What's the Minimum SAT Score for College?

Preparing for college applications can feel confusing, overwhelming, and demanding. If you're nervous about the SAT (or college admissions in general), you might be worried about how low of a test score you can afford to get to still have a shot at college. You might even be wondering how low of a score on the SAT is even possible.

In this article, we'll discuss the lowest possible SAT score and why it's unlikely to happen to you. We'll also offer advice on determining the lowest SAT score you can get to still have a reasonable chance at a given school, and what that means in terms of choosing which schools to apply for and what score to aim for. Finally, we'll go over some things you can do if your score seems too low for any of the colleges you want to attend.

What's the Lowest SAT Score You Can Get?

The SAT uses a scale of 400-1600. The Math section is worth up to 800 points, and the Reading and Writing section is worth up to 800 possible points. 

The lowest possible score on either section is 200 points. So if you got 200 points on Math and 200 on Reading and Writing, you'd have a total of 400 points. In other words, the minimum SAT score is 400. (For reference, an average score would be around 1050.)

More specifically, a 400 would be the score you'd get if you answered zero questions correctly on any of the sections or just left your entire test blank and took a nap.

This is why getting the lowest possible score is not a common occurrence! In previous years, fewer students have gotten the lowest possible score on the SAT than have received perfect scores, so it is highly unlikely to happen to you (unless you really do leave every question blank, in which case it will definitely happen to you—sorry!).

Cute dog. Terrible test-taking strategy.

What SAT Score Would You Get If You Guessed Randomly?

To underscore how unlikely it is that you would get a 400 making a good faith effort on the SAT, let's consider how you'd score if you guessed completely randomly on every question.

Multiple-choice questions on the SAT have four answer choices each, so you have a 25% chance of guessing the correct answer. On the Math free-response questions, known as grid-ins, or student-produced responses, your chance of randomly guessing the correct answer is low enough that I'm going to round down to 0% and assume that if you randomly guessed on those, you would get them wrong.

The Reading and Writing section has 54 questions. Guessing randomly, you could expect to get (0.25) x 54 of them correct; that works out to 13.5. Just for simplicity, I’m going to round that down to 13. 

The Math section has 44 multiple-choice questions, and approximately 75% of them are multiple-choice. That means that 11 or so of the questions will be free-response and around 33 will be multiple choice. Guessing randomly on the multiple choice questions, you could expect to get 8.25 of them correct (0.25 x 33 = 8.25). Since we rounded down on the Reading and Writing section calculation, we’ll round up on this one: 9.

So what score would you get if you guessed correctly on 13 Reading and Writing questions and 9 Math questions? The answer to this question is… a little complicated.

One of the major ways the new digital SAT is unlike the old paper version is that it uses adaptive testing. This means that the test actually adapts to each test taker depending on how they perform. Each section of the test is divided into 2 Modules, and so how you perform on Module 1 determines the difficulty level of the questions in Module 2. Take a look at the breakdown of the digital SAT below:

Module 1 in each section will have questions of varying difficulty. If you get all of them correct including the most difficult ones, you can expect to see more difficult questions on Module 2. If you miss quite a few questions in Module 1, including the easiest ones, you’ll see easier questions in Module 2.

Not all questions are valued equally with this type of adaptive testing in place. More difficult questions are worth more and less difficult questions are worth less, so it’s possible to get a perfect score even if you miss multiple questions (assuming you performed very well on Module 1, and Module 2 module was made up of the most difficult questions). Likewise, it’s possible to get the lowest possible score on a section (200 points) even if you get multiple (easy) questions correct. 

Let’s see if we can test the guessing strategy by using practice tests. What we’re trying to answer here: can you score over a 400 on the SAT by guessing completely randomly?

You should begin with the six full-length, digital and adaptive practice tests provided by the College Board in their Bluebook software to get the very best results from your digital SAT prep. These tests score themselves, so you don’t have to worry about calculating your own score.

I took all six of these tests to try out the guessing theory. I guessed randomly on each of the multiple choice questions (choosing the same answer choice each time) and skipped the free-response questions entirely. Here’s how I did:

The lowest total score I received was 460, 60 points higher than the lowest possible score. The highest score was 640, 240 points higher than the lowest possible score. 

To really see how the adaptive testing format affects scores, look at how many questions I answered correctly on each section across multiple practice tests. On Test 1, I got 10 Reading and Writing questions correct and scored 230, yet on Test 6 I got 13 questions correct and scored 200. Similarly, on Test 1 I got 9 Math questions correct and scored 280, and Test 5 I got 9 questions correct and scored 330. 

From our earlier example, the adaptive test format makes it nearly impossible to estimate the score you’d get if you guessed randomly but correctly on 13 Reading and Writing questions and 9 Math questions. I happened to get this many questions right on Test 6, but there’s no way to be certain that I’d get that score again with the same results since there’s no way to know the difficulty levels of each question. 

Although we can't confirm how many random guesses we’d need to get right to get over a 400 on the test, this theory seems to suggest that even if you guess completely randomly and leave all free-response questions blank, you’d likely still score higher than the minimum SAT score of 400.

Guessing randomly on the entire test isn’t recommended, of course! You should go into the SAT prepared to correctly solve as many questions as you can. However, there is no penalty for wrong answers on the SAT, so you want to make sure you answer every question, even if you have to guess. Guessing randomly is a lot different from guessing strategically, though. Check out our full guide for guessing strategies you can use on the SAT. 

Random guessing: another dubious strategy.

What's the Lowest SAT Score You Can Have and Still Get Into College?

Beyond the lowest possible score, you might want to know what the minimum SAT score for college admissions is. The answer is that it depends—mostly on the college in question, but also to a certain extent on your other qualifications.

In general, the more selective a school is, the higher your SAT scores will need to be for you to have a chance at admission. For a top-tier school like Harvard or MIT, you'll need to break 1450 for a shot (and that would still be a pretty low-end score for a selective school). For a selective public institution like the University of Michigan, you'll want to hit at least 1350.

Less selective public institutions, as well as many small liberal arts colleges, regularly accept applicants in the 950-1050 range.

Public universities in your state might also accept residents with scores on the lower end of the scale depending on their policies and your other qualifications. For example, for Texas residents, UT Austin guarantees admission to anyone in the top 6% of their graduating high school class; there are also other public Texas universities that assure admission for the top 10%. You might still need to submit test scores for these schools for placement purposes, but low scores won't keep you from getting in.

Another thing to note is that specialty schools like art schools and music conservatories also often have lower SAT score expectations, as applications are much more heavily weighted toward things such as portfolios and performance tapes.

The truth is that it's difficult to pinpoint the absolute lowest score you can get and still have a chance at a particular school because colleges and universities generally admit candidates along a range of test scores.

But there are ways you can get an idea of what scores to aim for.

On their admissions websites, most schools provide the test score range for the 25th-75th percentiles of their own admitted student pool—the "middle 50%." This is a reliable way to get a decent idea of what kind of score you need to get to be a viable candidate for admission.

You can also search for "[School Name] PrepScholar" to find that school's admission requirements page in our PrepScholar database.

In general, a score a little below a school's 25th percentile SAT score (think 10 points) is the lowest score you could get and reasonably expect to have any sort of chance at admission—and even with other strong parts in your application, that score would make the school a reach for you.

By contrast, if your score is decently (50+) above the 75th percentile mark, you're in a great position.

The following chart shows sample middle 50% ranges, with what would be considered fairly low and high scores:

You might be thinking this: if I have a score that's just below the 25th percentile, doesn't that mean that people with lower scores than me probably got in?

Yes, it does. But there are always outliers—people who had other specific qualifications or strengths that the college was looking for in particular. No doubt you also have unique strengths and talents that you should emphasize in your college applications!

If your dream school's middle 50% is 1100-1300 and your score is 1020, by all means apply to it as a reach school, understanding that the rest of your application will need to be truly stellar for you to have a chance. You should never assume that you are going to be one of the outliers who gets in with an SAT score at the lowest conceivable end of the admit range.

That's why it's important to apply to a variety of schools, where your score falls in different places relative to the middle 50% of admitted students. But how do you go about choosing schools to apply to based on your SAT score?

The only choice more significant than where to apply to college is what gelato flavor to enjoy.

Choosing Schools to Apply to Based on Your SAT Scores

When you're picking schools to apply to based on an SAT score, you'll want some that are safety schools, some that are match schools, and some that are reach schools.

What does this mean? Well, in general, a safety school is one where you exceed the usual criteria for admission, a match school is one where you meet the criteria, and a reach school is one where you fall just under the criteria.

Here's what these types of schools mean in terms of test scores and the middle 50% range:

• Safety school: Your score well exceeds the middle 50% range (think 50+ points)
• Match school: You fall within the middle 50%, preferably in the higher end or just above
• Reach school: You fall in the bottom end or just below the middle 50%

Note that even if you got a perfect 1600, highly selective schools, such as Stanford and the Ivy League, are reach schools for everyone simply because admission is so competitive.

• Boston College (middle 50%: 1450-1520)—As Lupita's score is below the bottom of the middle 50% for BC, we would consider this a reach school. She certainly has a shot at getting in, particularly if her other qualifications are on par with the school's admits, but her scores would put her in the bottom 25% of admitted students.

• Stony Brook University (middle 50%: 1330-1470)—With a 1400, Lupita is right at the middle of the middle 50% for this school. Assuming her other qualifications (GPA, etc.) are similarly placed relative to other admits, this is a good match school for her.

• SUNY Albany (middle 50%: 1140-1310) —With a score almost 100 points above this middle 50% range, Lupita has a great chance of getting into SUNY Albany (again, with the caveat that her other qualifications are similarly positioned); this makes it a safety school for her.

• Penn State (middle 50%: 1230-1390)—Lupita's score of 1400 is 10 points above the top of the middle 50% for this school. Her score isn't really high enough to consider Syracuse a safety, but it does make it a strong match for Lupita.

Of course, there are factors other than test scores you'll need to consider when choosing safety, match, and reach schools.

Schools usually provide information on the GPA and class ranks of their admitted students, so you'll want to consider those factors as well. If you're on the low end of the middle 50% in test scores but way on the high end for GPA and class rank, it could be a match school.

In fact, some schools have begun de-emphasizing SAT scores in the admissions process and placing greater emphasis on high school GPA and class rank. While test scores are still important, you don’t want to assume that they’ll be the top factor in your admissions decision.

Additionally, unique talents or other interesting qualifications can go a long way toward mitigating a test score that's a little on the low end for a particular school.

But what if you already have schools in mind and you haven't taken the SAT yet? How should you determine what score to aim for?

Targets: not just for darts.

Setting an SAT Goal Score Based on Your Dream Schools

If you haven't taken the SAT yet but have some schools in mind, you can set a goal score for the SAT. The ideal target score is the highest 75th percentile score for the middle 50% of all the schools you are interested in. This way even if you fall a little short, you'll still have a great shot at getting admitted to most of the schools on your list.

First, make a list of the schools you're considering. Then, look up the middle 50% of each of the schools on your list. Write down the top number of the middle 50%—i.e., the 75th percentile—for each school. You can do this for total score, by section, or both—whatever is most useful for you.

Finally, find the highest score in your list of 75th percentile scores. That'll be your goal score!

Let's do an example. Say Dashawn is interested in the following schools:

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Indiana University Bloomington
• Purdue University

He would then fill out his middle 50% table (note that RW stands for "Reading and Writing"—it may still be labeled as “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” on schools’ lists. With the recent changes to the digital SAT, EBRW is now SAT Reading and Writing):

Based on his list of schools, Dashawn's goal score should be 1510. If he can score (or beat!) 1510, he'll be in a great position. But even if he falls a little short and gets 1500 or 1490, he'll still have a good shot at getting into most of the schools he's interested in.

Climbing the SAT mountain.

Use the following table to make your own list:

This method will allow you to calculate a goal SAT score based on the schools you are interested in.

But what if when you take the SAT and get your scores back, it looks as though every school you're interested in is out of reach? What should you do then?

All Your Schools Out of Reach? 7 Possible Solutions

If you get your SAT scores and they're a lot lower than what you were aiming for, you might be concerned that every school you're interested in is a reach. Here are seven strategies you could use to address this dilemma.

Are you this kitty, stranded halfway up? Don't worry!

#1: Prep for the SAT and Take It Again

It's possible that you were simply under-prepared for the SAT. In that case, you'll need to prepare rigorously and take it again. If you have at least a few months left before your college application deadlines, taking the test again is probably your best bet.

You might try doing a targeted, personalized prep program, taking an online or in-person class, working with SAT prep books, and/or using Khan Academy. You can learn all about the pros and cons of these SAT prep methods in our guide.

#2: Take the ACT Instead

The ACT and SAT used to be quite different—enough that students would perform very differently on them. This isn't true anymore, though, ever since the SAT's massive redesign in 2016.

However, if you're particularly scientifically literate, the fact that the ACT has an entire Science section score could help you. Other minor differences between the two tests might help you get a slightly higher score on the ACT if you're just hoping for a little boost.

#3: Evaluate Whether You Need Testing Accommodations

If you feel you have under-performed on your SAT because you have a medical condition, learning disability, or psychiatric disorder, you might qualify for special testing accommodations. Especially if you are on an IEP or 504 plan at your school, it is likely that you are both eligible for and would benefit from testing accommodations.

To qualify for an accommodation, you’ll need to meet several criteria and provide some documentation. Bear in mind that this is a time-consuming process, so you need to request them early!

#4: Adjust Your Expectations

If your SAT score is too low for all the colleges on your list, then consider looking at less selective colleges. For example, a 1430 might be too low for Johns Hopkins, but it's a solid score for Boston University.

There's a huge universe of colleges out there, and there are probably less selective schools that have the things you're looking for.

#5: Apply to Schools That Accept Alternate Scores

Some schools will accept AP exam scores or IB exam scores in lieu of more traditional SAT or ACT scores. If you've already performed well on AP or IB exams, this could be a good strategy for you.

Examples of schools that accept alternate tests include the following:

• University of South Dakota: Accepts scores of 3 or higher on the English Language Arts and Mathematics Smarter Balanced Assessments. 
• Hamilton College: Accepts combos of self-reported AP and IB scores in lieu of ACT/SAT
• NYU: Accepts combos of AP and IB scores in lieu of ACT/SAT

Alternate testing schools are so alternative.

#6: Apply to Test-Optional Schools

Many colleges have implemented test-optional admissions. This means that while you can send in standardized test scores with your application, you do not have to submit any. In this case, your GPA, course records, essay, recommendation letters, and other various application materials will be the determining factors in your admission—not your test scores.

Several top-tier schools have begun to implement test-optional policies. This seems reasonable in light of the fact that there are some courses of study in which you might take hardly any tests, and certainly not many long, grueling, marathon-style standardized ones.

Test-optional schools are a particularly good strategy for applicants who are good students but poor standardized test takers.

Here are some examples of schools that are test-optional:

• Wake Forest University
• Bates College
• Wesleyan University
• Bowdoin College
• American University
• Mount Holyoke College
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Bryn Mawr College
• Smith College

You can find a more comprehensive list of SAT-optional and test-flexible colleges here.

#7: Go to Community College

Maybe your SAT score is so low that you're worried there won't be any schools that will accept you. Even in this worst-case scenario, you can still pursue higher education by opting for a community college.

Most local community colleges are open to anyone in the area with a high school diploma or GED. You could start taking classes at a nearby community college and then transfer to a four-year university upon completion of your associate degree, or after about two years. Your most recent transcripts in this case will be much more important than your standardized test scores.

Key Takeaways: Minimum SAT Score for College

The lowest possible SAT score is 400 on a 1600-point scale, but you're very unlikely to get this score unless you leave every question on the test blank.

How low your SAT score can be for college applications depends on what colleges you are applying to. More selective schools will expect higher scores, while many public universities and small liberal arts schools will accept scores on the lower end of the scale. In short, there are tons of colleges that accept low SAT scores!

Based on your scores, you should select safety, match, and reach schools to apply to. If you haven't taken the SAT yet, you can also figure out a goal score based on the schools you're thinking of applying to.

If your score seems too low for a particular school (or all the schools) you're interested in, you have several options for your next step:

• Retake the SAT
• Take the ACT
• Figure out whether you might need testing accommodations
• Apply to less selective schools
• Apply to test-alternative or test-optional schools
• Go to community college (a great option if you're worried your scores are too low, period)

So what is the minimum SAT score for college? There's really no SAT score too low for higher education—you might just need to take an alternative path to get there is all!

There are lots of ways to get where you want to go ... and with PrepScholar, most of them are possible!

What's Next?

Struggling with a low SAT score? We've got tons of expert tips on improving lower section scores for Reading, Writing, and Math.

If you've got low standardized test scores but a high GPA, use these prep strategies to get you on track to where you need to be.

Looking for colleges? Check out these colleges with guaranteed admissions thresholds for certain test scores, and get tips on how to find school in our guide to researching colleges.