Varun Srinivasan October 17, 2023 5 SAT Info and Tips,Standardized Tests

Here’s How 16 Celebrities Scored on the SAT

If you’re getting ready to take the SAT, you might be wondering how other people have fared on this storied test. You may be comparing your potential with scores from a sibling, friends, or other family members. Or, perhaps you’re wondering how some of your favorite, super-successful celebrities performed. 

In this post, we’ll take a look at celebrity SAT scores. Who knocked it out of the park and who stumbled? What was Obama’s and Trump’s SAT score? How about Mark Zuckerberg’s SAT score? Today we step into the world of celebrity gossip and dissect how some of the most well-known people in our country performed on the SAT. You definitely won’t want to miss this post!

Where Did These Scores Come From? How is the SAT Scored?

First of all, let’s be upfront about celebrity gossip. We’re not one of those magazines you see in the checkout line, so we feel pretty confident in telling it like it is—these scores are mostly self-reported. We can’t actually be 100% certain that they’re accurate because we haven’t seen an official score report. Could someone lie about their SAT score? Of course, they could. 

Where does this data come from, then? These scores are gathered mostly from interviews. While SATs aren’t exactly a common celebrity interview question, they do come up from time to time and are a unique topic for celebrities who have probably heard every question in the books again and again. Wherever possible, we’ve tried to locate the exact interview to confirm that this information came straight from the celebrities themselves, but the disclaimer holds true—we haven’t seen these score reports with our own eyes, so take that as you will. 

Before we dive in, let’s review the scoring scale on the SAT. The current SAT is scored on a scale from 400-1600. These composite scores are the result of section scores on a Math test and on an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test. Each section receives a score between 200 and 800, with 800 being a perfect score. The composite score is simply calculated by adding together the section scores. Currently, the average score for Math is 520, and the average score for EBRW is 525. This makes for an average composite score of around 1040-1050 (scores are always reported as an integer multiple of 10).

How Did Your Favorite Celebrity Do on the SAT?

While you might think that people in the public spotlight may be ashamed of their below-average SAT scores, most celebrities are brimming with confidence—enough so that they aren’t afraid of sharing their scores, even if they didn’t do well. 

Likewise, while great SAT scores aren’t a requirement for a successful career on the big screen, or even in US politics, they certainly can’t hurt. So, which US celebrities did great on their SATs, and which floundered? Check out the table below to find out. 

Remember that the SAT score range is 400-1600 and that the average is between 1040-1050.

What Were Obama’s SAT Scores? How About Trump’s SAT Scores?

In a highly divisive political climate, even the SAT scores of recent US presidents have come into arguments from both sides of the aisle. When Obama was in office, Trump loudly criticized his intelligence, questioning how he got into Harvard and demanding that his transcripts and test scores be released. 

When the tables turned, Trump had his lawyer, Michael Cohen, send letters to his own alma maters demanding that his records remain sealed. While this may seem unscrupulous, both Obama and Trump are within their rights to keep their transcripts and test scores to themselves. All student records are protected under the 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, so no president (or any person, for that matter) is required to release them. 

What is a Good SAT Score?

You may be thinking that if you want to become a tech magnate like Zuckerberg or Bill Gates, you’ll need to match their SAT prowess, but luckily this isn’t the case. Celebrity SAT scores hold no weight in determining what a good SAT score is for you. 

Overall, the average SAT score in 2022 was 1050. In addition, the CollegeBoard has set benchmarks for college readiness at a math score of 530 and an evidence-based reading and writing score of 480.

Still, these scores say nothing about what a “good” SAT score means for you personally. Any score that will get you into the colleges you want to attend should be considered good. This will obviously vary from one student to the next. 

Take a look at the charts below to find the mid-50th percentile for SAT scores at some of the top colleges in the country. Keep in mind that the more selective a college is, the higher its SAT middle 50% range will be. 

If you’re not sure how to understand this chart, let us explain what the middle 50% range means. Take Princeton’s as an example, which was 1430-1570. This means that 25% of accepted students scored below 1430, and 25% scored above 1570, with 50% scoring in between. To be the most competitive applicant, you want to score in the upper end of the range, or even above it.

Middle 50% SAT Scores at Top 20 National Universities

Middle 50% SAT Scores at Top 20 Liberal Arts Schools

How Does Your SAT Score Impact Your College Chances

The SAT score is a key component in the college admissions process, often serving as a benchmark for academic readiness. If your SAT score doesn’t align with the mid-50th percentile of scores for admitted students at your target schools, you might need to reassess your strategy. One option is to focus on elevating your SAT score. Effective preparation is crucial, and it’s advisable to follow a well-structured study plan, broken into manageable daily tasks over a longer period. This approach often yields the most significant improvements. 

If you find that you’re unable to improve your SAT score after multiple attempts or if you’re pressed for time, it’s essential to excel in other areas of your application. Exceptional essays, for example, can make a substantial difference and showcase your unique qualities and academic potential. It’s also crucial to be honest with yourself about whether your choice of school is a good academic fit for you, as this affects both your chances of admission and your likelihood of success once enrolled.

If you’re interested in learning more about a specific section on the SAT, you’ll find our section-specific guides a big help:

• The Ultimate Guide to the SAT Reading Test
• The Ultimate Guide to the SAT Writing and Language Test
• The Ultimate Guide to the SAT Math Test
• The Ultimate Guide to the SAT Essay

Want to know how your SAT score impacts your chances of acceptance to your dream schools? Our free Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy!