SAT Historical Percentiles for 2006 and 2007

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If you took the SAT in 2006 or 2007, you may be wondering what your percentile score is on the SAT. Is a 1700 on the SAT in 2006 the same percentile score as a 1700 in 2007? Do percentile scores change over time? 2006 was a big year in SAT history; it was the first full year of the Writing section and the maximum score changed from a 1600 to a 2400. Next year, the SAT will be going back to the 1600 maximum score.

In this article, I will explain SAT percentile scores, how they change, and I'll provide the percentile scores for SAT composite scores from 2006 and 2007.

 

What Are Percentile Scores?

Percentile scores reveal how well you did in relation to other people. If you scored in the 99th percentile, you did better than 99% of test-takers. If you got a 40th percentile score, you did better than 40% of the people who took the test.

The College Board determines SAT percentile scores annually from the scores of college-bound high school seniors who took the SAT. The higher your percentile score, the better you did relative to other college-bound high school seniors from that year.

 

Do Percentile Scores Change?

Typically, percentile scores for equivalent SAT scores stay roughly the same from year to yearFor example, a 2100 was the 97th percentile in 2007 and 2006. However, percentile scores can change very slightly. In 2007, a 1940 was the 91st percentile, but in 2006, it was the 90th percentile. 

Even if you're comparing percentile scores over a longer period of time, percentile scores will stay the same or only change minimally. In 2006, an 1800 was the 80th percentile, and in 2014, it was the 81st.

The College Board tries to use its scoring system to ensure that equivalent SAT scores are indicative of the same skill level and percentile scores regardless of when the test was takenAn 1800 in 2006 should be equivalent to an 1800 in 2015.

 

How Should You Use This Data? Why Is It Important?

Your percentile score is the most straightforward way to determine if you got a good or bad score. If you did better than the majority of test-takers, then you did well. However, when you apply to a college, you’re being compared with the other applicants to that school. Most schools publicize their 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores. If you want to be competitive for admission, your target score should be the school’s 75th percentile score.

Keep in mind that if you took the SAT in 2006 or 2007, for colleges, you may not need your SAT score, or you may have to take the SAT again since SAT score are usually only valid for 5 years. For every college you apply to, check the college’s admission requirements. You can usually find this information on its website.

Also, percentile scores help put your scores in context. A small composite score increase can have a huge impact on your percentile score if you received a middle score. ;A 1500 is roughly the 50th percentile, but a 1750 is the 77th or 78th. Raising your score by 250 points can raise your score from average to among the top quarter of test takers.

 

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With enough studying and practice, you can raise your score from average to excellent.

 

Composite Score Percentiles From 2007 and 2006

Score 2007 Percentile 2006 Percentile
2400 99+ 99+
2390 99+ 99+
2380 99+ 99+
2370 99+ 99+
2360 99+ 99+
2350 99+ 99+
2340 99+ 99+
2330 99+ 99+
2320 99+ 99+
2310 99+ 99+
2300 99+ 99+
2290 99 99+
2280 99 99+
2270 99 99
2260 99 99
2250 99 99
2240 99 99
2230 99 99
2220 99 99
2210 99 99
2200 99 99
2190 98 98
2180 98 98
2170 98 98
2160 98 98
2150 98 98
2140 98 98
2130 97 97
2120 97 97
2110 97 97
2100 97 97
2090 96 96
2080 96 96
2070 96 96
2060 95 95
2050 95 95
2040 95 95
2030 94 94
2020 94 94
2010 94 94
2000 93 93
1990 93 93
1980 92 92
1970 92 92
1960 92 91
1950 91 91
1940 91 90
1930 90 90
1920 89 89
1910 89 89
1900 88 88
1890 88 87
1880 87 87
1870 86 86
1860 86 85
1850 85 85
1840 84 84
1830 84 83
1820 83 82
1810 82 82
1800 81 81
1790 80 80
1780 80 79
1770 79 78
1760 78 77
1750 77 76
1740 76 75
1730 75 75
1720 74 74
1710 73 73
1700 72 72
1690 71 71
1680 70 70
1670 69 68
1660 68 67
1650 67 66
1640 66 65
1630 65 64
1620 64 63
1610 63 62
1600 61 61
1590 60 59
1580 59 58
1570 58 57
1560 57 56
1550 56 54
1540 54 53
1530 53 52
1520 52 51
1510 51 49
1500 49 48
1490 48 47
1480 47 46
1470 46 44
1460 44 43
1450 43 42
1440 42 41
1430 41 39
1420 39 38
1410 38 37
1400 37 36
1390 36 35
1380 34 33
1370 33 32
1360 32 31
1350 31 30
1340 30 29
1330 28 28
1320 27 26
1310 26 25
1300 25 24
1290 24 23
1280 23 22
1270 22 21
1260 21 20
1250 20 19
1240 19 18
1230 18 18
1220 17 17
1210 16 16
1200 15 15
1190 15 14
1180 14 13
1170 13 13
1160 12 12
1150 12 11
1140 11 11
1130 10 10
1120 10 9
1110 9 9
1100 9 8
1090 8 8
1080 7 7
1070 7 7
1060 7 6
1050 6 6
1040 6 5
1030 5 5
1020 5 5
1010 5 4
1000 4 4
990 4 4
980 4 3
970 3 3
960 3 3
950 3 3
940 3 3
930 2 2
920 2 2
910 2 2
900 2 2
890 2 2
880 2 1
870 1 1
860 1 1
850 1 1
840 1 1
830 1 1
820 1 1
810 1 1
800 1 1
790 1 1
780 1- 1-
770 1- 1-
760 1- 1-
750 1- 1-
740 1- 1-
730 1- 1-
720 1- 1-
710 1- 1-
700 1- 1-
690 1- 1-
680 1- 1-
670 1- 1-
660 1- 1-
650 1- 1-
640 1- 1-
630 1- 1-
620 1- 1-
610 1- 1-
600 -- --


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Gamerscore Blog/flickr

 

Section Score Percentiles

Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain percentile scores for each individual section for 2006 and 2007. However, because there are only very minimal changes to percentile scores from year to year, here are the section score percentiles from 2009 for your reference.

 

Score Critical Reading Math Writing
800 99 99 99+
790 99 99 99+
780 99 99 99
770 99 98 99
760 99 98 99
750 98 97 99
740 98 97 98
730 97 96 98
720 97 95 97
710 96 94 96
700 95 94 96
690 94 92 95
680 93 91 94
670 92 89 93
660 91 88 92
650 89 85 90
640 88 83 89
630 85 81 87
620 84 79 85
610 82 77 84
600 79 74 81
590 77 72 79
580 75 69 77
570 72 67 74
560 69 63 72
550 66 61 69
540 63 58 66
530 60 55 63
520 56 51 59
510 53 48 56
500 49 45 52
490 46 41 49
480 42 38 46
470 39 35 42
460 36 31 39
450 32 28 35
440 28 26 32
430 26 23 29
420 22 20 25
410 20 17 22
400 17 15 19
390 15 13 17
380 13 11 14
370 11 9 12
360 9 8 10
350 8 6 8
340 6 6 7
330 5 5 5
320 4 4 4
310 4 3 4
300 3 2 3
290 2 2 2
280 2 2 2
270 2 1 1
260 1 1 1
250 1 1 1
2401 1 1 1
230 1 1- 1
220 1 1- 1-
210 1 1- 1-
200 -- -- --

 

 

What's Next?

If you're interested in comparing percentile scores from more recent years, check out the SAT historical percentiles from 2011-2014.

Also, make sure you understand your SAT scores, and learn what SAT scores measure.

 

 



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About the Author
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Justin Berkman

Justin has extensive experience teaching SAT prep and guiding high school students through the college admissions and selection process. He is firmly committed to improving equity in education and helping students to reach their educational goals. Justin received an athletic scholarship for gymnastics at Stanford University and graduated with a BA in American Studies.



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