What IQ is a 1600 SAT?

Using pre-1994 SAT norms, a 1600 SAT composite corresponds to an estimated IQ of approximately 166.

What IQ is a 1500 SAT?

Using pre-1994 SAT norms, a 1500 SAT composite corresponds to an estimated IQ of approximately 150.

What IQ is a 1400 SAT?

Using pre-1994 SAT norms, a 1400 SAT composite corresponds to an estimated IQ of approximately 140.

How accurate is the SAT to IQ conversion?

Research summarized in the CognitiveMetrics wiki suggests the pre-1994 SAT showed strong correlations with general cognitive ability (g), with reported correlations often in the 0.8 to 0.9 range. This makes the old SAT a strong proxy for IQ compared to modern versions.

Why does this conversion only work for SAT scores before 1994?

In 1994, the SAT underwent a major redesign that shifted it from an aptitude-style test toward a scholastic achievement exam. Because of these structural changes, modern SAT scores should not be converted to IQ using pre-1994 norms.

SAT to IQ Calculator

Convert SAT scaled scores to IQ using nationally representative norms.

SAT to IQ Calculator

Select a section, enter your score, and click Calculate.

Era

Section

Score

Metric	Value
SAT Score	—
Section	—
Full-Scale IQ	—

SAT to IQ conversion chart

SAT	IQ (Modern, 1995+)	IQ (Old, <1994)	SAT	IQ (Modern, 1995+)	IQ (Old, <1994)
1600	138	166	1050	102	117
1550	133	155	1000	99	114
1500	129	150	950	96	112
1450	126	145	900	93	109
1400	123	140	850	90	106
1350	119	137	800	87	103
1300	116	134	750	83	100
1250	114	130	700	80	97
1200	111	127	650	76	93
1150	108	123	600	72	89
1100	105	120

For the full composite and subtest norms, use the calculator above or refer to the charts on the wiki article.

What IQ is a 1600, 1500, or 1400 SAT?

People commonly search for the "IQ equivalent" of a specific SAT score. The equivalent IQs would be:

1600 SAT — IQ 138 (Modern, 1995+) — IQ 166 (Old, <1994)
1500 SAT — IQ 129 (Modern, 1995+) — IQ 150 (Old, <1994)
1400 SAT — IQ 123 (Modern, 1995+) — IQ 140 (Old, <1994)
1300 SAT — IQ 116 (Modern, 1995+) — IQ 134 (Old, <1994)
1200 SAT — IQ 111 (Modern, 1995+) — IQ 127 (Old, <1994)

You can also find verbal or quantitative IQ index scores by switching the calculator to Verbal or Math.

SAT-IQ correlation (how accurate are the norms?)

The pre-1994 SAT has been reported to show strong relationships with independent measures of general cognitive ability (g), with correlations to g often in the 0.8 to 0.9 range. This makes the old SAT a strong measure of IQ, on par with professional cognitive tests.

The older exam's structure (including items developed from earlier intelligence tests) contributed to its high g-loading. Later updates removed or modified many of these items.

Studies show the correlation of the modern SAT with general cognitive ability measures is lower, around 0.7, with a far lower ceiling (around 2SD lower). While a decent measure of ability, the modern SAT is not as strong of a measure of IQ as the old SAT was.

What happened in 1994?

In 1994, the SAT underwent a major redesign and was recentered. The verbal section dropped antonyms, increased passage-based reading, and the math section introduced calculator use and different response formats. These changes were aimed at shifting the test towards more of a scholastic achievement exam, away from its previous role as an aptitude test.

To read more about the pre-1994 SAT and its relationship to IQ, check out the following: Read the full Old SAT and IQ wiki article.