For MIT, the middle 50% of admitted students score between 1520-1570 on the SAT, with strong Math (780-800) and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (740-780) scores being typical, though MIT is test-optional but highly selective, so exceptional scores are expected for strong applicants.
On the SAT, the average accepted student had a combined score between 1,510 and 1,590. Math was usually between 780 and 800, while Reading/Writing was from 740 to 790. However, keep in mind that a score below a 34 on the ACT or a 1510 on the SAT doesn't mean you're out of the running for MIT.
Jeff Bezos and Steve Ballmer were both high school valedictorians, and Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg's SAT scores were reported to be 1600 (back in the 20th century, when it is exponentially harder to get a 1600 than today, where today's 1600 is worth somewhere like a 1550 back in 1972, during Bill Gates's senior year ...
While no Ivy League college publishes a hard cutoff, their admissions profiles tell a consistent story. Students who are admitted usually fall somewhere between 1480 and 1570 on the SAT. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT tend to sit at the higher end; Cornell, Dartmouth, and Brown trend slightly lower.
His 1400 SAT score is frequently converted into an IQ estimate using standard deviations and conversion models. Some experts factor in Musk's performance in engineering, leadership, and multidisciplinary ventures to justify higher estimates.
He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) and enrolled at Harvard University in the autumn of 1973. Gates did not stay at Harvard long enough to choose a concentration, but took mathematics (including Math 55) and graduate level computer science courses.
SAT Score Percentiles
Cornell is considered the “easiest” Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate.
Is a 1500 SAT score good for Harvard? A 1500 is a relatively low SAT score for Harvard, representing the 25th percentile score of admitted students. While a 1500 is below Harvard's median score, the difference between a 1500 and a 1550 is just a few questions.
Bill Clinton
The 42nd president of the United States scored a 1032—12 points above average—on his SAT. Still, Clinton excelled at Georgetown University, where he majored in Foreign Service and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Later, Clinton attended Yale Law School and earned a Juris Doctor in 1973.
Well, Drake came in with a respectable SAT score of 1200 out of 1600, which is above average. However, Kanye West was actually below average and only scored 920 out of 1600 on the SAT and so in this particular battle, Drake definitely takes the cake with two hundred and eighty point higher SAT score than Kanye West.
Students who gain acceptance into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have an SAT score between 1520 and 1570.
Top 10 Majors at MIT
There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as rankings fluctuate, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) consistently appear at the very top of lists for lowest acceptance rates (often below 4-5%), requiring exceptional academic performance and unique qualifications from applicants. Caltech is often noted for its intense focus on STEM and tiny class sizes, while Harvard remains the most famous symbol of extreme selectivity.
Ivy League Tuition and Fees 2025-26
🧠 Mark Zuckerberg – Also achieved 1590/1600 (so close to perfect!)
Let's dive into some surprising NBA trivia! 📚 LeBron James scored an 870 out of 1600, while Kevin Durant outperformed him with a score of 1010 out of 1600.
The best foundation for an IQ estimate for Elon Musk comes from his biography, written by Walter Isaacson. In it, Isaacson states (on p. 45) that Musk scored 670 on the verbal portion of the SAT and 730 on the math portion, for a total score of 1400.
His basketball skills and SAT score of 1080 would have ensured admission to any college Bryant chose, but he did not officially visit any campuses. In 2012, Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans for his high school play as well as his later accomplishments.
While there's no official confirmed number, Mark Zuckerberg's IQ is widely estimated to be around 152, placing him in the "genius" range, similar to other tech leaders like Bill Gates and Elon Musk, though exact figures vary across unofficial lists and analyses.
🎬 Ben Affleck – Perfect 1600 (Reported) The Oscar-winning actor and director also reportedly achieved a perfect SAT. 🎶 Kesha – 1500/1600 The pop star surprised fans by scoring exceptionally high before her music career took off.