Is 1190 a Good SAT Score? A Comprehensive Guide

When counseling students, a common question we encounter is whether their SAT scores meet the standards of their target colleges. A good SAT score is a crucial component of college applications, but its definition varies depending on the context. This article provides a detailed analysis of what constitutes a "good" SAT score, specifically focusing on a score of 1190, and offers guidance on how to improve your score and college prospects.

Understanding What Constitutes a “Good” SAT Score

So what exactly constitutes a “good” SAT score? Here's the quickest answer to this question: a good SAT score is any score in the 75th percentile or higher for your target university. For example, if your percentile rank is 57th, that means 57% of students scored the same or lower than you. In general, the higher your percentile rank, the better it looks on college applications.

A good SAT score is typically one that places you in the 75th percentile or higher for your target university, which for top schools often means around 1550. While anything above the national average of 1050 is technically “good,” competitive applicants generally need scores closer to 1470-1580. Ivy League schools in particular expect scores near the top of this range, with Harvard and Dartmouth at 1580 on the high end.

According to The College Board, the national average score for the SAT is around 1050. While anything above that (or above the 50th percentile) is technically above average, you’ll need a much higher score to be competitive at top universities. While achieving a score at or above 1470 could strengthen your application depending on the university, keep in mind that this is on the lower end of admitted students' range. Similarly, a score of 1500 would put you in the 25th percentile of all test-takers. A good rule of thumb is to aim for the 75th percentile for each university in the table above. Your total SAT score is a number between 400 and 1600 - this score is the total of your scores in both sections.

Evaluating an SAT Score of 1190

A 1190 SAT score is a solid score and lands in approximately the 74th percentile, which means you scored higher than about 74% of test-takers. While this score might not be competitive for top-tier schools, there are plenty of colleges and universities where a 1190 would be considered a strong score.

For context, a 1190 SAT score would be regarded as average or slightly above average for many state schools and less competitive private colleges. You should have a good shot at being accepted into these types of institutions, provided your high school GPA, class rigor, and extracurriculars are also relatively strong.

Factors Influencing College Admissions

It's essential to remember that college admissions are not solely contingent on standardized test scores. Your GPA, essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities all weigh heavily on the admissions process as well. However, if you feel that your SAT score is not the best representation of your abilities, you might consider retaking the test or researching test-optional schools. This data will give you an idea of the competitiveness of the institution and help you create a balanced college list containing target, reach, and safety schools.

In summary, a 1190 SAT score is a decent score that may be considered competitive at certain colleges, including less selective state schools and private institutions. However, it may not stand out to more selective or top-tier schools.

Strategies to Improve Your SAT Score

Retake the Exam

One of the most straightforward solutions to a low SAT score is to retake the exam. The first time you take the SAT, it’s often a learning experience. You get a sense of the test format, the types of questions asked, and the pacing required.

Practice is key to improving your scores, but don't overdo it. Taking the SAT too many times may cause your scores to plateau, experts say. "Two to three is the right balance between sufficient and not excessive," Reed says. If something went wrong - like if you had the flu "and it was a complete disaster - maybe there's a fourth time. At some point, time runs out on you. You're not going to see scores magically climb purely from repetition. There's a familiarity piece to it, but we generally like to see tests spaced out a little bit with some thoughtful preparation or review to address some of the weaker areas of the test before you retest. That just takes time."

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Collaborate With Expert Tutors

Collaborating with expert tutors can significantly enhance your SAT preparation experience. Expert tutors bring specialized knowledge and experience to tailor your SAT preparation plan according to your strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. Tutors offer insights into effective test-taking strategies that are crucial for optimizing your SAT performance. They teach you how to approach different question types, manage time effectively during each section, and reduce test anxiety through strategic preparation techniques.

Consider the ACT

If the SAT isn’t yielding the results you hoped for, it might be worth considering the ACT as an alternative. The SAT and ACT, while similar in many ways, have distinct differences in their formats and focus areas.

Since all colleges are completely agnostic to which one you submit, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you submit a 99% percentile score if you submit one to an Ivy College. Keep in mind which ever one you end up choosing will still require a serious time commitment. It's like a part-time job for a year. Allocating about 200 hours at a minimum is what you are going to have to do, to pull it off.

I also suggest taking a diagnostic ACT exam to see what your starting score is. Some students will be naturally better at one exam compared to the other, so choosing the exam that you have a higher initial score on could potentially decrease the amount of time you have to study to reach your goal score.

Effective Test-Taking Strategies

Start by familiarizing yourself with the test format and scoring. Develop effective test-taking strategies, such as time management and process of elimination, to improve your efficiency.

Read also: Becoming a Better Student

The Role of Standardized Tests in College Admissions Today

As more schools return to requiring standardized test scores, experts say a strong score can help you stand out as an applicant. Test scores, when considered, are just a piece of the college admissions process. Schools also review other factors, such as students' GPAs, course rigor, extracurricular activities, essays and letters of recommendation.

A small number of selective schools, including the majority of the Ivy Leagues, have reinstated standardized test requirements after generally making them optional during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even at test-optional schools, experts say, a strong score can help an applicant stand out, especially given a rise in grade inflation.

On average, high school GPAs increased from 3.17 in 2010 to 3.36 in 2021, according to a 2022 report from ACT. During that time, the highest grade inflation - a term used to describe an increase in students’ grades that doesn't necessarily correlate with an increase in their academic achievement - occurred between 2018 and 2021, an increase of 0.1 grade points, the most recent data indicates.

Experts advise students to take the SAT or ACT at least once, as long as there are no logistical or financial barriers. From there, students applying to a test-optional school can decide whether it's beneficial to submit their scores.

A Good SAT Score Relative to College and Applicant

Not only is a good score relative to each college, but also to each applicant. The strength of the score can depend on an individual's GPA, the rigor of the high school courses they have taken and where they attend high school, experts say.

The average SAT score for the high school class of 2025 was 1029, up by five points from the class of 2024, according to a report from the College Board, which administers the SAT. Many other colleges, such as James Madison University in Virginia, have an average SAT score over 1200 for admitted freshmen. Set your target score to meet or exceed those ranges, and research the percentage of applicants who submit scores.

Navigating Test-Optional Policies

If testing is optional, "then you don't want to send a score in the bottom quartile. Typically, it's not going to be a strength. I would lean more on other factors in the application." However, you'll still need to "make more thoughtful decisions about what a college might infer about your score or impute your score in the absence of an actual score," says Bruce Reed, co-founder and executive director of Compass Education Group, a test preparation and academic tutoring company.

For example, Reed says, "if you are sitting on a 690 and the 'middle 50' starts at 700, the hard rule of thumb would say, 'Don't submit.' But if you don't submit that 690, they might assume you had a 600 or 590. Students often fear that a score is too low to disclose, when in fact, the admissions office might assume the applicant is concealing a score that is lower than it truly is."

If you're unsure about whether to submit scores, reach out to your school of interest, Reed adds. "Colleges are surprisingly and refreshingly open if there are channels to communicate with them. You can often call the office or have a counselor call the office and present a hypothetical, 'Is this a score that you would suggest being included (in my application)?' They'll often give you some guidance because there is this perverse incentive for colleges to only receive the scores that they want to then count and report." You can also aim to reach a school's minimum score requirement for merit aid.

Additional Tips for SAT Preparation

Retaking the SAT can be time-consuming and costly, so figure out your bandwidth. Consider your home responsibilities, after-school activities and homework load, experts say. Some families hire test prep tutors or coaches, but studying for the SAT doesn't have to cost hundreds of dollars. Students can work independently and use free online test prep resources, like Khan Academy, a College Board partner.

Note that many colleges superscore, which is combining a student's highest scores from each section on all test attempts to create a new composite score.

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