A 1,000 on the SAT is slightly below the average score of 1060, so it is relatively easy to score 1000 on the SAT. Of course, that doesn’t mean all students can easily score 1000 on the SAT. Students still have to know enough material to get 1000.
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How to Score 1000 on the SAT
Here is a breakdown of different scenarios in which students can score 1000 on the SAT. Each SAT is scored slightly differently since it is curved based on how the students who took the test performed on it. These are good estimates, though.
Even Breakdown on All Sections
Score Breakdown
- English: 500
- Reading: 250 (25 out of 52, about 48%)
- Writing 250: (23 out of 44, about 52%)
- Math: 500 (25 out of 58, about 43%)
- Total: 1000
To get a 500 on English by scoring evenly well on Reading and Writing, you will need to get 25 out of 52 reading questions right and 23 out of 44 writing questions right to get 250 on each part, 500 total for English. You’ll need to answer 25 out of 58 questions right on the math part to get a 500 on math.
Slightly Better in Reading and Slightly Worse in Math
Score Breakdown
- English: 550
- Reading: 300 (34 out of 52, about 65%)
- Writing 250: (23 out of 44, about 52%)
- Math: 450 (20 out of 58, about 34%)
- Total: 1000
To get a 550 on English by scoring slightly better on English by scoring higher on reading, you will need to get 34 out of 52 questions right to get a 300 on reading and 23 out of 44 writing questions right to get 250 on writing each part, 550 total for English. You’ll need to answer 20 out of 58 questions right on the math part to get a 450 on math.
Slightly Higher in Writing and Slightly Worse in Math
Score Breakdown
- English: 550
- Reading: 250 (25 out of 52, about 48%)
- Writing 300: (29 out of 44, about 66%)
- Math: 450 (20 out of 58, about 34%)
- Total: 1000
To get a 550 on English by scoring slightly better on English by scoring higher on writing, you will need to get 25 out of 52 questions right to get a 250 on reading and 29 out of 44 writing questions right to get 300 on writing each part, 550 total for English. You’ll need to answer 20 out of 58 questions right on the math part to get a 450 on math.
Higher in English (Reading and Writing) and Worse in Math
Score Breakdown
- English: 600
- Reading: 300 (34 out of 52, about 65%)
- Writing 300: (29 out of 44, about 66%)
- Math: 400 (20 out of 58, about 34%)
- Total: 1000
To get a 600 on English by scoring evenly well on reading and writing, you will need to get 13 out of 52 reading questions and 29 out of 44 questions right to get 300 on each part, 600 total for English. You’ll need to answer 20 out of 58 questions right on the math part to get a 450 on math.
Score Slightly Higher on Math and Slightly Lower in English
Score Breakdown
- English: 450
- Reading: 230 (21 out of 52, about 40%)
- Writing 220: (19 out of 44, about 43%)
- Math: 550 (32 out of 58, about 55%)
- Total: 1000
To get a 450 on English by scoring almost evenly on reading and writing, you will need to get 21 out of 52 questions right to get a 230 on reading and 19 out of 44 right to get 220 on writing, 500 total for English. You’ll need to answer 32 out of 58 questions right on the math part to get a 550 on math.
Score 600 on Math and 400 on English
Score Breakdown
- English: 400
- Reading: 200 (15 out of 52, about 29%)
- Writing 200: (16 out of 44, about 36%)
- Math: 600 (38 out of 58, about 66%)
- Total: 1000
If a student is much better at math than English, he can still score 1000 on the SAT. For example, a student can score a 600 on math by answering 38 out of 58 questions correct. The English score then only needs to be a 400. A student can score 200 on reading by answering 15 out of 52 questions correct and a 200 on writing by answering 16 out of 44 correct.
Should a Student Try to Score Above 1000 on the SAT?
1000 on the SAT isn’t a bad score, but it isn’t a score that will help a student’s chances to get into college. If a student just has average grades in school, this score would back that up. A higher score could help a student’s chances of getting in. Also, a student with above-average grades in school would be hurt by a 1000 SAT score because it doesn’t line up well with their grades. Preparing for the SAT and raising the score above 1000 would benefit any student, regardless of his or her school grades.