Is 1200 a good SAT score?
Yes. A 1200 is above average and puts you at about the 75th percentile of SAT takers, so you scored higher than roughly three out of four. The class of 2025 averaged 1029, and only 25 percent scored 1200 or more. It is competitive at many state universities but below the typical range at highly selective colleges, where a retake can help.
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In more detail
College Board publishes two percentiles. Among actual SAT takers of the last three graduating classes, a 1200 is the 75th percentile. Against all US juniors and seniors, including those who never take the SAT, it is the 81st. A balanced 1200, say 600 in Reading and Writing and 600 in Math, sits at the 72nd and 75th percentile in each section.
Whether 1200 is good for you depends on your colleges. Look up each college's middle 50 percent SAT range on its admissions page or in its Common Data Set. If 1200 is at or above the middle of that range, it helps your application. If it falls below the 25th percentile, apply test-optional where that is allowed, or retake. You can take the SAT as often as you want, and many colleges superscore.
SAT total scores and percentiles (College Board)
| Total score | Percentile (SAT takers) | Percentile (all US 11th and 12th graders) |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 47 | 48 |
| 1100 | 62 | 67 |
| 1200 | 75 | 81 |
| 1300 | 85 | 91 |
| 1400 | 93 | 97 |
| 1500 | 97 | 99 |
Step by step
- 1
Read your score report and list the skills where you lost the most points.
- 2
Take an official full-length practice test in Bluebook to confirm your starting point.
- 3
Work on the weakest skills in short timed sets, 30 to 45 minutes a day.
- 4
Turn every missed question into a flashcard with the rule behind it.
- 5
Take a full practice test every one to two weeks and track both section scores.
- 6
Book a retake six to ten weeks out and check each college's score policy before you send.
How StudyPDF helps
StudyPDF can help you push past 1200. Put your SAT notes, prep book chapters and the skills from your score report into a course, and it builds flashcards, quizzes and timed practice exams on exactly those skills, then tracks per concept what still costs you points. Set the retake date in the Plan tab for dated sessions. The free plan covers about 4 materials a week, no card needed.
Sources
See also
More questions
Is 1200 a good SAT score for scholarships?
It can be. Some colleges use SAT scores for merit aid, and their cutoffs vary and change from year to year. Check each college's scholarship page for the current thresholds.
Can I get into an Ivy League school with a 1200?
It is unlikely. The middle 50 percent SAT ranges at Ivy League schools start well above 1400. Test policies differ by school, so check each one, and put your effort into grades, essays and a higher score if you aim there.
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