Is 1540 a Good SAT Score?
A 1540 puts you at the 99 percentile of SAT takers — an elite score — top ~2% of test takers, competitive at every school in the country.
1540 on the SAT = 99 percentile (vs. the 1029 national average).
- Score1540
- Percentile (test takers)99
- vs. national average+511 pts
- VerdictAbove average
Source: College Board 2025–26 percentile tables (test takers, past three classes).
Scores near 1540
| SAT score | Percentile (test takers) |
|---|---|
| 1480 | 97 |
| 1500 | 98 |
| 1520 | 98 |
| 1540 | 99 |
| 1560 | 99+ |
| 1580 | 99+ |
| 1600 | 99+ |
What a 1540 means in practice
The national average is 1029, so a 1540 sits above it by 511 points — an elite score — top ~2% of test takers, competitive at every school in the country. 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 1540 a good SAT score?
A 1540 is at the 99 percentile of SAT takers — an elite score — top ~2% of test takers, competitive at every school in the country.
What percentile is a 1540 SAT score?
99th percentile among students who took the SAT in the past three graduating classes, per College Board tables.
Can I get into college with a 1540?
Yes — admissions is a match game, not a bar exam. At this level testing is a strength almost everywhere.
Sources & methodology
Sources: College Board — Understanding SAT Scores.
Percentiles are official College Board user norms; verdicts are editorial guidance, not admissions predictions.