Is 1230 a Good SAT Score?
A 1230 puts you at the 80 percentile of SAT takers — a good score — top quarter of test takers and above the admitted-student midpoint at many state flagships.
1230 on the SAT = 80 percentile (vs. the 1029 national average).
- Score1230
- Percentile (test takers)80
- vs. national average+201 pts
- VerdictAbove average
Source: College Board 2025–26 percentile tables (test takers, past three classes).
Scores near 1230
| SAT score | Percentile (test takers) |
|---|---|
| 1170 | 73 |
| 1190 | 75 |
| 1210 | 77 |
| 1230 | 80 |
| 1250 | 82 |
| 1270 | 84 |
| 1290 | 85 |
Jump to: 1180 · 1220 · 1240 · 1280 · next milestones: 1300 · 1400
What a 1230 means in practice
The national average is 1029, so a 1230 sits above it by 201 points — a good score — top quarter of test takers and above the admitted-student midpoint at many state flagships. Percentiles compress at the top: 40 points around 1000 moves you ~7 percentile ranks, while 40 points past 1500 moves you one. Superscoring (mixing best section scores across dates) is accepted at most selective schools, so section-level retakes are usually the efficient move.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1230 a good SAT score?
A 1230 is at the 80 percentile of SAT takers — a good score — top quarter of test takers and above the admitted-student midpoint at many state flagships.
What percentile is a 1230 SAT score?
80th percentile among students who took the SAT in the past three graduating classes, per College Board tables.
Can I get into college with a 1230?
Yes — admissions is a match game, not a bar exam. Aim for schools whose middle-50% range brackets your score, and remember most U.S. colleges are test-optional.
Sources & methodology
Sources: College Board — Understanding SAT Scores.
Percentiles are official College Board user norms; verdicts are editorial guidance, not admissions predictions.