the highest sat score possible is 1600. in order to achieve it, you need to get perfect scores of 800 on both the evidence-based reading and writing and math sections. you’ll also receive an essay score, which you can get up to an 8, and a separate set of subscores. in this post, we’ll break down these scores in more detail, and then take a look at how you can get a perfect sat score!
new to the the test? check out magoosh’s guide to everything you need to know about the sat first!
what’s the highest score you can get on the sat?
the sat score range goes from 200 to 800 per section, or 400 to 1600 overall. this makes a perfect total score 1600 on the sat. this is your test score for the overall test.
the college board will also give you subscores in the critical reading section and writing section: you’ll receive a subscore out of a possible 40 points in four separate categories (command of evidence, words in context, expression of ideas, and standard english conventions).
this also holds true for math, where there are three sets of subscores (heart of algebra, problem solving and data analysis, and passport to advanced math). these are based on questions you answered in each of the sections that belong to these categories. (btw, if you’re aiming for the highest math sat score, take a look at our guide to scoring a perfect 800 on the sat math section!)
you’ll also receive cross-test scores for analysis in history/social studies and analysis in science. these questions come from different sections in the test.
what does all this look like? take a look at our sample score report!
in other words, when you get your sat report, you’ll see a breakdown of the following scores. if you want a good sat score, you’ll need to land in the upper end of these score ranges.
| sat test score | score range |
|---|---|
| composite (overall) score on the sat | 400-1600 |
| section scores for evidence-based reading & writing and math | 200-800 (each) |
| subscore for command of evidence | 1-15 |
| subscore for words in context | 1-15 |
| subscore for expression of ideas | 1-15 |
| subscore for standard english conventions | 1-15 |
| subscore for heart of algebra | 1-15 |
| subscore for problem solving and data analysis | 1-15 |
| subscore for passport to advanced math | 1-15 |
| cross-test score for analysis in history/social studies | 10-40 |
| cross-test score for analysis in science | 10-40 |
| essay score (if you took it) | 2-8 |
how to get the highest sat score
what does it look like to get a perfect score? it means missing very, very few questions, first of all! for the math section, you’ll need to get all 58 questions correct. for reading/writing, you can miss only one question in reading (out of 52) and none in writing (out of 40). curious what other results would get you your dream score on test day? check out our sat score calculator!
is this tough to do? you bet! according to the college board, only around 5% of students score above a 1400 on the test. they’re a little more vague when it comes to those perfect sat scores: “a top score on the sat is achieved by only a fraction of a percent of test takers.”
but if all of this seems overwhelming, keep in mind that millions of students in the united states and abroad take this test—meaning that thousands get super high scores on the sat every year! and there’s no reason why you can’t be one of them!
in fact, magoosh has talked to (and helped!) many high school students who received amazing scores. curious how they did it? check out tips from students who got perfect sat scores-—or very close to them! hint: an organized sat study schedule makes a big difference.
boosting your sat score
so how can you get a perfect score (or rather, perfect scores) on the sat? luckily, magoosh has a number of sat prep resources that can help you get your score up!
- know that sat practice tests are one of the greatest tools you have at your disposal!
- wondering what sat books to use? we’ve reviewed them and selected our top picks for sat study guides!
- ready to dive in to your sat prep? try magoosh and learn how to master the sat in 20 minutes a day!
a final word
remember that you don’t need to score astronomically high in order to have a good sat score! test takers have an average sat score of around 1000 overall, and most people would consider anything above average to be a pretty darn good sat score.
and finally, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. college admissions committees in the united states are looking at aspects of your application other than just your test scores. with that said, will achieving the highest score possible on the sat help your application? absolutely! but focus on doing the best that you can for yourself instead of measuring up to ideas of perfection—and you may just find yourself reaching your goals all the faster.
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