SAT Exam Cutoff – Details on SAT Score for Universities Abroad

As far as getting admission to a college abroad is concerned, you might clearly know the value of the SAT Exam. You already know that college admissions are always competitive and you as a candidate need to aim for higher scores to get into the list of targeted cutoffs. This is something valuable to ensure that you get the college that you are looking for. If you want to know more about SAT Exam Cutoff and a list of colleges with different cutoffs, This article covers everything in detail to help you with the needed insights.

Why SAT Cutoff is crucial for you?

Do you want to know how SAT Cutoff can have an impact on your college admissions and selections? Since SAT Cutoff is the most common method of colleges and universities to shortlist you, it is important that you know the essentialities of it.

What is the SAT Cutoff?

The SAT Cutoff Marks is simply a standard that universities and colleges use to determine whether you are eligible for admission or not. The SAT Exam is given by a huge number of students worldwide and every college lists out various factors on the basis of which they shortlist students. The Cutoff can be considered as a range of scores that decides whether you can apply for admission to certain colleges or not.

SAT Cutoff Marks Range

The universities abroad in countries like the US and UK prefer to shortlist you if you have crossed the scores of 1300-1400. Since there are multiple criteria in terms of securing admission, you always should aim for a high SAT score to increase your chances for admission to top-level colleges. Apart from that, various reputed colleges also seek your academic performance in high school, extracurricular activities, and overall portfolio.

Pro Tip for SAT Applicants

If you are applying for admission in any of the colleges or universities in countries like the US, UK, and Canada, you should plan to study well in the SAT Exam to achieve scores above 1300-1400. This can be your golden opportunity to get admission to reputed colleges like Yale, Harvard, Stanford, etc.

Does Cut Off really matter in SAT?

The Cut-off is a determinant factor in many colleges and universities as they receive thousands of applications from applicants worldwide. This is the reason why institutions release cut-offs along with other criteria for offering admission to candidates. Being an applicant, you should know about various colleges and their cutoffs so that it becomes easy for you to plan the examination well.

SAT Cutoff for Top Universities

Getting admission into top colleges can always be competitive. The SAT Cutoff Marks usually range from 1300-1400 and also go beyond 1500 depending upon the institution. The Top Universities always aim to intake students with the highest SAT scores and this is the reason you should always aim for higher grades. In most cases, it also depends on the colleges and universities you are applying to as every college has its specific criteria of offering admission to candidates. Additionally, there can be other factors also that can play a role in securing admission into top-tier colleges. 

Due to covid-19, many universities and colleges have also decided to go test-optional while some of them have eliminated the requirement of SAT. The section on the test-optional universities and colleges is also covered in the article.

If you want to understand the cut off for top universities, here is the table that can help you in a better way:

Harvard University	Ranges between 1480 to 1600
Yale University	Ranges between 1480 to 1600
UCLA	Approx. 1400
Penn University	Approx. 1500
Cornell University	Approx. 1390
Carnegie Mellon University	EBRW Score is Required 730+ and Maths Score is Required 780+.
Stanford University	Maths Score Cut-off is Above 770, EBRW Score Cut-off is Above 735.
Duke University	Approx. 1475
Boston University	Approx. 1510
UC San Diego	Approx. 1490
UT Austin	Approx. 1480
University of Pennsylvania	Ranges between 1470 to 1550

Test-Optional: Does SAT Cut-off play the role?

If you are following the covid update, you might be aware that some universities have made the SAT Exam non-mandatory. The universities and colleges have called this step “Test-Optional” where it is completely on the choice of students to whether they want to submit SAT Test Scores or not. In such cases, it is definite that this will not impact your admission but other areas like your high school grades, essays, portfolio, etc. will be given a competitive weightage.

Top Universities & Colleges going “Test-Optional” in 2021-22

There are numerous universities and colleges which have decided to go test-optional seeing the covid conditions. The list of such universities and colleges you can refer are listed below:

University of Chicago	Test-Optional
Harvard University	Test-Optional for 2021-22
California Institute of Technology	SAT is not required for 2021-22
Brown University	Test-Optional for 2021-22
Cornell University	SAT is not required for 2021-22
New York University	Test-Optional for 2021-22

What is a Good SAT Score?

The SAT Exam is solely based on grading which ranges between 200-1600. A score above 1400 can be seen as a fairly good score but the higher the one scores, the better it is. For instance, if you have scored 1450 out of 1600, it means that you will stand a pretty solid chance of getting into your dream college.

While preparing for the SAT Exam, it is always recommended that you aim for higher grades to secure a chance of admission into colleges such as Harvard, Cornell, Duke, etc.

Percentile	Score
99+	1560-1600
99	1520-1550
95	1430-1440
90	1350
85	1290
80	1240-1250
75	1200-1210
50	1040-1050

Is SAT Score necessary for admission?

In general cases, the SAT is a requirement for admission to colleges abroad. Since covid, as there are various boundations and guidelines that may vary from country to country, many of the colleges have become “Test-Optional” which have made the admission process easier for students. You can also check for test-optional colleges in this article itself.

Policies for SAT Score in U.S Universities

The Universities in the US have changed some of their policies to accommodate students who are not able to take the SAT Exam due to restrictions and closure of centers. Here are the common policies which colleges and universities are currently following:

• Test-Required: This policy states that the applicants have to mandatorily submit SAT Scores to get eligible for the admission process.
• SAT-Flexible: These kinds of colleges can refer to other scores such as IB, AP, or other tests instead of SAT Scores.
• Test-Optional: In such cases, it is totally optional whether you submit your SAT scores or not.
• Test-Blind: The colleges and universities following this policy will not require SAT Scores at all.

SAT Cutoff 2021

The Scholastic Assessment Test or SAT is a great way to get admission in the UK, US, New Zealand, or Canada. It specifically requires the candidate to achieve a range of 1200 – 1350 in which their score falls into the 75th percentile and above. This specific score range mentioned here is right on what most colleges require for admission. 

The SAT Cutoff can be a mandatory factor that can decide whether you are going to be selected for admission or not.

SAT Score Requirements for Top Universities (Composite Score)

This is an overview of the general SAT cutoff score for the Top 20 universities in the USA.

University	SAT Cutoff (Composite Score)
Harvard University	1520
Stanford University	1505
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	1535
University of California Berkeley (UCB)	1415
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	1455
Yale University	1515
Columbia University	1505
Princeton University	1505
New York University (NYU)	1510
University of Pennsylvania	1500
University of Chicago	1470
Cornell University	1480
Duke University	1510
Johns Hopkins University	1505
University of Southern California	1440
Northwestern University	1495
Carnegie Mellon University	1460
University of Michigan	1435
Brown University	1485
Boston University	1420

SAT Cutoffs for Top US Universities (Reading and Writing Scores)

Most universities also have specific section SAT cutoffs for the scores. The averages for the last admission year (19-20) are outlined in the tables below:

University	SAT Cutoff (Reading and Writing Score)
Harvard University	710-770
Stanford University	700-770
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	730-770
University of California Berkeley (UCB)	650-740
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	690
Yale University	740-800
Columbia University	700-770
Princeton University	710-770
New York University (NYU)	670-740
University of Pennsylvania	700-760
University of Chicago	730-770
Cornell University	680-760
Duke University	720-770
Johns Hopkins University	720-760
University of Southern California	660-740
Northwestern University	700-760
Carnegie Mellon University	700-760
University of Michigan	660-740
Brown University	700-770
Boston University	650-720

SAT Cutoffs for Top US Universities (Math Scores)

Here are the SAT Cutoffs for the Maths section of top US Universities:

University	SAT Cutoff (Math Score)
Harvard University	740-800
Stanford University	740-800
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	780-800
University of California Berkeley (UCB)	680-790
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	715
Yale University	720-770
Columbia University	740-800
Princeton University	740-800
New York University (NYU)	690-790
University of Pennsylvania	750-800
University of Chicago	770-800
Cornell University	720-800
Duke University	750-800
Johns Hopkins University	750-800
University of Southern California	680-790
Northwestern University	730-790
Carnegie Mellon University	760-800
University of Michigan	680-790
Brown University	730-790
Boston University	670-780

List of Universities that don’t require SAT Scores In 2021-22

This article has already covered the concepts of “Test-Optional”, it is now important for you to refer to information on which universities have completely scrapped the requirement of SAT Scores in 2021.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Boston University

University of California

Tulane University

University of Washington

Northeastern University

Scripps College

Texas Christian University

Reed College

Paul Smith’s College

Pacific University Oregon

Northern Illinois University

University of New England

Minerva Schools at KGI

Massachusetts College of Art & Design

Loyola University New Orleans

Hampshire College

Governors State University

Dickinson College

Columbia College Chicago

Catholic University of America

California Institute of Technology

How colleges make decision on admission: Is SAT Score still necessary for College Admissions abroad?

As an SAT Exam applicant, it is crucial that you understand the requirements for the SAT Exam in 2021-22. As SAT Score is not the only criterion for admission into colleges abroad, there are also numerous factors listed by colleges that play a role while shortlisting a candidate for a specific course. In 2021-22 also there are still various factors that will play a role in determining your chances of admission other than SAT or ACT Scores. Here are some of the points to help you understand it well:

• Scenarios for Test-Optional Institutions:
  
  In the case of colleges and universities which are test-optional, they tend to refer to other factors such as high school grade, class rank, GPA, School Transcripts, etc.
  
• Statement of Purpose (SOP):
  
  This is an integral part of the application process and being an SAT Applicant it becomes crucial for you to focus on working towards making your SOP better. It is another requirement that can decide your admission other than SAT Score which will still play a crucial role for now too.
  
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR):
  
  This is another crucial factor as LOR majorly defines your character and personality. As this has to be signed and written by any of your high school teachers, it becomes a document of importance for the admission committee.
  
• Extra-Curricular Activities:
  
  Your overall development and personality are valued at the time of admission. The extracurricular activities or simply referred to as participation in arts, volunteering, theater or sports can be an additional factor for admission.
  
• Portfolio:
  
  The portfolio is the cumulative showcase of your abilities and skillsets. This is something that can inspire admission committee members to shortlist you if you have already done well in high school and SAT (if required).

You can indulge in community service activities or enroll into the Junior MBA program by Clever Harvey where you will get a chance to build a portfolio by working on real world projects.

FAQs on SAT Cutoff