Before taking the SAT, anxiety about test scores permeates juniors across the country. Some students aim for a 1600, others aim for the national average of 1030. But what is a good SAT score? Is there a good SAT score?

Firstly, a good SAT score depends on the student’s future after high school. Students who are joining the military or entering the workforce after high school should not be concerned about their SAT scores. However, for students applying to colleges, a good SAT score can be a boost to their journey of being accepted to their dream school.

If a student is applying to competitive colleges like the University of Texas at Austin, they should aim for a 1400, which is 90th percentile, a great competitive SAT score. If a student is aiming for a less competitive school like the University of Houston, they may aim for a 1200, which is the 80th percentile. Whilst maybe not good enough for competitive schools, it is a great score nonetheless. Overall, a good SAT score is entirely dependent on your future.