Is 1400 a good SAT score?
Yes, 1400 is a very good SAT score. It sits around the 93rd percentile, so only about 7 in 100 test takers score higher, and it is 50 points above 1350, which sits around the 89th percentile. It is competitive at most colleges, including many selective ones, but often below the middle range at the most selective schools.
Drafted with AI by the StudyPDF team. We check dates, numbers and research claims against official sources and read pages on a sample basis. How we write these pages
In more detail
The SAT runs from 400 to 1600. A 1400 could be, for example, 700 in Reading and Writing and 700 in Math. At this level every extra point is harder to win. The test is adaptive: how you do in the first module of a section decides whether the second module is harder or easier, and only the harder second module opens the way to the top scores.
Where 1400 stops setting you apart is the most selective tier. At many of those colleges the middle 50% of admitted students starts in the mid 1400s and runs past 1500, so a 1400 sits near or below the bottom of the range. It will not rule you out on its own, but your grades, essays and activities carry more of the load. At most state flagships and many private colleges, 1400 sits in or above the middle range.
1400 next to other SAT scores
| Score | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| 1600 | Highest possible score |
| 1400 | About the 93rd percentile |
| 1350 | About the 89th percentile |
| 1300 | About the 85th percentile |
| 1050 | About the 55th percentile |
Step by step
- 1
Write down the middle 50% SAT range of each college on your list.
- 2
If 1400 is at or above the 75th percentile for most of them, stop testing and put the time into grades and essays.
- 3
If your top choices have ranges that start above 1400, a retake can help. Plan one or two more attempts, not five.
- 4
Look at your section split. A 680 and a 720 tells you where the next points are easiest to find.
- 5
Check whether your colleges superscore, which means they take your best section scores across test dates. If they do, aim the retake at your weaker section.
- 6
Before test day, review every miss from your recent practice tests and sit at least one full timed test.
How StudyPDF helps
StudyPDF does not convert or predict SAT scores. It helps with the last stretch of prep. Upload your prep book pages, notes or a practice test you already took, then press New material for flashcards, a quiz or a timed practice exam built from those pages. It tracks which topics you still miss, so each new quiz goes after the gaps instead of what you already know. A free account needs no card.
Sources
See also
More questions
Is 1400 good enough for the Ivy League?
It is below the typical range at most Ivy League schools, where the middle 50% of admitted students usually starts higher. A 1400 will not rule you out, but your grades, essays and activities have to do more of the work.
Is it worth retaking a 1400 to get a 1500?
Only if your top-choice colleges or a scholarship you want sit above 1400. Gains at this level take focused work on your weakest question types, so plan the retake around a clear target score.
Do it on your own course
Upload your lectures and ask Bo. Cited answers, plus flashcards, exams, and more built from your material.