Understanding the SAT cutoff for top universities is essential for students aiming to secure undergraduate admissions abroad. While the SAT itself does not have a strict cutoff limit for qualifying the exam, many top universities set specific score ranges or SAT cutoff to evaluate applicants, making it crucial to know the required benchmarks for your target institutions.
This article will explore the SAT scores required for top US universities and other universities abroad.
The SAT cutoff is the minimum score required to secure undergraduate admission to a university or college abroad. According to the College Board, the minimum qualifying score for
SAT is 400 on a scale of 1600, but this score does not guarantee admission to colleges abroad.
Every university decides upon an average SAT score range, based on programs and applicant pools. In addition to meeting the SAT cutoff requirements, grades, extracurricular activities, and essays are also very important in admissions evaluations.
In essence, understanding the SAT cutoff for your desired university will help you prepare for the SAT exam to get the highest SAT score possible and help you place in the top 5%-10% of the applicants and leap ahead of the competition.
The SAT cutoff for undergraduate university admissions depends on numerous factors, including the institution's academic standards, applicant pool, volume of applications, and institutional priorities. The colleges determine SAT cutoffs by evaluating the following characteristics:
Students can gain from higher SAT scores in various ways:
Colleges usually publish the average or middle 50% SAT ranges of students admitted to their undergraduate programs to help prospective students understand the institution's expectations. However, in addition to SAT test results, actual admissions decisions weigh the application's overall strength, including GPA, essays, and extracurricular or volunteering work.
In the general context, a good SAT score cutoff will fall between 1300 - 1500. Decoding the terms ‘Good SAT score cutoff’ and ‘Average SAT score cutoff’ will majorly depend on the kind of colleges you aim to apply for.
If you plan to get admission to the Ivy Leagues, getting an SAT score between 1500-1600 is considered a good SAT cutoff. On the other hand, if you want to secure your admission at average universities, then a good SAT cutoff will range between 1200 and 1350.
According to the College Board, the average SAT score cutoff is approximately 1050. A score higher than that would be considered above average. At more selective colleges, a score above 1350 would place you in the top 10% of test takers and help your application stand out.
When planning to study in the UK, understanding the admission requirements, application process, and standardized test requirements, like overall SAT scores, is crucial. Here are the SAT scores required for some of the top universities in the UK:
University |
SAT Scores |
University of Oxford |
1470 |
University of Cambridge |
1460 |
Imperial College London |
1400 |
University College London |
1360 |
The University of Edinburgh |
1290 |
Brunel University |
1300 |
Cardiff University |
1280 |
Durham University |
1300 |
King's College London |
1320 |
Queen Mary University of London |
1200 |
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Book a Free Counselling Session!Planning to study in the USA? Checking the required SAT score and other admission requirements will help you get admission to your dream university in the USA, because US colleges consider SAT scores for UG admissions more than any other country. Below is a list of top universities in the United States, along with the SAT score required for admission:
University |
SAT Cutoff |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
1520-1580 |
Stanford University |
1500-1560 |
Yale University |
1470-1515 |
University of Michigan |
1350-1530 |
University of California, Berkeley |
1340-1540 |
Northwestern University |
1500-1560 |
New York University |
1510 |
Duke University |
1510-1570 |
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Avail a Free Counselling Session!If you aspire to study in Canada, understanding the importance of SAT scores is key for admission to top universities. While academics and holistic factors are prioritized, strong SAT scores can boost your profile, especially for business, engineering, and sciences programs. A list of Canadian universities and SAT scores required for undergraduate admission at these institutions is given below:
University |
SAT Cutoff |
McGill University |
1400 |
1330-1550 |
|
University of British Columbia |
1500 |
University of Montreal |
1400 |
McMaster University |
1340 |
Western University |
1190 |
University of Calgary |
1100 |
Queen's University |
1100 |
Dalhousie University |
1100 |
Simon Fraser University |
1550 |
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Book Personalized Counselling Session!If you plan to study in Australia, SAT scores can enhance your application, especially for competitive programs like engineering and business. While academics are the main focus, a strong SAT score showcases your potential to handle the rigor of undergraduate programs. Have a look at the SAT scores required for admission at top universities in Australia:
University |
SAT Cutoff |
University of Queensland |
1300 |
Australian National University |
1250 |
The University of Sydney |
1170 |
Griffith University |
1240 |
Curtin University |
1000 |
University of Western Australia |
1170 |
Edith Cowan University |
1105 |
James Cook University |
1000 |
University of South Australia |
1050 |
Monash University |
1100-1290 |
Is Australia your dream study destination? Begin your journey to study in Australia today!
Book 1-on-1 Counselling Session!Applicants can decide whether to submit their SAT scores if a college or university has a test-optional admissions policy. While schools may still value test scores, choosing not to submit them won’t count against you in the application review.
Submitting SAT scores to a test-optional university can strengthen your application and set you apart from other candidates. However, if you opt not to submit them, it won’t negatively impact your evaluation.
Since policies vary widely, reviewing each college’s test-optional guidelines carefully is crucial to understanding the requirements for admission, scholarships, and financial aid.
The average SAT score required to get into Harvard University is 1520 on a scale of 1600. The lower range of scores or the 25th percentile SAT score for Harvard admitted students can be estimated at 1460, whereas the highest SAT score or 75th percentile SAT score is 1580.
If you are planning to get an admit at Harvard University, try to aim for a score above 1520, in addition to maintaining a good academic performance and substantial involvement in extracurricular activities.
The SAT cutoff score for the Math section depends upon the university's discretion. However, the College Board decides the benchmark or qualifying scores for a particular SAT section. According to the College Board, the College and Career Benchmark score for the SAT Math section is 530 on a scale of 800.
The SAT cutoff score for the English section depends upon the university's discretion. However, the College Board decides the benchmark or qualifying scores for a particular SAT section. According to the College Board, the College and Career Benchmark score for the SAT English or Reading and Writing section is 480 on a scale of 800.
The SAT score criteria for individuals with physical disabilities differ depending on the university's regulations. The following are the main criteria used to determine the SAT cut-off score for students with physical disabilities:
Students should review the requirements of their respective universities and strengthen their applications with essays or other supporting materials that give background information on their health issues.
The minimum passing score for the SAT is 400 on a scale of 1600.
Top universities, such as MIT, Stanford University, and Columbia University, require an SAT score between 1500 and 1570. Other high-ranking universities, such as Yale University and Princeton University, require scores that range from 1470 to 1560.
Overall, attaining an SAT score above 1470 can strengthen your undergraduate application to top universities worldwide. In addition to getting a perfect score on the SAT exam, other application elements, like SOP/essays, GPA, and involvement in extracurricular activities, also play an essential role in admission to top universities around the globe.
Indian students coming from low-income group families are eligible for t 100% scholarships if they score above 1300 on the SAT exam.
You can get admission to the following universities with an SAT score of 1170:
University |
Average SAT Score |
Michigan State University |
1110–1320 |
University of Central Florida |
1170–1350 |
San Diego State University |
1130–1340 |
Texas State University |
990–1170 |
Texas Tech University |
1110–1260 |
Georgia State University |
960–1170 |
1140–1360 |
|
University of California, Davis |
1160–1370 |
University of South Carolina: Columbia |
1150–1340 |
Note: The average SAT scores are indicative and can vary every year; hence, checking the SAT score requirements on the university's official website is recommended.