The 2017-2018 school year was a big one for the College Board: More students from the class of 2018 took the SAT than any other graduating class in history. According to a report released last month, the mean total score was 1068, with an average of 536 in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and 531 in the Math section. As a comparison, the class of 2017 achieved a mean total score of 1060, showing that SAT scores ticked upward this past year.

Forty-seven percent of 2018 class test-takers reached both college and career readiness benchmarks, which are based on research that links SAT scores and grades in related courses at two- and four-year colleges. According to the College Board's Class of 2018 Results, “students who meet these benchmarks have a 75 percent likelihood of earning a C or better in a related introductory, credit-bearing college course."

Over 2.1 million students from the class of 2018 took the redesigned SAT this year, marking a 25 percent increase from the number of students who took the test during the prior year.

School Day Testing

Aiding in this record achievement is the growing popularity of the College Board's SAT School Day Program, which allows public high school students (typically juniors and seniors) to take the SAT at school during school hours – and most importantly, without cost.

A School Day test date comes with big advantages for students: No extra commuting, no worrying about how to get around jobs or other commitments during the weekend, not having to take the test in an unfamiliar test center and not having to get up early on a Saturday!

When the program launched in the 2014 to 2015 school year, only three states, as well as the District of Columbia, took part. From the 2015 to 2016 school year to the 2016 to 2017 school year, the number of students participating in the program almost doubled, from 460,000 to 800,000. During the 2017 to 2018 school year, 10 states offered the test for free via the SAT School Day program, resulting in almost one million high school students taking the SAT for free.

Report Breaks Down Scores by Gender, Ethnicity

In addition to stating that the average SAT score was 1068, the report breaks down the mean scores based on gender and ethnic background. For instance, the scores for males (average of 1076) and females (1061) were fairly close to one another, and the ethnic group with the highest mean scores (Asian students) logged an average SAT of 1223.

To read the complete report, visit the College Board website.