Does anybody understand how SAT percentiles work? I just got my scores back and I'm trying to interpret my results within the context of percentiles. Is higher better or worse? Thanks in advance for any helpful info.
Sure, I can help with that. SAT percentiles give you an idea of how well you did compared to other test-takers. If you see that your score is in the 75th percentile, for example, it means you did better than 75% of the test-takers, putting you in the top 25% of scores.
Essentially, if you’re in the 90th percentile, for instance, you scored higher than 90% of test-takers. As a result, a higher percentile is definitely better. It means your score is near or above the top relative to other students.
Keep in mind, though, that while SAT scores and percentiles are important, they are just one part of your application. Many colleges consider other factors like your GPA, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and college essays.
It's especially important to consider the percentiles in context of the colleges you're thinking of applying to. Look up their average SAT scores or their middle 50% SAT score range for accepted students, as you want to aim for a score within or above that range.
For instance, if a college's 25th-75th percentile range is 1320-1480 for SAT scores, half of the admitted students got an SAT score within that range. Ideally, your score should fall above the 75th percentile to strengthen your application.
Just remember to put your score into context and use it as a tool to gauge the competitiveness of your application for the colleges on your list.
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