SAT Test Percentiles—How do they work?

Could somebody enlighten me about how SAT test percentiles work? I've heard about them a lot but I'm not exactly sure how they determine your percentile. Feel kind of lost here.

Sure, I can help with that. The SAT percentiles are a way of comparing your score to the scores of other test takers. They basically tell you what percentage of test takers you scored higher than.

Here's a bit more in-depth explanation:

Firstly, the SAT scores range from 400 to 1600, with separate scores for the Math section and the Reading and Writing section. Each of these section scores ranges from 200 to 800.

Now, let's say you get a score that puts you in the 70th percentile. What does that mean? It signifies that you scored higher than 70% of the test-takers. So, if 100 people took the test, your score would be higher than the scores of 70 of them.

This percentile figure is based on the full pool of test takers. That's to say, it includes everyone who took the SAT, not just the group applying to selective colleges.

However, the range of percentiles is not static. It can shift slightly from year to year because percentiles are recalculated annually based on the scores of all test takers from the prior three years. Therefore, an 1150 might represent the 70th percentile one year, but the 72nd percentile the next year if test scores generally decreased.

Finally, remember that while SAT scores and percentiles can provide a snapshot of your academic abilities compared to other students, they are just one factor colleges consider during the admissions process. Factors like your grades, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation, among others, are also crucial components of your application.