# Is 1470 a Good SAT Score? Percentile & College Ranges

Source: https://1600.now/sat-score/1470
Last updated: 2026-10-05

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## 1470 SAT score

A 1470 SAT is a high score: at the 96th percentile of SAT takers (the 99th nationally representative), and 425 points above the class-of-2026 average of 1045. One valid split is 730 Reading and Writing plus 740 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 96th 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 1470 | Percentile |
| --- | --- |
| SAT takers (user group) | 96th |
| All U.S. 11th and 12th graders (nationally representative) | 99th |
| 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).

### 1470 does not require the same upgrade in both sections

730 Reading and Writing / 740 Math totals 1470. So does 670 / 800. In the second split, 1500 means raising Reading and Writing to 700 while maintaining Math; a broad Math syllabus may be a poor use of the next session.

At this level, include uncertain correct answers in the review log. For an inference question, identify the unsupported part of the tempting choice. For Math, verify the requested quantity and constraints. Retake when the extra score has a use and fresh practice supports the change.

[Use the 1500 preparation guide](https://1600.now/how-to-get-1500-sat) to compare a possible next total with your actual section scores.

### Valid combinations for a 1470 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 1470. These examples do not identify your actual scores.

Reading and Writing: 730

**730 Reading and Writing + 740 Math = 1470**

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 1470 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% |
| --- | --- |
| [Davidson College](https://1600.now/college/davidson-college) | 1400–1530 |
| [Rhode Island School of Design](https://1600.now/college/rhode-island-school-of-design) | 1396–1530 |
| [William & Mary](https://1600.now/college/william-and-mary) | 1400–1530 |
| [Mount Holyoke College](https://1600.now/college/mount-holyoke-college) | 1380–1530 |
| [Brandeis University](https://1600.now/college/brandeis-university) | 1390–1520 |
| [Boston University](https://1600.now/college/boston-university) | 1420–1530 |

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 1470 a good SAT score?

As a total, 1470 is a high score: at the 96th percentile of SAT takers and 425 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 1470?

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 1470?

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 1470 application decision](https://1600.now/is-a-1470-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