Setting an SAT Goal Score
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Kristen Wagoner
As Strategic Test Prep's Client Success Manager, I work with students who come to us at all levels. Some are already scoring in the 1400s and want to break into the 1500s. Others are just getting started and trying to understand what the SAT even is in the context of college admissions.
One question comes up often, especially early in the process. I’ll ask, “What’s your goal score?” And sometimes the question is bounced right back to me:
“What should my goal score be?”
It’s a fair question. Your SAT score can feel like this big, intimidating number floating out there, and families want reassurance that they’re aiming for the right thing.
But the truth is, there isn’t one universal “good” SAT goal score. The right goal depends on your student’s schools, their timeline, and where they’re starting. A good SAT goal score isn’t about chasing prestige. It’s about building a smart, realistic plan that supports your student's college list.
🔍 Start With the School List
Families often want to start SAT prep by choosing a target score. In practice, the better starting point is the college list, as a 1350 might be a very strong score for one student’s goals and a limiting score for another’s.
The first step is curating a list of schools your student is genuinely considering. This doesn’t have to be final, and it can absolutely change over time. But you need a working list in order to set a goal score that is grounded in reality.
Once you have that list, look up each school’s SAT profile. Most colleges publish a score range for admitted students. A strong goal score is usually near the higher end of that middle range. Not because your student must be perfect, but because being above the median gives them more flexibility in an increasingly competitive admissions environment.
🔍 What SAT Score is Needed to Go to a Top 20 School?
If you're aiming for a top 20 school, the SAT goal score conversation changes quickly. At that level, the SAT is rarely the only reason a student gets in. But it can absolutely be the quickest reason a student gets filtered out.
Most top 20 schools admit students with scores concentrated in the 1500s. For many applicants, a score in the mid 1500s is where they become clearly competitive on paper.
Top schools are not short on high-achieving students. They are overwhelmed with them. A strong SAT score doesn’t guarantee admission, but it can remove doubt about academic readiness and help an application feel more statistically aligned with the institution.
It’s also worth remembering that admissions at this level are holistic. Even a perfect SAT score does not “secure” a top 20 admission. Extracurriculars, course rigor, essays, and recommendations are the important qualitative factors these schools look at once a student has passed the preliminary quantitative metrics (1500+ SAT score).
So, if a student is targeting top 20 schools, the SAT goal score usually starts around 1500 and often climbs closer to 1550 for the most selective programs.
🔍 What If My Student Is Applying to Test-Optional Schools?
Test optional has created a lot of confusion, and understandably so.
Families hear “optional” and assume the SAT no longer matters. In reality, many students still benefit from submitting SAT scores, even when schools do not require scores.
If your student earns a score that falls within a school’s middle 50% range, submitting it can strengthen their application. It adds another piece of evidence that they can handle the academic demands of the institution.
There’s also a practical reality here: colleges still like having SAT scores to report. Strong submitted scores can support a school’s academic profile and rankings. Even in a test-optional world, scores still carry weight when they are strong.
Students benefit as well, particularly when it comes to scholarship opportunities. Many merit scholarships still use test scores in their evaluation process, and a good SAT score can expand the range of financial aid options.
That said, test optional truly does mean optional.
If your student’s score is below the median range and the school is test optional, it is often better not to submit. In that situation, your student is usually better served by letting the rest of the application do the talking.
⏰ The Bottom Line
The best SAT goal score isn’t a number you pick because it sounds impressive.
It’s a number tied to your student’s school list, supported by admissions data, and aligned with a realistic prep plan.
When students properly set their goal score, SAT prep becomes less stressful. It becomes more focused, more strategic, and more manageable.
And if you’re not sure what goal score makes sense for your student—or how to build a prep plan that matches their timeline—we can help.
Book a free consultation with our team to talk through your student’s school list, baseline score, and the most realistic target based on their goals.
Happy Prepping!
Kristen Wagoner
Client Success Manager - Strategic Test Prep
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