Wake Forest SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1410 to 1520
Half of enrolled students at Wake Forest scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1520, and one quarter below 1410.
- Average composite
- 1475
- Acceptance rate
- 21.7%
- ACT range
- 32 to 34
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Undergraduates
- 5,485
Wake Forest SAT Scores and Admissions
Wake Forest SAT scores split into a Reading and Writing middle 50 of 700 to 750 and a Math middle 50 of 710 to 770. Math sits a touch higher on both ends, so it sets the tougher bar of the two sections. Put together, the full composite middle 50 runs 1410 to 1520, and the average lands at 1475. That average sits almost dead center in the range, which tells you admitted students cluster near the middle rather than piling up at the top.
Admission is selective. About 21.7% of applicants get an offer, so slightly more than 1 in 5. That rate frames how the scores get read. Strong numbers keep you in the conversation, but they share the table with grades and the rest of the file. Wake Forest is a private nonprofit university in Winston Salem, NC, and it stays fairly small at 5,485 students. That scale matters. A smaller class means each seat is contested, and the middle 50 reflects a group that was already filtered hard. If you prefer the ACT, the middle 50 there runs 32 to 34, another read on the same level of preparation. Testing was optional in the most recent federal data, so a score is one lever among several rather than a strict gate.
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Wake Forest SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Wake Forest, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 700 | 750 |
| Math | 710 | 770 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1410 | 1520 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
1410 to 1520
Wake Forest Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Wake Forest, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Wake Forest's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Wake Forest by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Wake Forest, based on its reported 1410 to 1520 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 1260 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 1260 is well below the 1410 to 1520 range at Wake Forest. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1360 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1360 falls just short of Wake Forest's 25th percentile of 1410. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1470 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1470 sits inside the 1410 to 1520 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1520 | At the 75th percentile | A 1520 matches the 75th percentile at Wake Forest, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1550 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1550 beats the 75th percentile at Wake Forest. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Wake Forest's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1410, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1520, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 1410 | To reach 1520 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +410 points | +520 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +310 points | +420 points | All score plans |
| 1200 | +210 points | +320 points | All score plans |
| 1300 | +110 points | +220 points | 1300 to 1600 plan |
| 1400 | +10 points | +120 points | 1400 to 1600 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Wake Forest?
Here is how to read your own score against the 1410 to 1520 range. Below 1410 puts you under the 25th percentile. It does not end anything, since testing was optional and 21.7% of applicants still get in, but it means the rest of your file has to carry more weight. A score inside 1410 to 1520 puts you in the same band as the middle 3 out of 5 admitted students, which is solid, competitive footing. Above 1520 places you in the top quarter and gives readers one less reason to hesitate.
The two sections do not ask the same thing of you. Math runs 710 to 770 while Reading and Writing runs 700 to 750, so Math sets the higher bar at both the 25th and 75th percentile. If you are stronger in reading, you can lean on it, but you want your Math score close to that 710 floor so one section does not drag the composite down below the range.
Wake Forest GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Wake Forest typically present an unweighted GPA somewhere around 3.8 to 4.0. Treat that as a band, not a cutoff. Plenty of students land inside it, and the number alone does not decide anything.
What sits next to the GPA counts just as much. Grades earned in rigorous courses carry as much weight as the raw average, so an A in a hard class reads stronger than an A in an easy one. A transcript that shows you took the tougher path and held your grades will do more than a slightly higher number from lighter coursework. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that 3.8 to 4.0 band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score up near the top of the 1410 to 1520 range gives the reader a clear reason to look past a few softer grades. You cannot rewrite past semesters, but you can raise a test score in the months you have left, and at a place this selective that swing can be the difference.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Wake Forest typically present a GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. A mostly A record across a demanding schedule is the baseline that keeps an application in the running.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Wake Forest SAT Testing Policy
Wake Forest considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1465, the middle of Wake Forest's range. If you are below 1410, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 15, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Wake Forest?
Wake Forest was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1470+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1410 to 1470
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 1410
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Wake Forest. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Wake Forest's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Wake Forest ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Wake Forest scored between 32 and 34 on the ACT, alongside the 1410 to 1520 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Wake Forest states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 34 | 1490 to 1520 |
| 33 | 1450 to 1480 |
| 32 | 1420 to 1440 |
| 31 | 1390 to 1410 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Wake Forest's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Wake Forest
Set clear targets off the middle 50. Hitting 1410, the 25th percentile, keeps you inside the range and in the conversation. Aim for 1520 or higher and you land in the top quarter of admitted students. A safe middle goal is the 1475 average, which puts you in the heart of the band. Because Math sets the higher bar, split your practice with that in mind: push Math toward the 710 to 770 stretch and hold Reading and Writing in the 700 to 750 zone.
Start by figuring out where you stand right now. Take a full [diagnostic](/onboarding diagnostic) so you know your real starting composite and which section is costing you points. From there, build out your target with our [score plans](/sat/score plans), which map the exact section moves that get you from today's number to 1475 and beyond. The concrete next step is simple. Sit for one timed practice test this week, score it, and mark how far each section sits from the Wake Forest range. That number is your starting line.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Wake Forest?
Wake Forest admits about 217 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 5,485. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 783 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Wake Forest's 25th percentile score of 1410 already beats roughly 94% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1520 sits around the 98th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Wake Forest: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Wake Forest, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Wake Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest | 1410 to 1520 | 21.7% | This page |
| Duke | 1500 to 1570 | 5.7% | Harder to get into than Wake ForestSAT about 70 higher |
| Pomona | 1490 to 1560 | 7.1% | Harder to get into than Wake ForestSAT about 60 higher |
| Swarthmore | 1490 to 1560 | 7.5% | Harder to get into than Wake ForestSAT about 60 higher |
| Williams | 1490 to 1570 | 8.3% | Harder to get into than Wake ForestSAT about 65 higher |
| Davidson | 1400 to 1530 | 13.4% | Harder to get into than Wake Forestsimilar SAT range |
| UNC Chapel Hill | 1390 to 1530 | 15.3% | Harder to get into than Wake Forestsimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Wake Forest SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 15, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Wake Forest disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Wake Forest's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Wake Forest SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Wake Forest?
Wake Forest's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1410 to 1520. Aim for at least 1410 to be competitive, and 1520 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 1410 a good SAT score for Wake Forest?
A 1410 sits at Wake Forest's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1410 to 1520. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1520 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Wake Forest?
The average composite SAT score at Wake Forest is 1475. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1410 and 1520.
Does Wake Forest require SAT scores?
No. Wake Forest was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Wake Forest test optional for 2026-2027?
Wake Forest was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for Wake Forest?
Wake Forest's middle 50 percent ACT range is 32 to 34. Aim for at least 32 to be competitive and 34 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Wake Forest.
What GPA do you need to get into Wake Forest?
Admitted students at Wake Forest typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Wake Forest's acceptance rate?
Wake Forest admits about 21.7% of applicants, which makes it highly selective. A strong SAT score helps your application stand out in a pool this competitive.
What are my chances of getting into Wake Forest?
Wake Forest admits about 21.7% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1410 to 1520 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.8 to 4.0. A score above 1520 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Wake Forest's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Wake Forest?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Wake Forest superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Wake Forest does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 15, 2026.
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