Many students wonder: is 1300 a good SAT score? If you manage to score 1300 more on your SAT exam, how far is this going to take you in terms of your chances of getting accepted into college?
The short answer is, it depends on the colleges you’re aiming to apply for.
For the most elite colleges out there, 1300 is not going to cut it (but then again, it’s not far off either). As for the rest, 1300 might just be enough. At the end of the day, with a SAT score of 1300, you’re already in the 88th percentile of all applicants.
Whether you agree with the SAT scoring structure or not, the fact remains that colleges have a limited number of spots available, so naturally they give preference to those candidates who have shown a proven academic track record. On the flip side, not all colleges are in equal demand either, so some of them will accept you regardless of your SAT score. Therefore, it’s essential for you to familiarize yourself with the playing field.
By knowing where you stand, you’ll be able to develop a realistic plan of attack as well as a plan B, and we at Novel Prep will help you get exactly where you want to be. So in today’s article, we will provide you with some actionable insights into what colleges a SAT score of 1300 will get you accepted in as of 2024. On top of that, we will reveal how a SAT score is calculated and give you actionable strategies on how to improve your SAT score.
How are SAT scores calculated?
Before we can even start the debate of whether a score of 1300 is good, we need to lay out the fundamentals of how SAT scoring is structured first. So let’s give a concrete example. If you were to achieve a perfect score on your SAT exam, your score would be 1600 points. An SAT score is composed of 2 main sections:
- English (reading and writing)
- Math (statistics, problem-solving, algebra, geometry)
The lowest score in each of the two sections is 200, and the highest, is 800. As you can see, they are equally weighted against each other, as the above two subjects are universally seen as the most essential academic skills that are going to be relevant in most colleges. When combined together, the total score is 1600 points.
What is the average SAT score?
To determine whether your SAT score is any good, let’s take a look at what the average college applicant is likely to score on their SAT exam. According to the 2020 SAT Annual Report published by the College Board, which took a sample of more than 2 million high school graduates, the average SAT score was determined to be 1051 (528 for English and 523 for Math, respectively). As you can see, scoring 1300 would put you head and shoulders above most of your peers. But does that mean that 1300 is a good score? To arrive at an answer, you’re going to need to understand how percentile scores work.
Percentile scores: what are they and how do they work?
In layman’s terms, percentile scores basically mean how your score compares to how your peers scored on the test. For instance, a 90th percentile means that you scored better than 90% of the rest. A 10th percentile, on the other hand, means that your score surpasses only 10% of the test-takers, while 90% of them scored better than you.
For reference, we’re going to provide a table that demonstrates the typical ranges of what constitutes a “good” or a “bad” SAT score. Note that this is for illustration purposes only – a “bad” score for certain colleges can be considered good for others (depending on the volume of applicants they typically get).
| SAT COMPOSITE SCORE | PERCENTILE SCORE | |
| Great | Between 1350 and 1600 | Between 90th and 100th |
| Good | Between 1050 and 1350 | Between 50th and 90th |
| Bad | Between 600 and 1050 | Anything below 50th |
If you analyze the table above, you will get a rough idea of how high you need to score to position yourself well for the academic life that lies ahead. It all comes down to your goals and ambitions, as well as how competitive your desired college of choice tends to be.
For instance, a score of 1300 might be perfectly fine for non-competitive colleges, whereas for colleges like Ivy League and similar, it would be quite a struggle to get in.
The best colleges that accept candidates with a 1300 SAT score of better
To give you a better idea of what you should be aiming for in terms of your SAT score, we’ve prepared a list of schools with their corresponding SAT averages. You can find it below:
Tier 1 School List
| SCHOOL | SAT Average | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1545 | Cambridge, MA |
| Harvard University | 1530 | Cambridge, MA |
| Stanford University | 1520 | Stanford, CA |
| Yale University | 1530 | New Haven, CT |
| University of Chicago | 1545 | Chicago, IL |
| Johns Hopkins University | 1515 | Baltimore, MD |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1525 | Philadelphia, PA |
| California Institute of Technology | 1555 | Pasadena, CA |
| Princeton University | 1515 | Princeton, NJ |
| Brown University | 1515 | Providence, RI |
Tier 2 School List
| SCHOOL | SAT Average | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Whitman College | 1380 | Walla Walla, WA |
| Davidson College | 1380 | Davidson, North Carolina |
| University of Miami | 1380 | Coral Gables, Florida |
| Lafayette College | 1380 | Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Trinity University | 1370 | San Antonio, TX |
| Binghamton University | 1375 | Vestal, NY |
| Kenyon College | 1370 | Gambier, Ohio |
| University of Richmond | 1370 | Richmond, VA |
| Lehigh University | 1365 | Bethlehem, PA |
| Skidmore College | 1360 | Saratoga Springs, New York |
| Union College | 1360 | Schenectady, NY |
| University of Florida | 1360 | Gainesville, FL |
| Gettysburg College | 1360 | Gettysburg, PA |
| Santa Clara University | 1360 | Santa Clara. California |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 1355 | Santa Barbara, CA |
| University of Texas at Austin | 1355 | Austin, TX |
| Southern Methodist University | 1350 | Dallas, Texas |
| University of Texas at Dallas | 1350 | Richardson, TX |
| Loyola Marymount University | 1340 | Los Angeles, California |
| University of Washington | 1340 | Seattle, WA |
Tier 3 School List
| SCHOOL | SAT Average | Location |
|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut | 1315 | Storrs, CT |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 1300 | Rochester, NY |
| American University | 1300 | Washington, DC |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | 1290 | Amherst, MA |
| Drexel University | 1290 | Philadelphia, PA |
| University of California, Davis | 1280 | Davis, CA |
| Chapman University | 1280 | Orange, CA |
The spotlight: 5 colleges to consider applying to
To give you a taste of what to expect in each SAT score range, we’ll briefly describe what’s currently on offer. In other words, even an average SAT score can get you into quite a decent college, perhaps even the kind that aligns with your interests more than what you’d get if you were to sign up for the likes of Ivy League and similar.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (average SAT composite: 1230)
This is a college that aims to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and community engagement. Coupled with modern-day facilities like ASU Startup Labs and the Biodesign Institute, you will find an environment that will give you some valuable hands-on experience in what it’s like to run a business.
Florida State University (average SAT composite: 1284)
If you’re looking for a nice middle ground between a large university and a smaller college, this is the place to be. The aim of this university is to cultivate a strong sense of community. Florida State University ranks among the top public colleges in the US, and students benefit from academic advising, career services, numerous student organizations, and more.
Oregon State University (average SAT composite: 1202)
This college puts a lot of emphasis on innovation and research, particularly in the field of STEM. Among the student benefits are the 10% tuition scholarship, application fee waiver for online students, and a vibrant campus life. Here’s where many lifelong connections are born and it’s the college for those who want to make a change in the world.
Central Michigan University (average SAT composite: 1106)
This university is your gateway to high-quality education that won’t break the bank. The campus life here is vibrant, certain applicants enjoy waived application fees. A great place to set you on the path to personal growth.
University of California-Davis (average SAT composite: 1298)
This is a top-ranked public research university with a commitment to sustainability. Students also get access to a comprehensive health insurance plan that provides affordable, yet high-quality coverage. This college also houses state-of-the-art recreational facilities.
Strategies for improving your SAT score
As the old saying goes, you should shoot for the moon – even if you miss, you’ll still end up among the stars. This is the guiding motto here at Novel Prep. With this in mind, we’ve prepared some strategies to help you improve your SAT score, secure your place at the college of your dreams, and perhaps even nail that scholarship you’ve been dreaming of. Let’s get started!
Start by doing your homework
And by that, we don’t mean your typical high school homework. What you should be doing is researching the colleges you want to get into – not only from the perspective of SAT score requirements but also in terms of the college culture and whether the subject direction aligns with your professional and personal interests.
Work on your weaknesses
Is either Math or English not exactly one of your strong points? Perhaps there’s a specific area you’re struggling with? Since the SAT exam consists of these two subjects almost exclusively, that’s what you’ll need to be working on. If you’re not really good with introspection, we’ve got your back! At Novel Prep, our unique SAT test prep methodology revolves around working with you 1-on-1 to boost your SAT score to where it needs to be, whether online or in person. For instance, if you take one of our SAT exam practice test examples and the score comes back at 1200, we’re confident we can help you boost it to 1350 or higher. We will help you:
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses
- Help you familiarize yourself with the test format
- Work on your confidence
- Teach you valuable time management skills
FACT: 90 % of Novel Prep students score 1450 or above on their SAT exam.
Commit to a study schedule
If you want to make a breakthrough in your academic achievements, you’re going to need to put some effort into it, and the only way to make that happen is to make a time commitment. Do what you need to do to make some room in your schedule, and reserve a spot in your schedule in advance so you’ll have enough time to hone your skills and get ready for your SAT exam. This should be at least a few hours each week.
Review the official SAT materials
To effectively study for SAT test, start with the official SAT materials that are also accessible online. By doing so, you will get a solid idea of the difficulty requirements. Of course, these should be taken as reference only – the questions and their difficulty might differ, but the general subject matter is pretty much known in advance. If you’d like to have a word about this with a Novel Prep SAT exam tutor, you’re welcome to drop us a message at any time.
Conclusion
To sum it up, is a 1300 a good SAT score? For numerous colleges in the US, it absolutely can be! A score like this will also get you into several art colleges and other specialized schools. The only situation where you’ll find yourself falling short is the top colleges like Ivy League and similar. Therefore, it’s crucial for you to research what you’re getting yourself into and what the requirements at your college of choice tend to be (please refer to the table presented above).
But remember that your SAT score is only a part of the overall equation as colleges also consider other factors, including your letters of recommendation, essays, and extracurricular activities. But then again, don’t forget to also make sure that your college of choice is going to be a good fit from your perspective, so don’t be afraid to shop around. While you’re at it, you should also familiarize yourself with the campus culture and potential financial aid opportunities.
And, if you’d like to play it safe, we at Novel Prep encourage you to aim even higher than 1300. Not sure how to get there? We invite you to check out our SAT prep courses and take advantage of the expertise provided by our certified SAT help tutors.
