SAT Score Calculator

Is 1520 a Good SAT Score?

A 1520 is exceptional: the 98th percentile of SAT takers. Here is what it means and what to do with it.

Calculate your scoreAll score bands
SAT score
1520
Percentile
98th
Rating
Exceptional
ACT equivalent
34

What a 1520 SAT score means

A 1520 is exceptional. On College Board’s current tables it sits at the 98th percentile of students who took the SAT, so you scored at or above roughly 98% of test-takers (top 2%). Measured against all US juniors and seniors, including those who never take the test, it is the 99th+ percentile. The national average total is about 1025, so a 1520 is 495 points above the average. On the official concordance it is equivalent to about a 34 composite on the ACT.

Which colleges a 1520 fits

Admissions readers compare your score with the middle-50% range of admitted students, published in each college’s Common Data Set. A 1520 is in the middle-50% range at the most selective universities in the country (Ivy League, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Chicago, Duke) and above it almost everywhere else. Ranges move a little each year, and a growing number of colleges are test-optional, so check each college’s current policy; the good-score guide lists sample ranges.

How a 1520 breaks down

The total is the sum of two sections scored 200–800, so several combinations produce a 1520:

Reading and WritingMathTotal
7607601520

Colleges see both sections, and STEM programs in particular look at Math on its own, so a 1520 built on a strong Math score reads differently from the same total the other way round. With balanced sections on the harder Module 2 path, a 1520 takes roughly 51 of 54 correct in Reading and Writing and 41 of 44 in Math; try your own numbers in the score calculator.

Holding a 1520

A 1520 is at or near the top of the scale, so the question is no longer improvement but consistency. If you have not yet taken an official sitting that matches your practice results, plan one more attempt and use superscoring; otherwise the time is better spent on the rest of the application.

Nearby scores

Last updated September 2026. Percentiles from College Board’s current SAT User and Nationally Representative tables; ACT equivalents from the official 2018 concordance; college ranges approximate.

More calculators & guides

Calculators & converters

SAT Score CalculatorRaw answers per module to a 400–1600 estimate.SAT Score PredictorPredict your score from a practice test.Math SAT Score CalculatorMath section only, 200–800.Reading & Writing CalculatorReading and Writing section only.SAT Superscore CalculatorYour best sections across test dates.PSAT to SAT ConversionWhat your PSAT score predicts on the SAT.ACT to SAT ConversionThe official concordance, both directions.

Scores, guides & resources

SAT PercentilesEvery total and section score ranked.SAT Grading ScaleThe 400–1600 scale, explained.How the SAT Is ScoredAdaptive modules, raw to scaled.How to Improve Your SAT ScoreWhat actually moves the number.SAT vs ACTWhich test to take, and why.SAT Score FAQGood scores, superscores, release dates and more.

1520 SAT score: frequently asked questions

Is 1520 a good SAT score?

A 1520 is exceptional. It is at the 98th percentile of SAT takers, meaning you scored at or above 98% of students who took the test, and competitive at the most selective colleges in the country. Whether it is good enough depends on the middle-50% ranges at the colleges you are applying to.

What percentile is a 1520 SAT score?

98th percentile among SAT takers (SAT User) and 99+ among all US 11th and 12th graders (Nationally Representative), per College Board’s current tables.

What is a 1520 SAT score on the ACT?

A 1520 concords to an ACT composite of about 34 on the official ACT/College Board table.

How many questions do I need to get right for a 1520?

With balanced sections on the harder Module 2 path, roughly 51 of 54 in Reading and Writing and 41 of 44 in Math. The exact count varies by test form and by which Module 2 you receive; use the calculator to try your own split.