# Is 1290 a Good SAT Score? Percentile & College Ranges

Source: https://1600.now/sat-score/1290
Last updated: 2026-10-05

---

## 1290 SAT score

A 1290 SAT is a strong score: at the 84th percentile of SAT takers (the 90th nationally representative), and 245 points above the class-of-2026 average of 1045. One valid split is 640 Reading and Writing plus 650 Math. Whether it is enough depends on each college's range and testing policy.

Written by [Luke Finigan](https://1600.now/about)

6 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

### What the 84th percentile means

A percentile is the percentage of the comparison group with scores equal to or lower than yours. College Board publishes two for every total: SAT takers who graduated in the past three school years, and a nationally representative sample of all U.S. 11th and 12th graders, including students who never take the SAT. Name the group when you quote the number.

| Comparison group for 1290 | Percentile |
| --- | --- |
| SAT takers (user group) | 84th |
| All U.S. 11th and 12th graders (nationally representative) | 90th |
| Class of 2026 average total | 1045 |

Percentile is not percent correct or an admission probability. [Read the official total and section tables](https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat), checked October 5, 2026. The 2026 average is from [College Board's September 29, 2026 release](https://newsroom.collegeboard.org/sat-turns-100-nearly-2-million-students-class-2026-take-test).

### Choose the next practice step

Lock down the medium-difficulty questions you are still missing and start breaking into harder content consistently.

Use your own section split and review log. Take one recurring error, locate the first step that fails, and practice new questions that require that step. Test it in a full timed module after the untimed reasoning is secure.

[Use the 1300 preparation guide](https://1600.now/how-to-get-1300-sat) to compare a possible next total with your actual section scores.

### Valid combinations for a 1290 total

Each section must be a 10-point score from 200 to 800. Move Reading and Writing to see how Math must change while the total stays 1290. These examples do not identify your actual scores.

Reading and Writing: 640

**640 Reading and Writing + 650 Math = 1290**

At this split, inspect Reading and Writing errors first, then maintain Math with periodic timed practice.

These are valid combinations, not estimated scores or a claim about your actual split. Use the arrow keys on the slider to change Reading and Writing by 10 points.

For practice, preserve the stronger section while repairing specific misses in the weaker one. If both are equal, compare the error types and confidence in your solutions rather than assuming the same workload in each.

### Compare college ranges before deciding to retake

For a 1290 total, the table below shows matches in our College Scorecard snapshot imported April 25, 2026. These are historical reported ranges, not current admission requirements. Check each college's official admissions page for the application year and policy.

| College | Reported SAT middle 50% |
| --- | --- |
| [Loyola University Maryland](https://1600.now/college/loyola-university-maryland) | 1200–1370 |
| [Oregon State University](https://1600.now/college/oregon-state-university) | 1140–1400 |
| [Pratt Institute-Main](https://1600.now/college/pratt-institute-main) | 1150–1390 |
| [Western Washington University](https://1600.now/college/western-washington-university) | 1150–1390 |
| [University of Delaware](https://1600.now/college/university-of-delaware) | 1190–1370 |
| [University of North Carolina Wilmington](https://1600.now/college/university-of-north-carolina-wilmington) | 1230–1340 |

A score within a reported range does not predict acceptance. A school may report only enrolled students who submitted scores. Read the population and date before comparing.

Retake when a higher score has a concrete purpose and fresh practice supports the change. If a college accepts superscores, separate best section scores can matter; verify that policy. Do not treat another test date as a guarantee of improvement.

[Compare your college targets](https://1600.now/what-sat-score-do-i-need) or [work through the submit-or-retake decision](https://1600.now/good-sat-score).

### Score questions

#### Is 1290 a good SAT score?

As a total, 1290 is a strong score: at the 84th percentile of SAT takers and 245 points above the class-of-2026 average of 1045. For admission or scholarships, compare it with the actual institution's current requirements, score ranges and reporting population.

#### How many questions can I miss for 1290?

There is no universal correct- or wrong-answer count for that score. College Board explains that which questions you answer correctly matters, so identical counts can produce different scores. A scaled total cannot reconstruct your misses.

#### Should I retake after 1290?

Consider a retake when a higher score has a specific use, such as a college or scholarship threshold, and fresh timed practice supports a repairable gain. Confirm registration and score deadlines. Another sitting does not guarantee a higher result.

### Practice and compare

- [Build a drill from a repeated error](https://1600.now/bank)
- [Test the repair in a timed module](https://1600.now/modules)
- [Schedule practice around your SAT date](https://1600.now/sat-study-plan-generator)
- [Explore a practice-score estimate](https://1600.now/score-calculator) — an estimate, not official College Board scoring
- [Review the 1290 application decision](https://1600.now/is-a-1290-a-good-sat-score)

### Sources

- [College Board: total and section SAT-user percentiles](https://research.collegeboard.org/reports/sat-suite/understanding-scores/sat)
- [College Board: class of 2026 results, published September 29, 2026](https://newsroom.collegeboard.org/sat-turns-100-nearly-2-million-students-class-2026-take-test)
- [College Board: how SAT scores are calculated](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/what-scores-mean/how-scores-calculated)
- [College Board: official full-length practice tests](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice/practice-tests)
- [U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/) — snapshot imported April 25, 2026