If you're taking the SAT, you're definitely not alone! While colleges use SAT scores as an indicator of smarts and aptitude for college, smart people do not always perform well on the SAT test. In this article, I'll share the SAT scores of some reputedly smart people, former and current Presidents, CEOs, authors, etc. Hopefully, their scores will make you feel proud of your own!
At PrepScholar, we've gathered a complete list of smart people’s SAT scores. We found their scores in past interviews or through investigative research. You will see their scores are widespread:
Keep in mind that these famous folks took older versions of the SAT, before it was taken on a computer. Now that the SAT is digital, its content and formatting have also been updated a bi t. However, scoring for the older paper version and the new digital version are comparable, so the scores below don’t mean any more or less just because the test has been updated.
As you can see, the scores for these smart folks are pretty widespread:
Smart Person
Known For
SAT Score (out of 1600)
Alma Mater
Co-founder of Microsoft
Washington State University
Co-founder of Microsoft
Economist / Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Southeast Missouri State University
Businessman / Co-founder of Sun Microsystems
45th Vice President of the United States, under President Bill Clinton
University of Maine
43rd President of the United States
Current Secretary of State
Linfield College, San José State University
42nd President of the United States
US Senator / Former SNL Comedian
Radio and TV Personality
All of these people took the SAT, but others took the ACT, and we converted their ACT scores to the SAT scale:
Smart Person
Known For
ACT Score
SAT Conversion (out of 1600)
Alma Mater
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Co-founder of Apple
44th and current President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson
36th President of the United States
Texas State University
University of Mississippi
Obviously, you don't need to score well on the SAT to succeed in life or to be considered "smart." However, if you score well on the SAT, you'll have the opportunity to attend better colleges and will be afforded more post-collegiate job opportunities. Even though the SAT may not be an indicator of smarts or success, you should still try to get the highest score possible.
Be as cool as this guy! (and hopefully as rich)
Make sure you know exactly what the test will look like and what content will be on it come test day. Major changes were made to the SAT in 2016, and then again in 2024, so test materials can vary widely depending on which version of the test they were made for. It’s important that you learn the current test format and content in order to do your best prep and get the best results on your big day. To learn the test, check out our other free resources: how long is the SAT, how is the SAT scored, and how to get a perfect SAT score from a full 1600 scorer .
You should be practicing timed SAT tests and reviewing all of the answers you got wrong. Additionally, you should take practice tests that model realistic testing conditions, including taking the tests on a computer , being in a quiet, distraction-free room, and sticking to the time limits for each section. Check out all of the free SAT tests available in our other article .
If you enjoy our free articles, you would love our PrepScholar SAT prep program , and you can try it free for 5 days. We do the heavy lifting for you by splitting up our prep material into specific skills. We'll detect your weaknesses automatically and give you focused lessons and quizzes to improve those skills. For even more paid study resources, check out our recommended SAT prep books .
Trying to raise your SAT score? Check out our ultimate study guide.
Not sure where you want to go to college? Check out our guide to finding your target school.
Thinking about getting a job while in high school? Check out our guide to the 8 best jobs for teens and learn how to find yours!
Trying to figure out what extracurricular you should do? Learn more about participating in Science Olympiad, starting a club, doing volunteer work, and joining Student Government.
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As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.
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