On the SAT, reading scores outpaced math from 1967 through 1989 – and again starting in 2017
Average SAT scores on reading and math sections
Note: Possible scores on each section range from 200 to 800. Scores before and after 2016 should not be compared because of significant changes to the test that year. Scores from 2016 are not shown because they are not directly comparable with any other year. Each year represents the school year ending that spring.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
On the SAT, reading scores outpaced math from 1967 through 1989 – and again starting in 2017
Average SAT scores on reading and math sections
| Year | Reading | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 543 | 516 |
| 1968 | 543 | 516 |
| 1969 | 540 | 517 |
| 1970 | 537 | 512 |
| 1971 | 532 | 513 |
| 1972 | 530 | 509 |
| 1973 | 523 | 506 |
| 1974 | 521 | 505 |
| 1975 | 512 | 498 |
| 1976 | 509 | 497 |
| 1977 | 507 | 496 |
| 1978 | 507 | 494 |
| 1979 | 505 | 493 |
| 1980 | 502 | 492 |
| 1981 | 502 | 492 |
| 1982 | 504 | 493 |
| 1983 | 503 | 494 |
| 1984 | 504 | 497 |
| 1985 | 509 | 500 |
| 1986 | 509 | 500 |
| 1987 | 507 | 501 |
| 1988 | 505 | 501 |
| 1989 | 504 | 502 |
| 1990 | 500 | 501 |
| 1991 | 499 | 500 |
| 1992 | 500 | 501 |
| 1993 | 500 | 503 |
| 1994 | 499 | 504 |
| 1995 | 504 | 506 |
| 1996 | 505 | 508 |
| 1997 | 505 | 511 |
| 1998 | 505 | 512 |
| 1999 | 505 | 511 |
| 2000 | 505 | 514 |
| 2001 | 506 | 514 |
| 2002 | 504 | 516 |
| 2003 | 507 | 519 |
| 2004 | 508 | 518 |
| 2005 | 508 | 520 |
| 2006 | 503 | 518 |
| 2007 | 502 | 515 |
| 2008 | 502 | 515 |
| 2009 | 501 | 515 |
| 2010 | 501 | 516 |
| 2011 | 497 | 514 |
| 2012 | 496 | 514 |
| 2013 | 496 | 514 |
| 2014 | 497 | 513 |
| 2015 | 495 | 511 |
| 2017 | 533 | 527 |
| 2018 | 536 | 531 |
| 2019 | 531 | 528 |
| 2020 | 528 | 523 |
| 2021 | 533 | 528 |
| 2022 | 529 | 521 |
| 2023 | 520 | 508 |
Note: Possible scores on each section range from 200 to 800. Scores before and after 2016 should not be compared because of significant changes to the test that year. Scores from 2016 are not shown because they are not directly comparable with any other year. Each year represents the school year ending that spring.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
