What's the SAT score distribution like?

I've been hearing a lot about SAT test score distributions recently. Does anyone have any detailed info or links where I could understand it better?

The SAT score distribution or percentile essentially gives you an idea of what portion of test takers scored lower than a specified score. For instance, if you get a percentile score of 80, it means you scored higher than 80% of the test takers.

Let's break down the distribution based on the 2022 data:

- A perfect score on the SAT is 1600. Very few students achieve this score.

- The median score, or the score at which 50% of students score below, is about a 1050. So half the students score above this number, and half score below.

- The bottom 25% of students score 900 or below.

Here's a rough distribution of what scores correspond with which percentiles:

- 90th percentile: approximately 1350.

- 75th percentile: around 1200.

- 50th percentile: about 1050.

- 25th percentile: around 900.

Please note that these score distributions change slightly each year and are usually made available by the College Board, which administers the SAT.

Remember though, it's not just about your overall percentile, but also about how you stack up compared to other students applying to the same colleges as you. Research the average SAT scores at your target schools. Your goal should be to score at or above the 75th percentile for the schools you're interested in.

Always keep in mind, SAT scores are just one aspect of your college application. Colleges also consider your GPA, course rigor, extracurricular activities, application essays, and recommendation letters during the admissions process.