SAT results for the class of 2023 averaged 1028 out of 1600 nationally, with Math at 511 and ERW at 516. Scores declined from earlier years and the post-2016 redesign period eventually dipped around the 2020 pandemic. This page compares totals and section scores over time, shows where the distribution lands (median 990, 75th percentile 1210, 90th percentile 1340), and examines how group and state results differ.
Key Takeaways
- 2023 national average for Asian students on SAT was 1228 total, significantly above overall 1028
- In 2023, Black/African American SAT test-takers averaged 907 total score, Math 454, ERW 454
- Hispanic/Latino students' 2023 national SAT average was 967, with Math 489 and ERW 478
- From 2015 to 2023, national SAT average declined 59 points from 1110 to 1028 for ERW+Math
- Math SAT scores dropped 3 points nationally from 2022 (514) to 2023 (511)
- ERW SAT average fell 5 points from 2022's 521 to 516 in 2023
- In the class of 2023, the national average SAT score for all test-takers was 1028 out of 1600, with Math at 511 and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) at 516
- For the class of 2022, the mean total SAT score across all U.S. students was 1050, broken down to 529 in Math and 521 in ERW
- In 2021, the average SAT score for college-bound seniors reached 1060, with sectional averages of 528 Math and 533 ERW amid pandemic disruptions
- 75th percentile national SAT score in 2023 was 1210 total
- To meet college readiness benchmark (Math 530, ERW 480), 43% of 2023 test-takers qualified
- 2023 national 90th percentile SAT total score was 1340 out of 1600
- In 2023, California state average SAT score was 1051 total for public school students
- New York 2023 SAT average: 1062, with high participation due to mandates
- Texas 2023 state SAT mean: 1003 total, Math 505, ERW 499
In 2023 the SAT averaged 1028 nationwide, with most groups below earlier peaks and only 43% meeting readiness.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographic Breakdowns25 stats
01
2023 national average for Asian students on SAT was 1228 total, significantly above overall 1028
02
In 2023, Black/African American SAT test-takers averaged 907 total score, Math 454, ERW 454
03
Hispanic/Latino students' 2023 national SAT average was 967, with Math 489 and ERW 478
04
White students averaged 1098 on 2023 SAT, Math 547, ERW 551
05
2023 SAT average for males was 1037 total, Math 529 vs females' 1001 total and 494 Math
06
Females in 2023 averaged 1017 ERW on SAT, higher than males' 1003
07
Asian female 2023 SAT average: 1187 total, Math 569, ERW 618
08
In 2022, Native American SAT average was 891 total, lowest among major demographics
09
2022 Two or More Races SAT mean: 1091 total, Math 545, ERW 546
10
Pacific Islander 2022 SAT average: 926 total
11
2021 No Response ethnicity group averaged 1012 on SAT total
12
Male Math gap widened in 2023: +35 points over females nationally
13
2019 Black students SAT average 933 vs White 1110, gap of 177 points
14
Asian Math average 2023: 624, highest demographic sectional score
15
2023 female ERW advantage: +14 points over males nationally
16
Low-income (first-gen) 2023 SAT average: 917 total
17
High-income students 2023 SAT mean: 1209
18
2022 Hispanic female SAT: 954 total, Math 482, ERW 472
19
White male 2022 SAT average: 1121
20
2018 Asian students 1223 SAT total average
21
Gender gap in Math 2017: Males 531 vs Females 495
22
2016 pre-redesign Black average 857/2400
23
Historical verbal gender gap closed by 2015 to females +4 points
24
2005 Asian SAT math average 581/800
25
Native Hawaiian 2023 SAT: 963 total average
Interpretation
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
Within the Demographic Breakdowns, Asian students posted the highest 2023 SAT total at 1228 while Black/African American students averaged 907, showing a substantial scoring gap of 321 points across groups.
02 · Category
Historical Trends20 stats
01
From 2015 to 2023, national SAT average declined 59 points from 1110 to 1028 for ERW+Math
02
Math SAT scores dropped 3 points nationally from 2022 (514) to 2023 (511)
03
ERW SAT average fell 5 points from 2022's 521 to 516 in 2023
04
Post-2016 redesign, SAT totals averaged 1050-1070 until 2020 pandemic dip
05
1972-1980 SAT verbal scores declined 10 points nationally amid education concerns
06
SAT math scores rose steadily from 428 in 1972 to 501 in 1994, then stabilized
07
Overall SAT scores peaked at 1025/1600 in 1966, declined to 900s by 1980
08
Participation in SAT grew from 1 million in 2000 to 2.2 million peak in 2019
09
Digital SAT rollout 2024 showed initial average 40 points higher than paper, adjusted basis
10
From 2006-2016 out of 2400, SAT averages declined from 1521 to 1500
11
Gender math gap narrowed from 37 points in 1972 to 28 in 2019
12
Asian SAT score share of top decile rose from 4% in 1996 to 25% in 2023
13
National participation rate for SAT fell from 52% in 2019 to 42% in 2023
14
SAT essay discontinued 2021 after averages showed 2020 mean 13/24 total
15
Pre-1995 verbal scores averaged 424-428, post-recenter 1996 jumped to 505
16
2020 pandemic year SAT average rose to 1051 despite fewer high achievers testing
17
Long-term trend 1966-2023: SAT Math up 20 points overall, Verbal/ERW down 50
18
State mandates increased participation 20% from 2015-2020, scores dropped 10-20 pts
19
Top 1% SAT scorers (1550+) doubled from 2010 to 2020 due to test prep boom
20
2023 saw largest one-year SAT score drop in decades: -22 points total
Interpretation
Historical Trends Interpretation
Under the Historical Trends angle, SAT performance shows a clear long arc of change, including a 59 point national ERW plus Math average drop from 1110 in 2015 to 1028 in 2023 and a smaller recent dip from 2022 to 2023 where Math fell 3 points and ERW fell 5 points.
03 · Category
National Averages29 stats
01
In the class of 2023, the national average SAT score for all test-takers was 1028 out of 1600, with Math at 511 and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) at 516
02
For the class of 2022, the mean total SAT score across all U.S. students was 1050, broken down to 529 in Math and 521 in ERW
03
In 2021, the average SAT score for college-bound seniors reached 1060, with sectional averages of 528 Math and 533 ERW amid pandemic disruptions
04
The 2020 national average SAT total score was 1051, featuring 523 in Math and 528 in ERW for over 2.2 million test-takers
05
Class of 2019 saw a national SAT mean of 1059 total, with Math at 528 and ERW at 531 from 2.2 million participants
06
In 2018, average SAT scores totaled 1068 for all test-takers, Math 531 and ERW 536
07
2017 national average SAT score was 1060, with 530 Math and 533 ERW averages
08
Pre-redesign 2016 SAT average for seniors was 1500 out of 2400, with Critical Reading 494, Math 510, Writing 496
09
2015 class average SAT score was 1490/2400, Reading 495, Math 511, Writing 484
10
National mean SAT score in 2014 was 1497, with 497 Reading, 513 Math, 487 Writing
11
2013 average SAT total was 1498, sectional: 496 CR, 514 M, 488 W
12
In 2012, U.S. average SAT score totaled 1495, 499 Reading, 514 Math, 488 Writing
13
2011 national SAT average: 1494 total, Reading 497, Math 514, Writing 489
14
Class of 2010 averaged 1501 on SAT, 501 CR, 516 M, 489 W
15
2009 SAT national mean was 1511/2400, 501 Reading, 515 Math, 493 Writing
16
In 2008, average total SAT score was 1511, with 502 CR, 515 M, 494 W
17
2007 national SAT average: 1511 total, 503 Reading, 515 Math, 493 Writing
18
2006 class averaged 1518 on SAT I+II, 504 CR, 518 M, 494 W
19
2024 preliminary national SAT average for class of 2024 is estimated at 1026 total
20
Digital SAT in 2024 first cohort averaged 1059 total for public school students nationally
21
Among 2023 SAT test-takers, national Math average rose to 511 from previous years
22
ERW national average dipped to 516 in 2023 from 520 in 2020
23
Total SAT participants in 2023: 1.9 million with mean 1028
24
Pre-2005 SAT out of 1600 averaged around 1026 in 2004 for seniors
25
1995 national SAT average was 428 verbal and 482 math out of 800 each, total 910
26
1980s average SAT verbal score nationally hovered at 430, math 468
27
Post-WWII 1950s SAT averages were 476 verbal, 494 math for college-bound
28
1970 national mean SAT: 453 verbal, 466 math
29
Peak SAT scores in 1960s averaged 543 verbal for top groups nationally
Interpretation
National Averages Interpretation
Across these National Averages, SAT performance stayed fairly stable from 2018 to 2023, hovering around the mid 1050s overall, with totals ranging from 1068 in 2018 down to 1028 in 2023 and Math consistently trailing ERW by about 5 to 10 points.
More related reading
04 · Category
Performance Benchmarks23 stats
01
75th percentile national SAT score in 2023 was 1210 total
02
To meet college readiness benchmark (Math 530, ERW 480), 43% of 2023 test-takers qualified
03
2023 national 90th percentile SAT total score was 1340 out of 1600
04
Median SAT score (50th percentile) in 2023 stood at 990 total nationally
05
10th percentile SAT score 2023: 790 total, indicating bottom decile performance
06
Benchmark met rate for Math in 2023: 41%, up from 34% in 2022
07
ERW benchmark (480+) achieved by 55% of 2023 SAT takers
08
Perfect SAT score (1600) earned by 0.03% or 503 students in 2023 cohort
09
2022 99th percentile SAT threshold: 1520-1600 total
10
National 25th percentile 2023 SAT: 910 total score
11
College Reportable score (valid for admissions) achieved by 85% of 2023 test-takers
12
2023 Math 75th percentile: 600, ERW 650 nationally
13
PSAT/NMSQT selection index benchmark 2023: 1300+ SAT equivalent for top 1%
14
43% of 2023 test-takers met both Math and ERW benchmarks simultaneously
15
2023 average score for benchmark non-met in Math: 430
16
Top 10% SAT cutoff 2023: 1370 total nationally
17
2019 benchmark met rate: 45% total, peaked pre-pandemic
18
SAT Math 800 perfect: 0.4% of test-takers in 2023
19
ERW 700+ scores represented 15% of 2023 national distribution
20
2023 standard deviation for total SAT scores: 218 points nationally
21
Bottom 25% SAT 2023: under 910, correlated with lower college success rates
22
95th percentile SAT 2023: 1450 total, Ivy League consideration threshold
23
SAT to ACT concordance: 1400 SAT ≈ 31 ACT composite benchmark equivalent
Interpretation
Performance Benchmarks Interpretation
In the Performance Benchmarks for 2023, the top end of SAT performance was strong with a 90th percentile score of 1340, yet only 43% met the college readiness benchmark which shows a substantial share falling short despite the upward trend in Math benchmark attainment to 41% from 34% in 2022.
05 · Category
State Variations25 stats
01
In 2023, California state average SAT score was 1051 total for public school students
02
New York 2023 SAT average: 1062, with high participation due to mandates
03
Texas 2023 state SAT mean: 1003 total, Math 505, ERW 499
04
Florida 2023 SAT average 1038, boosted by universal testing policy
05
Massachusetts highest 2023 SAT average at 1106 total
06
Illinois 2023 SAT state average: 983
07
Michigan 2023 average SAT 1077 for participants, low participation rate
08
Colorado 2023 SAT mean 1012 total
09
Virginia 2023 SAT average 1113, top 5 nationally
10
Connecticut 2023 state SAT: 1075 average
11
Washington DC 2023 SAT average 1021 despite high funding
12
West Virginia lowest 2023 SAT average at 897 total
13
Idaho 2023 SAT mean 990
14
Utah 2023 average SAT 1151, highest participation adjusted
15
Ohio 2023 SAT state average 1048
16
Pennsylvania 2023 SAT mean 1079
17
New Jersey 2023 highest at 1124 SAT average
18
Maryland 2023 SAT 1083 average
19
Georgia 2023 SAT state mean 1056
20
North Carolina 2023 average 1100 SAT total
21
Oklahoma 2023 SAT 974 average
22
Oregon 2023 SAT mean 1088
23
South Dakota 2023 SAT average 1210 for participants, very low n
24
Wyoming 2023 SAT state average 1085
25
Minnesota 2023 SAT 1045 mean, ACT dominant state
Interpretation
State Variations Interpretation
Across state variations in 2023, SAT averages ranged from a low of Illinois at 983 to a high of Massachusetts at 1106, showing a wide national spread that likely reflects differences in testing conditions and policies rather than a uniform student performance level.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Sat Score Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sat-score-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Sat Score Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sat-score-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Sat Score Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sat-score-statistics.
Sources & references
12 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level