ACT Score Calculator, SAT Score Calculator & GCSE Grade Boundaries

A score of 24 or above is above average (above the 50th percentile). Selective universities typically look for 30+, while highly selective schools like MIT or Stanford admit students with scores of 34–36.

A score of 31 or above places you in approximately the 90th percentile nationally, meaning you scored higher than 90% of all test takers.

The average SAT score is around 1060. A score of 1200+ is generally considered good (above the 75th percentile). For competitive colleges, aim for 1400+. Top-tier schools typically see admitted students averaging 1500 or higher.

Scoring approximately 1370 or above places you in the top 10% of SAT test takers nationally.

A Grade 5 is a "strong pass" under the 9–1 grading system, roughly equivalent to a high C or low B under the old A*–G system. Many universities and employers use Grade 5 as a minimum benchmark in core subjects like Maths and English.

GCSE grade boundaries are the minimum marks required to achieve each grade (9 to 1). They are set after each exam series by awarding bodies (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC) based on that year's paper difficulty and student performance, so they differ every year.

Neither test is universally better — all US colleges accept both equally. The ACT has a Science section and slightly faster pacing; the SAT has more time per question and a stronger focus on reading comprehension. Try a practice test for each to see which suits you.

Grade boundaries are typically published on GCSE results day in late August, at the same time as students receive their grades. AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC each publish boundaries on their own websites.