Average SAT Scores By Year

Are you looking for a comparison of your test scores for the SAT exam? In this article, you’ll find a history of the average SAT scores over time, how the SAT came to be, and what to expect when you sit down to take your exam.

A 20-year span of SAT test scores starting in 1972 include:

Year	Math	Critical Reading	Writing	Year	Math	Critical Reading	Writing
1972	509	530	—	1997	511	505	—
1973	506	523	—	1998	512	505	—
1974	505	521	—	1999	511	505	—
1975	498	512	—	2000	514	505	—
1976	497	509	—	2001	514	506	—
1977	496	507	—	2002	516	504	—
1978	494	507	—	2003	519	507	—
1979	493	505	—	2004	518	508	—
1980	492	502	—	2005	520	508	—
1981	492	502	—	2006	518	503	497
1982	493	504	—	2007	514	501	493
1983	494	503	—	2008	514	500	493
1984	497	504	—	2009	514	499	492
1985	500	509	—	2010	515	500	491
1986	500	509	—	2011	514	497	489
1987	501	507	—	2012	514	496	488
1988	501	505	—	2013	514	496	488
1989	502	504	—	2014	513	497	487
1990	501	500	—	2015	511	495	484
1991	500	499	—	2016	508	494	482
1992	501	500	—	2017*	527	533
1993	503	500	—	2018*	531	536
1994	504	499	—	2019*	528	531
1995	506	504	—	2020*	523	528
1996	508	505	—	2021*	528	533
				2022*	521	529

 As you can see from the table above, the average score has ranged on average from the upper 400’s to 530. 

This data represents a wide range of test takers from various ethnic backgrounds. Starting with the addition of the writing portion in 2006, test takers have tackled both math and reading sections to achieve their proficiency scores. 

Today, there are two main sections of the SAT: the math section and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section. 

Both of these portions of the exam are used to test a student’s proficiency in a given area, and assess their math and reading skills. 

Ethnic Test Scores for the SAT Exam

Furthermore, this chart displays the differences between scoring results between various racial and ethnic profiles for the SAT exam. 

Demographic of Test Takers	2007 Scores	2011 Scores	2015 Scores	2018 Scores*	2019 Scores*	2020 Scores*	2021 Scores*	2022 Scores*
American Indian or Alaskan Native	981	972	963	914	912	902	927	936
Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander	1092	1112	1123	1152 (Asian)948 (Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander)	1223 (Asian)964 (Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander)	1217 (Asian)948 (Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander)	1239 (Asian)950 (Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander)	1229 (Asian)945 (Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander)
Black or African American	862	855	859	919	933	927	934	926
Mexican or Mexican American	921	917	905	—	—	—	—	—
Puerto Rican	913	904	905	—	—	—	—	—
Other Hispanic, Latino, or Latin American	922	913	906	1005 (Hispanic/ Latino)	978 (Hispanic/ Latino)	969 (Hispanic/ Latino)	967 (Hispanic/Latino)	964 (Hispanic/Latino)
White	1061	1063	1063	1077	1114	1104	1112	1098
Other	1009	1010	1009	1044 (Two or More Races)	1095 (Two or More Races)	1091 (Two or More Races)	1116 (Two or More Races)	1102 (Two or More Races)
No Response	977	944	926	875	959	996	976	983

These sets of data contribute several findings related to the outcomes of students taking the SAT:

Higher Levels of Education = Better Score Results

First, the higher a student has progressed in their secondary education translates to a higher score on average on the SAT exam. 

The reason for this boon could potentially be related to a better understanding of the content that is tested on the exam. For example, if a student has yet to take their Algebra II class, they may be unprepared for the more advanced math problems included on the SAT.

This doesn’t translate into how smart a student is, rather how much training and practice a student has been able to devote before taking the exam.

If you receive a poor result your first time, that’s normal. You can try to get a higher score on the SAT when you’ve had a chance to complete more coursework, or when you feel you’re ready. 

Taking time to study practice problems and complete math coursework will help you achieve your test goals. 

Socioeconomic Factors Play a Role

As stated above,  it’s not necessarily a student’s knowledge or test-taking ability that  is examined in the SAT. Rather, many factors play a role in achieving success.

As you may determine from the racial profile data set, socioeconomic status plays a role in achieving a higher SAT score. This isn’t because success is measured in any given race or ethnic group. Rather, this likely points to the access of resources that students are able to tap into before taking the SAT.

For example, if a student cannot afford professional SAT tutoring, a computer, or even their study materials for the math and writing courses they’re taking, they may not be prepared for the SAT.

Alternatively, a student who has the financial resources to afford to hire a tutor skilled in the SAT material, the latest technology to study and practice questions with, and the resources needed to learn new concepts from their classes may be better prepared to take the exam.

This has nothing to do with race or a lack of academic potential, but rather a lack of access to certain resources. 

If students do not have the luxury of time to study because they are busy working to provide for themselves or their family, they may not be as ready to take the exam as a student who can focus solely on their schoolwork. 

Therefore, it is a student’s access to education and resources that more so determines their preparedness for the SAT. However, this does not mean that a student with great  determination and grit from a lower socioeconomic background cannot achieve great success. 

Rather, it means that it may be more difficult from a student from a lower-earning family and may require more effort overall. 

What to Do Next

You may be wondering how to best be prepared for your SAT exam. It’s a big step in your education journey, and you want to show your full colors to future colleges.

To prepare for the future, you may wish to hire a tutor who specializes in SAT materials. Additionally, check out our library of pro tips for making the most of test day. 

No matter what happens, remember to be your own cheerleader and acknowledge your efforts. If you are unhappy with your score, you can take the test again to improve your results. 

Keep studying and learning the course materials. We at Prep Expert® encourage you in your scholastic journey, and are here to help you each step of the way.