Is 810 a good SAT score? Understand what makes a good SAT score and how you can improve your SAT score below.
An 810 SAT score is quite below the national average, which tends to be around 1050–1060. Most colleges expect higher scores for admission, especially the more competitive ones. If you're aiming for more college options, retaking the SAT would be a good move. Keep reading to learn more.
The easy answer is that 810 is not a good SAT score. An 810 SAT score is below the national average of 1050. But with some clever hacks & SAT preparation, a higher score is achievable. To understand how to achieve a better SAT score, let's cover the basics.
The SAT comprises two sections:
You’ll get a score for each section, which, when combined, represents your SAT score.
The highest possible SAT score is 1600. As a security feature, the College Board distributes different test versions in an individual year. Due to the varying difficulty across each version, a scaling system is in place when calculating the SAT score.
The next step to determine if an SAT score is good is to compare it to the average across the national data. An 810 SAT score is below the national average (or 50th SAT score percentile).
S, what's a good SAT score? The 25th percentile falls around 875, while the 75th usually scores around 1155. The majority of students taking the SAT, about 50 percent, fall between 1010 and 1155.
How likely is it that you’ll be accepted to university with an 810 SAT score? Well, it depends on the school. Even an average score may not be good enough for competitive colleges.
While most universities require an SAT score as part of the application, it's important to understand that schools consider more than just the SAT. Your essays, personal statement, and GPA matter just as much, if not more.
Keep in mind that SAT exam scores around the country vary considerably.
We’ve listed several 810 SAT colleges below where you’ll be a competitive applicant.
Here are our expert tips on how to improve your SAT score.
If you have an 810 SAT score, you should probably retake the SAT. However, don't be disheartened by it, as students can take the SAT multiple times. Set a realistic score goal for your retake according to your target school's average SAT score percentiles.
Time is a crucial element, and starting your study plan early – the junior year of high school or sooner – can considerably improve your confidence going into the test. It’s recommended that you take the SAT in the spring of your junior year and then again in the fall of your senior year if a retake is necessary.
There are many resources for the SAT. Some examples include:
The last step before taking the test should be a full-length practice exam. The College Board also publishes the answers to each yearly exam, which can be a great resource.
Curious about your SAT readiness? Take our SAT Readiness Quiz to find out! Timing matters when preparing for the SAT—many students wait until junior year to take advantage of their high school knowledge.
If the quiz suggests you're not quite there yet, no sweat! We've got study materials and expert SAT help to get you fully prepared whenever you're ready to tackle the test.
Plus, check out our full-length practice SAT tests, available for free download to help you prep for the digital SAT exam!
Here are some answers to common questions about SAT scores.
Yes, the SAT can be taken multiple times. You can take and re-take the SAT as many times as you’d like. You need to pay a $68 fee each time to take the test, but students who can't afford it may waive the fee.
The average SAT testing score is between 1010 and 1050.
1600 is the highest SAT score possible.
When looking at an SAT score, there should be a general list of criteria. If the score is less than 1000, you should go ahead and plan to take the test again. Since 810 is a below-average score, there is no reason not to retake the test.
