For many students and families, preparing for the SAT has long been considered a non-negotiable part of the high school experience—a rite of passage on the road to college. But in 2025, the landscape has shifted. While the SAT and other standardized tests remain important, they are no longer mandatory at many institutions. Instead, they are now part of a broader academic portfolio that includes GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars, and personal essays.
Still, families often wonder how to approach the scope of success. It’s not just about aiming for a number—it’s about understanding what that number represents, how it fits into a broader academic journey, and how to realistically get there.
These questions often come up:
- How high should my child score?
- What score is good enough for top colleges?
- Where do we even begin?
When we pose these questions to students and their families at the start of their SAT journey, we typically hear three types of responses:
- “I want to break 1500.”
- “I need at least a 1380—that’s the median score for my top-choice school.”
- “I’m not sure what score I need.”
These answers reflect different levels of awareness and ambition, but they all point to one thing: mindset. The mindset a student brings to SAT prep is just as important as the prep itself.
The SAT as a Strategic Tool
In today’s admissions environment, the SAT is no longer just a requirement—it’s a strategic asset. A strong score can:
- Strengthen an application to test-optional schools.
- Showcase academic excellence in a standardized format.
- Serve as a differentiator in competitive applicant pools.
But what does a “strong” score really mean?
Let’s look at the SAT score ranges for some of the most competitive colleges:
- College Middle 50% SAT Range
- Columbia University 1510–1560
- Yale University 1470–1580
- Harvard University 1500–1580
- MIT 1520–1580
- Carnegie Mellon 1510–1560
These ranges are daunting. To be a truly competitive applicant at these schools, students often need to score at the very top of the scale—1560 to 1580. That’s not just about being good at standardized tests; it’s about being exceptional.
From Skill to Strategy: How to Succeed
So how can students succeed in this competitive environment?
The first step is self-awareness. Students need to understand:
- Where they currently stand.
- How far they need to go.
- What kind of effort and mindset that journey will require.
SAT prep is not just about drilling practice questions. It’s about developing a specific set of cognitive skills, especially critical thinking. While the SAT is aligned with high school curriculum standards, it goes deeper. It tests a student’s ability to analyze, synthesize, and reason under pressure.
In other words: depth of thinking = higher score.
The Risk of Starting Too Soon (or Too Late)
If a student begins SAT prep while still in lower-level academic classes, they may struggle to see meaningful score improvements. Even if they perform well in practice sessions, their everyday academic environment may not reinforce the skills needed for success on the test.
This is why timing and readiness matter.
Students in lower-level classes who aspire to top-tier colleges or high SAT scores should start early—but not just with test prep. They need to:
- Build foundational academic skills.
- Strengthen critical thinking through schoolwork.
- Commit to a long-term growth mindset.
When students apply their SAT thinking skills in school—and vice versa—they create a feedback loop that reinforces both.
The Nolan Model: Understanding Skill Growth
To better understand how students develop the skills needed for SAT success, we can look at the Nolan Model of Growth, which outlines four stages:
- Initiation – The student is just beginning and lacks awareness of what’s required.
- Contagion – The student becomes more engaged but is still inconsistent.
- Control – The student starts to manage their learning and apply strategies.
- Integration – The student fully internalizes the skills and uses them naturally.
Students who reach Stage 4: Integration are the ones who consistently score in the 99th percentile (1530 and above). At this level, critical thinking becomes second nature. They don’t just “prep for the test”—they live the skills every day.
The Digital SAT: A New Challenge
The new Digital SAT, introduced in recent years, presents unique challenges. The test is shorter—just 2 hours and 15 minutes—but it’s more adaptive and, in some ways, more intimidating.
Each section (Reading & Writing, and Math) has two modules. The first module starts off relatively easy, but the second module adjusts in difficulty based on performance. This can create a psychological hurdle: students may feel confident at first, only to be thrown off by a sudden spike in difficulty.
This is where emotional resilience and test-day strategy become crucial.
Students in the Control stage (Stage 3) of the Nolan Model often struggle here. They have the skills, but not yet the confidence or composure to manage the pressure. Their performance becomes unpredictable—sometimes they hit their goal, sometimes they fall short.
Managing Intimidation: A Key to Digital Test Success
To succeed on the Digital SAT, students must learn to manage test-day intimidation. That means:
Identifying what triggers anxiety or confusion.
Practicing under realistic conditions.
Building confidence through repeated exposure to difficult material.
Ask yourself:
- What makes me feel intimidated during the test?
- Where do I lose focus or second-guess myself?
Exploring these questions is not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strategic thinking. The more students understand their own reactions, the better they can prepare.
Final Thoughts: The Score Is Not the Goal—Growth Is
Not every student needs to reach the 99th percentile. But if that’s the goal, it’s achievable—with the right mindset, strategy, and support.
SAT prep in 2025 is no longer just about getting a good score. It’s about:
- Developing lifelong thinking skills.
- Building academic confidence.
- Creating a portfolio that reflects true intellectual maturity.
- And when the desire is strong enough, the journey is worth it.
Ann Ahn
Head Academic Counselor, MEK Review
