What does a 1490 SAT score mean for your college aspirations? Let’s unpack this impressive score.
- What Is the SAT Scoring System: Learn how the SAT measures your proficiency in reading, writing, and math, and where a 1490 fits within the scoring range.
- Is a 1490 Score Good or Bad: Discover how a 1490 score stacks up against national averages and admission scores at top universities.
- How Hard is it to Get a 1490 on the SAT: Understand the preparation and performance required to achieve such a notable score.
Achieving a 1490 score is an impressive accomplishment that opens plenty of doors in the world of higher education.
Understanding the SAT Scoring System
The SAT, administered by the College Board, is a standardized exam commonly used for undergraduate admissions in the United States. Understanding how the SAT scoring system works is critical for interpreting scores.
SAT Subjects Covered
The SAT covers three primary subjects:
- Reading: This section necessitates understanding passages from literature, historical documents, and scientific articles, followed by answering related questions.
- Writing and Language: Candidates navigate grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical skills in this section.
- Math: Divided into two portions (one that allows a calculator and one that doesn’t), this section includes arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and some elementary trigonometry.
Converting Raw to Scaled Scores
Each correct answer on the SAT contributes to your raw score. Missed or incorrect responses do not count against your raw score. The raw score is then converted to a scaled score which ranges from 200 to 800 points per section (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math).
SAT Composite Scores
Your composite score is the total of your section scores. The maximum possible score is 1600, with each section contributing up to 800 points. A 1490 score means you’re just 110 points short of the highest possible score.
Understanding a 1490 SAT Score
A score of 1490 is one of the highest possible scores on the SAT, putting you in the top echelon of students nationwide. It’s certainly not the lowest, which starts at 400. Given that the maximum score is 1600, a 1490 score indicates an above-average performance.
Is 1490 a Good SAT Score?
A 1490 score isn’t merely good—it’s excellent! It falls within the 96th to 98th percentile range according to the SAT Composite Score Range, meaning it’s higher than 96 to 98% of test-takers’ scores.
College Admissions
Querying “Is a score of 1490 good enough for college admissions?” is common among students. The answer is predominantly affirmative. The average SAT score for admitted students at well-known universities is often above 1400, so a 1490 score is quite competitive.
For instance, the mid-50% SAT score range for 2020 admits to Yale University was 1470-1560. Therefore, a score of 1490 positions you comfortably within that range.
Ivy League Requirements
Admission to Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton is notoriously competitive. A score of 1490 puts you among the top applicants, but keep in mind these top-tier schools also look at rigorous coursework, extracurricular activities, and personal character in their consideration.
Is 1490 a Bad SAT Score?
From an objective standpoint, a 1490 score is exceptionally high, but the context matters.
Competitive Universities
For the most competitive universities, such as MIT, a 1490 score might fall on the lower end of the scale. The middle 50% SAT score for MIT admits is typically above 1500, so a 1490 may appear low in this specific setting.
Scholarship Thresholds
Scholarship requirements also play a role in how a 1490 score might be considered. Some academic scholarships have SAT thresholds that must be met to qualify. Some scholarships might require a perfect score or something close, rendering a 1490 score lower than desired.
1490 SAT Score Percentile
When your score lands in the 96th to 98th percentile, it means you’ve outperformed 96 to 98% of all test-takers. A 1490 score demonstrates a high level of competency on the SAT.
What Does Being in a High Percentile Mean?
Being in a high percentile means you’ve performed extremely well compared to other students. It indicates that you have a solid understanding of the academic skills tested on the SAT.
Benefits of High Percentiles
A high percentile score can make you more competitive for college admissions, particularly at selective universities. It can also open up opportunities for merit-based scholarships.
How Hard is it to Get a 1490 SAT Score?
While a 1490 score is an impressive achievement, it requires a high level of preparation and solid performance on test day.
Level of Preparation
Students aiming for a near-perfect score must dedicate substantial time to studying and practice tests. Familiarity with the types of questions asked and improving speed and accuracy are crucial elements of preparation.
- Study Material: Use official SAT preparation books and online resources.
- Practice Tests: Regular practice with timed sections can help improve speed and accuracy.
- Weak Area Focus: Identify your weak areas and invest extra study time to improve there.
Bridging the Gap
With a 1490 score, you’re just 110 points away from a perfect SAT score. Bridging this gap requires focusing on areas you can improve.
- Detailed Review of Missed Questions: Look at the questions you missed during practice tests. Understanding why you got them wrong can help prevent repeated mistakes.
- Reducing careless errors: Often, students lose points not because of a lack of understanding but because of simple mistakes. Developing strategies to reduce these can help increase your score.
Aiming for perfection isn’t easy, but with consistent effort, getting that 1490 score to inch closer to 1600 is possible.
1490 SAT Score to ACT
If you’re familiar with both the ACT and SAT, you may wonder how a 1490 score translates to the ACT scale. Using widely recognized conversion charts, a 1490 score approximates to an ACT score of 34, an equally exceptional score.
Understanding the Conversion
To get a clearer picture and compare your SAT score with the ACT scale, concordance tables are often used. These tables provide the closest equivalent scores between both tests.
1490 SAT Converted to ACT
A 1490 on the SAT corresponds roughly to an ACT composite score of 34. This placement is within the 99th percentile, making your performance superior compared to majority of test-takers.
Considerations in Conversion
Although these scores are approximately comparable, it’s essential to remember that these are two different tests, measuring slightly different aspects of knowledge and skills. The SAT emphasizes mathematical reasoning more heavily than the ACT, while the ACT has a Science section that the SAT does not. Conversion should be seen as an estimate rather than an exact match.
Should I Submit a 1490 SAT Score?
A significant factor to consider when applying to colleges is the specific institution’s SAT score expectations. Having said that, a 1490 score is competitive for most colleges.
When is it Beneficial?
Submitting a 1490 score would be particularly beneficial when applying to institutions where your score positions you well above their accepted student average. For example, at UCLA, the middle 50% SAT score range for admitted students is typically around 1330-1530, thus, a 1490 score would make you a strong candidate.
Knowing the Admission Standards
Ultimately, understanding what each college anticipates in terms of SAT scores can help you make the best decision — it’s beneficial to research the specific standards set by schools you’re interested in.
1490 SAT Score Colleges
A 1490 score makes you a strong candidate at numerous prestigious institutions. Here are some examples:
- University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA): Admitted students’ SAT scores often range from 1330-1530, so a 1490 is comfortably within that range.
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: With a middle 50% SAT score range of 1330–1510, a 1490 is competitive here.
- Boston University: Admitted students usually score between 1340 and 1510 on the SAT, making a 1490 score highly competitive.
1490 SAT Score Scholarships
A 1490 score can qualify students for a range of scholarship opportunities. Always consider:
- Merit-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded based on academic, artistic, or athletic excellence, rather than financial need. A high SAT score often plays a significant role in getting these scholarships.
- School-Specific Scholarships: Many colleges offer scholarships specifically for their students that often consider SAT scores as part of their selection criteria.
With a score of 1490, you’re likely to be an attractive candidate for such opportunities.
Tips to Improve Your 1490 SAT Score
If you’re aiming to push your SAT score even higher, here are some strategies that can prove useful:
Focus on the Hardest Problems: Most SAT prep resources categorize questions by difficulty. Focus on the hardest ones, as they provide the most room for improvement.
Detailed Review of Your Mistakes: Thoroughly review each question you answer incorrectly or don’t understand. Ensure that you understand every solution before moving on.
Practice Under Real Test Conditions: Simulating real test conditions can help acclimate you to the pressure you may feel during the actual SAT.
And remember, effort and determination can often make the difference between a good score and a great one.
For more information about improving your SAT score we recommend checking out: The College Board Website
SAT Scores 400 to 1600
| 400 | 410 | 420 | 430 | 440 |
| 450 | 460 | 470 | 480 | 490 |
| 500 | 510 | 520 | 530 | 540 |
| 550 | 560 | 570 | 580 | 590 |
| 600 | 610 | 620 | 630 | 640 |
| 650 | 660 | 670 | 680 | 690 |
| 700 | 710 | 720 | 730 | 740 |
| 750 | 760 | 770 | 780 | 790 |
| 800 | 810 | 820 | 830 | 840 |
| 850 | 860 | 870 | 880 | 890 |
| 900 | 910 | 920 | 930 | 940 |
| 950 | 960 | 970 | 980 | 990 |
| 1000 | 1010 | 1020 | 1030 | 1040 |
| 1050 | 1060 | 1070 | 1080 | 1090 |
| 1100 | 1110 | 1120 | 1130 | 1140 |
| 1150 | 1160 | 1170 | 1180 | 1190 |
| 1200 | 1210 | 1220 | 1230 | 1240 |
| 1250 | 1260 | 1270 | 1280 | 1290 |
| 1300 | 1310 | 1320 | 1330 | 1340 |
| 1350 | 1360 | 1370 | 1380 | 1390 |
| 1400 | 1410 | 1420 | 1430 | 1440 |
| 1450 | 1460 | 1470 | 1480 | 1490 |
| 1500 | 1510 | 1520 | 1530 | 1540 |
| 1550 | 1560 | 1570 | 1580 | 1590 |
| 1600 |
Conclusion
Is 1490 a good score on the SAT? Absolutely. A 1490 score places you in the top tier of all test-takers. But will colleges accept a 1490 Score? Generally, you bet. It’s a competitive score for many top colleges and universities.
However, if you’re aiming for the most elite schools or scholarships, you might want to increase your SAT score even further. And while scores are important, they aren’t everything — colleges consider other factors in admissions. Course rigor, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and essays can also significantly impact your application.
Aim to make all aspects of your application as strong as your 1490 score. Continue studying, strategizing and practicing. The effort has the potential to pay off, whether it’s through college acceptance, scholarships, or simply the satisfaction of achieving academic excellence.