Fast Facts

SAT scores

Question:
What are the average scores for students taking the SAT?

Response:

The SAT (formerly known as the Scholastic Assessment Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test) is not designed as an indicator of student achievement, but rather as an aid for predicting how well students will do in college. Possible scores on each section of the SAT range from 200 to 800. Between 1998–99 and 2004–05, the mathematics SAT average score increased by 9 points, but it decreased by 12 points between 2004–05 (520) and 2015–16 (508). The critical reading average score decreased by 14 points between 2004–05 (508) and 2015–16 (494). Between 2005–06 (the year in which the SAT writing section was introduced) and 2015–16, the writing average score decreased by 15 points (from 497 to 482).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2018). Digest of Education Statistics, 2016 (NCES 2017–094), Chapter 2.

SAT mean scores of college-bound seniors, by race/ethnicity: Selected years, 1986–87 through 2015–16
Race/ethnicity	1986–87	1990–91	1996–97	2000–01	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12	2012–13	2013–14	2014–15	2015–16
SAT-Critical reading
All students	507	499	505	506	508	503	502	502	501	501	497	496	496	497	495	494
White	524	518	526	529	532	527	527	528	528	528	528	527	527	529	529	528
Black	428	427	434	433	433	434	433	430	429	429	428	428	431	431	431	430
Hispanic	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	448
Mexican American	457	454	451	451	453	454	455	454	453	454	451	448	449	450	448	—
Puerto Rican	436	436	454	457	460	459	459	456	452	454	452	452	456	456	456	—
Other Hispanic	464	458	466	460	463	458	459	455	455	454	451	447	450	451	449	—
Asian/Pacific Islander	479	485	496	501	511	510	514	513	516	519	517	518	521	523	525	—
Asian	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	529
Pacific Islander	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	432
American Indian/Alaska Native	471	470	475	481	489	487	487	485	486	485	484	482	480	483	481	468
Other	480	486	512	503	495	494	497	496	494	494	493	491	492	493	490	—
Other race	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	496
Two or more races	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	511
SAT-Mathematics
All students	501	500	511	514	520	518	515	515	515	516	514	514	514	513	511	508
White	514	513	526	531	536	536	534	537	536	536	535	536	534	534	534	533
Black	411	419	423	426	431	429	429	426	426	428	427	428	429	429	428	425
Hispanic	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	453
Mexican American	455	459	458	458	463	465	466	463	463	467	466	465	464	461	457	—
Puerto Rican	432	439	447	451	457	456	454	453	450	452	452	452	453	450	449	—
Other Hispanic	462	462	468	465	469	463	463	461	461	462	462	461	461	459	457	—
Asian/Pacific Islander	541	548	560	566	580	578	578	581	587	591	595	595	597	598	598	—
Asian	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	602
Pacific Islander	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	438
American Indian/Alaska Native	463	468	475	479	493	494	494	491	493	492	488	489	486	484	482	471
Other	482	492	514	512	513	513	512	512	514	514	517	516	519	520	519	—
Other race	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	519
Two or more races	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	505
SAT-Writing
All students	†	†	†	†	†	497	494	494	493	492	489	488	488	487	484	482
White	†	†	†	†	†	519	518	518	517	516	516	515	515	513	513	511
Black	†	†	†	†	†	428	425	424	421	420	417	417	418	418	418	415
Hispanic	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	436
Mexican American	†	†	†	†	†	452	450	447	446	448	445	443	442	443	438	—
Puerto Rican	†	†	†	†	†	448	447	445	443	443	442	442	445	443	442	—
Other Hispanic	†	†	†	†	†	450	450	448	448	447	444	442	443	443	439	—
Asian/Pacific Islander	†	†	†	†	†	512	513	516	520	526	528	528	527	530	531	—
Asian	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	534
Pacific Islander	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	423
American Indian/Alaska Native	†	†	†	†	†	474	473	470	469	467	465	462	461	461	460	447
Other	†	†	†	†	†	493	493	494	493	492	492	491	490	491	487	—
Other race	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	491
Two or more races	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	488

—Not available.
†Not applicable.
¹Data for 2015–16 seniors cannot be compared to data for previous graduating cohorts because the 2015–16 data include testing only through January of the senior year and graduating cohort membership was also calculated differently. In addition, the categories used to collect and report data on race/ethnicity in 2015–16 are not comparable to those used in prior years.
NOTE: Data for 2009–10 and earlier years are for seniors who took the SAT at any time during their high school years through March of their senior year. Data for 2010–11 through 2014–15 are for seniors who took the SAT at any time during their high school years through June of their senior year. Data for 2015–16 are for seniors who took the SAT at any time during their high school years through the January 2016 administration, which was the final administration prior to a major test redesign; because of the smaller number of test administrations and other differences, the 2015–16 data are not comparable to data for earlier years. For all data years, if a student took the SAT more than once, the most recent score on each section was used. Possible scores on each section of the SAT range from 200 to 800. Prior to 2006, the critical reading section was known as the verbal section. The writing section was introduced in March 2005. The SAT was formerly known as the Scholastic Assessment Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2018). Digest of Education Statistics, 2016 (NCES 2017-094), Table 226.10.

Related Tables and Figures: (Listed by Release Date)