Benchmarks

The SAT Suite of Assessments College and Career Readiness Benchmarks work together to help students and educators assess student progress toward college readiness from year to year. Benchmarks help:

• Identify students who are thriving and require greater challenges.
• Identify students who require additional academic support.
• Inform instructional and curricular enhancements throughout an institution.

SAT College and Career Readiness Benchmarks

Students are considered college and career ready when their SAT section scores meet both the Math and the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing benchmarks. It's important to note that college readiness is a continuum—students scoring below the SAT benchmarks can still be successful in college, especially with additional preparation and perseverance.

Students with an SAT Math section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in first-semester, credit-bearing college courses in algebra, statistics, precalculus, or calculus.

Students with an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in first-semester, credit-bearing college courses in history, literature, social sciences, or writing classes.

Grade-Level Benchmarks

Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 see grade-level benchmarks on their score reports. Grade-level benchmarks indicate whether students are on track for college and career readiness. They're based on expected student growth toward SAT benchmarks at each grade.

Benchmark Indicators

Score reports use colors to show how students' section scores relate to the SAT or grade-level benchmark.

• Green: The section score meets or exceeds the benchmark.
• Yellow: The section score is within 1 year’s academic growth of the benchmark.
• Red: The section score is below the benchmark by more than 1 year’s academic growth.

Benchmark Values and Section Score Ranges

SAT College and Career Readiness Benchmarks

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 480
• Math: 530

SAT Section Score Ranges
200–800 Point Scale

11th Grade Benchmarks

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 460
• Math: 510

11th Grade Section Score Ranges
160–760 Point Scale

10th Grade Benchmarks

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 430
• Math: 480

10th Grade Section Score Ranges
160–760 Point Scale

9th Grade Benchmarks

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 410
• Math: 450

9th Grade Section Score Ranges
120–720 Point Scale

8th Grade Benchmarks

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 390
• Math: 430

8th Grade Section Score Ranges
120–720 Point Scale