How bad is a 1290 SAT?
While a 1290 is a good SAT score in the context of the 2.2 million test-takers (87% percentile score), whether it's good enough for you to submit is a different question entirely.
Ivy League schools consider a range of factors including GPA, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and personal essays. However, a score of 1290 on the SAT may be below the average for admitted students at Ivy League schools.
MIT SAT Score Analysis
There's no absolute SAT requirement at MIT, but they really want to see at least a 1520 to have a chance at being considered. Exclusive: Want to learn how to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score.
As you probably already now, a perfect score would be 1600. The average score sits at right around 1050. This means that anything below 1050 is considered below average, and composite scores of 870 or lower are in the bottom 25%.
The average SAT score is a 1040, so a 1200 is above average. A 1200 SAT score is between the 71st and 80th percentile of test takers, meaning that you scored above 71-80% of other students. A score of 1200 opens a wide range of college options, assuming you have comparable grades (mostly A's and B's).
| University | Score Range |
|---|---|
| Harvard University | 1480-1600 |
| Yale University | 1470-1600 |
| Princeton University | 1460-1600 |
| Columbia University | 1470-1590 |
There's no absolute SAT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 1460 to have a chance at being considered. Exclusive: Want to learn how to improve your SAT score by 160 points?
Scores in the 50th percentile (1050 and above) are generally average, while scores in the 75th (1200 and above) and 90th percentiles (1350 and above) are good and excellent.
University of California: Los Angeles is extremely selective with an acceptance rate of 9%. Students that get into University of California: Los Angeles have an SAT score between 1290–1510* or an ACT score of 27–34*. Regular applications are due November 30.
| SAT | ACT Composite Score |
|---|---|
| 1360-1380 | 30 |
| 1330-1350 | 29 |
| 1300-1320 | 28 |
| 1260-1290 | 27 |
What is the rarest SAT score?
Any score below an 1100 old/750 redesigned is rare – only 10% of test-takers score that low. So odds are, even if you have a low score, it's not the very lowest possible! In fact, it's incredibly difficult to get a 600 old/400 redesigned SAT composite score.
A 1200 is an above average score that places you in approximately the 74th percentile of all high school students taking the exam. A score of 1200 makes it possible to apply to the vast majority of schools throughout the nation and be competitive for admission at a sizable number of colleges.
Being in the lower half of a highly selective college's score ranges can dramatically lower your chances of admission. For example, if the school's normal admission rate is 10% but your SAT score is in the 25th percentile for that school, your chances of admission are really just 5% or lower.
An 800 SAT is considered a percentile 8, which means that you only did better than 8% of all other test takers.
Is a 1300 a good SAT score? The average composite SAT score is 1059, and the highest possible score is 1600, putting 1300 above average and competitive. A 1300 SAT score allows you to apply competitively to a large number of schools, making it an objectively good score for most students.
1260 SAT Score Standings
Out of the 2.13 million test-takers, 381464 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 1265 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 224 schools with this score.
However, if you're aiming for some of the more competitive schools, it may indeed be beneficial to consider a retake. Many of those institutions tend to have a median SAT score range that is higher than 1370.
None of the Ivy League schools have a minimum GPA requirement for applications, which means anyone can apply with any GPA. For Ivy League schools, however, a competitive GPA and application are best. Admission rates at Ivy League schools may be low, but it's possible with a well-rounded application.
For example, Ivy League schools are highly selective and tend to admit students with ACT composite scores 33 to 35, as reported by the College Board. Other highly selective institutions have comparable standards, like Boston University (31 to 34) and the University of Chicago (34 to 35).
The median SAT score was 1500 previously and is now 1000. The lowest 25% scorers had a score of 1270 back then, and now it is 850 or lower. Any score below 750 now (1100 previously) is exceptional, as only 10 percent of students who take the SAT achieve that level… It is even rarer to get a 400(600 previously).
What is the hardest college to get into?
Niche, a ranking and review site, recently published its list of the “2023 Hardest Colleges to Get Into.” Using data from the U.S. Department of Education on various colleges' acceptance rates and SAT/ACT scores, they found, unsurprisingly, Harvard University to be the most difficult college to get into.
Technically speaking, the lowest GPA you can receive is 0.0, which is a complete fail. You can only score a 0.0 for an unweighted GPA.
| College | SAT 25-75th Percentile | % of Applicants Accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity | 1290 - 1450 | 36 |
| U.S. Naval Academy | 1230 - 1450 | 9 |
| Franklin & Marshall | 1210 - 1440 | 37 |
| Lafayette | 1250 - 1440 | 36 |
The 2023 SAT shift is more than just a cosmetic change; it aims to align better with high school curricula and prepare students for the digital age. From reducing the number of sections to introducing more direct questions and shorter test durations, the new SAT format makes the exam more rigorous and relevant.
The latest tally by FairTest, a group seeking to dismantle the misuses and flaws of standardized testing, reveals that more than 1,900 U.S. colleges and universities aren't requiring SAT or ACT scores for fall 2023 admissions. More than 200 colleges have made this decision since the fall of 2020.
