities that would leverage her knowledge of French and her interest in medicine. Following our suggestions, she set up a volunteer internship at a local health center, where she spent 6-8 hours per week with a team conducting a study on remote monitoring of hypertension in an underserved community. This community included French-speaking immigrants, allowing her to utilize her language skills. Additionally, the student worked with one of our tutors to raise her ACT score from 29 to 35. She ultimately gained acceptance to Stanford!”

Map out your course selection ASAP

Plan your course load ahead of time, since college admissions committees look at all four years of high school and it’s important to keep up good grades and take rigorous courses. Dr. Cohen says, “Be proactive and go in with a plan. Don’t let high school ‘happen’ to you.” If a student is applying to a highly selective college but has taken only one or two advanced classes while many more were available to them, it is likely that the admissions officer reviewing that applicant will question whether that student is prepared or motivated enough to handle the academic rigors of their institution.

Students can also consider further exploring their interests through courses at local community colleges, academic summer programs at university campuses, or online courses. “Selective colleges want to build well-rounded classes made up of specialists who have defined interests in certain fields or subject areas and have developed that handful of interests throughout high school to become knowledgeable in those subjects — and intend to continue pursuing those interests in college,” says Dr. Cohen.

Clearly, there’s a lot to do. Feeling overwhelmed? We sure would be if we were in high school these days! But expert guidance from teams like IvyWise can help to alleviate the stress. Contact IvyWise today to build a personalized college prep strategy that is manageable and will maximize your chances of admissions success.

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We enroll an incoming class of highly qualified, intellectually curious and actively involved students who have demonstrated high levels of maturity and personal integrity as well as a commitment to serving their communities.

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The primary factor in admission decisions is your academic achievement. CU Boulder focuses on your classroom performance in core academic courses, the rigor of your course selection and your GPA. SAT and ACT will not be required when applying to CU Boulder. CU Boulder has, and will continue to, review via a holistic assessment of each application with all of the information that is available.

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The grades you have earned while in high school or secondary school play the most important role in determining your competitiveness for admission to the University of Colorado Boulder.

Since there are many different grading scales and weighting methods, we use the total weighted GPA provided by your graduating high school, using a standard 4.00 scale. GPAs that are not on a 4.00 scale are converted accordingly.

If your high school does not provide a weighted GPA but provides a total unweighted GPA, we will use your total unweighted GPA on a standard 4.00 scale. If your high school does not provide a GPA or the GPA provided does not include all completed high school courses, we will recalculate the GPA according to the grading scale in use at your high school at the time the course was completed. When recalculating a GPA, we will not add weight for honors, AP and/or IB curricula because there is not a standard format for the designation or grading scale for these courses. However, we do consider the number of honors, AP and/or IB courses a student takes when determining the rigor of their overall curriculum.

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Academic rigor in your course selection is also a primary factor that we consider. To be competitive, challenge yourself by pursuing the most rigorous courses available that are appropriate to your level of ability.

The number of courses taken beyond the minimum recommendation of 17—as well as those designated as advanced, honors, gifted, concurrent enrollment, dual-enrollment, AP or IB —will be considered in the admission process.

First-year students applying to undergraduate programs are strongly encouraged to meet the following Higher Education Admission Recommendations (HEAR) . Students may be admitted to CU Boulder even though they have not completed all of the HEAR courses. There are no consequences if HEAR is not met. However, not completing HEAR might result in taking additional courses to meet the CU Boulder graduation requirements of individual majors. International students with four or less semesters of U.S. schooling should refer to their country's specific requirements .

Please note: a challenging schedule will not outweigh a non-competitive GPA, as your grades ultimately remain the single most important factor in your admission decision. Additionally, any grades of D or F on your transcript—especially in your junior or senior year—would be cause for concern and should be addressed in your application.

Standardized Tests

ACT or SAT scores are not required for first-year students, but you may provide self-reported scores if you would like us to take your scores into consideration when reviewing your application. You will indicate on the Common App whether you plan to submit standardized test scores. If you choose to submit scores, please ensure that we have received them by the relevant application deadline so that your application will not be considered late.

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While academics and test scores play a large role in your admission decision, we want students who are actively involved in their schools and communities. We place importance on secondary factors beyond academic achievement to assess the overall qualities of an applicant. 

What makes you stand out? Be thoughtful and use your required essays and your letter of recommendation to highlight your school and community activities, leadership positions and awards, participation in athletics or music, work experience, summer activities and special circumstances. Please note: we do not accept or use portfolio or audio/video submissions in our admission process.

Personal Essays

Your personal essays give you the opportunity to tell us more about yourself. They provide insight into your challenges and triumphs in a way that transcripts and test scores simply cannot.

When reading your essays, we are looking for sincerity and authenticity. It’s easy to tell when a student’s essay is something they care deeply about, compared to a student who writes what they think we want to hear. A funny or interesting story doesn’t hurt, either!

There is one essay and one short answer required for first year applicants. As you write your essay and short answer, consider reflecting on challenges that you've overcome, your family or cultural heritage, your academic or co-curricular achievements or specific moments that have defined your character. There are no 'correct' answers to these questions; your responses should reflect the unique aspects and experiences of your life.

What we are looking for:

• Be yourself. Open up to us and write about something that is meaningful to you.
• Be specific. Give examples and tell stories to make your points.
• Be honest. We are interested in your journey—even if it hasn’t always been perfect.
• Be clear. Effective writing and communication skills are expected.

Letter of Recommendation

Just like your essays give you the chance to tell us more about you, a letter of recommendation gives someone else the opportunity to speak to your academic strengths and co-curricular involvement.

This is the one chance in your application where we get to learn about you from someone other than you, so choose someone who knows you well. Many students ask a teacher or school counselor to write their letter of recommendation.

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• Student’s academic ability and college readiness
• Student’s overall performance in class and attitude
• Why the student would be a good fit for CU Boulder

Admitted Student Averages

Credentials based on the middle 50% of 2024 admitted first-year students. High School GPAs are weighted and may represent self-reported GPAs. SAT/ACT scores reflect the middle 50% score range for students who requested test scores be considered in their application review. For the 2024 first-year application, SAT/ACT scores are not required and we take a holistic approach when reviewing your application.  

Weighted High School GPA: 3.74 - 4.23

SAT Total: 1290 - 1460 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 29 - 34

College of Arts & Sciences

Weighted High School GPA: 3.70 - 4.20

SAT Total: 1270 - 1440 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 29 - 33

College of Engineering & Applied Science

Weighted High School GPA: 3.97 - 4.42

SAT Total: 1360 - 1500 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 31 - 34

College of Media, Communication & Information

Weighted High School GPA: 3.54 - 4.06

SAT Total: 1220 - 1380 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 28 - 32

College of Music

Weighted High School GPA: 3.71 - 4.20

SAT Total: 1290 - 1470 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 30 - 33

Leeds School of Business

Weighted High School GPA: 4.0 - 4.36

SAT Total: 1360 - 1450 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 30 - 34

Program in Environmental Design

Weighted High School GPA: 3.62 - 4.17

SAT Total: 1270 - 1410 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 29 - 32

School of Education

Weighted High School GPA: 3.40 - 3.99

SAT Total: 1160 - 1330 Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

ACT Composite: 26 - 31

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Students applying to CU Boulder have the opportunity to earn college credit before enrollment. CU Boulder accepts credit from AP/IB exams, A-Level exams, college course work taken concurrently while in high school and limited CLEP credit. Earning college credit while in high school is a great way to help offset some of your estimated cost of attendance. Students are highly encouraged to explore credit for course work options while in high school. For more information on how credit is transferred to CU Boulder and what credit can be accepted please see the links below.

Official Advanced Placement (AP) scores must be sent to the admissions office directly from the College Board. CU Boulder's CEEB/ETS code is 004841.

Review the Advanced Placement Chart

For A-level examinations from an international examining board to be considered for transfer credit, the student must submit an official copy of the examination result, either by submitting the original certificate upon arrival on campus (University of Colorado Boulder will make and keep a copy as official, returning the original to the student), or through verification of results between the Office of Admissions and the examinations board. Methods of approved verification are below.

• AQA : Student must request verification by emailing [email protected] (add 'Verification' in the subject box) and have it sent to [email protected] . 
• CIE:   The University of Colorado Boulder can use CIE Direct after requesting the following information from the student: Cambridge Center and candidate numbers, student’s date of birth and the relevant examination series (month and year, e.g. June 2014). 
• OCR : Student must request that OCR send a fax confirming student’s results to the University of Colorado Boulder. Fax number: +1-303-735-2501, ATTN: International Admissions.
• Pearson/Edexcel : Student must apply for a copy of the certificate  to be sent directly to the University of Colorado Boulder.
• WJEC/CBAC : Student must submit original Certificate or Certifying Statement of Results only (confirmation of grades via email/telephone/fax not available). 

If you took college-level courses while enrolled in high school, you may be able to transfer the credit to CU Boulder. Only courses taken at a college or university of recognized standing with grades of C- or better are accepted for transfer. All college-level work will be evaluated in accordance with CU Boulder transfer credit guidelines. You must have an official college transcript sent directly to the Office of Admissions in order for transfer credit to be evaluated.

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The International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programs provide pre-university study. IB examinations, whether leading to a full IB diploma or to an IB certificate, often qualify students for advanced standing at CU Boulder. In general, credit is granted for approved IB examinations at the higher level with a score of 4 or better. Students admitted to the University of Colorado Boulder who have graduated from high school with an International Baccalaureate Diploma shall be granted 24 semester hours of college credit. This credit will be applied toward degree requirements only if approved by the college or school. Depending on the student’s degree program, some of the 24 credits may not be applicable towards degree requirements. No CU Boulder tuition will be charged for these credits and the 24 credits will only be granted if the student receives a score of 4 or better on an examination administered as part of the IB Diploma program. If the student scores less than 4 on each IB subject test, the credit hours granted will be reduced accordingly. Official scores must be sent to the Admissions Office directly from the IB organization.

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