Virginia students who graduated in the Class of 2018 had an average score of 1117, compared with a 1068 average nationwide, according to the College Board, the company that administers the college readiness exam. The SAT is taken voluntarily by high school students and is often used by colleges, along with the ACT, to help determine admission. More than 3 in 4 test takers had their scores sent to higher education institutions, with the most being sent to Virginia Tech, James Madison University, VCU, George Mason University and the University of Virginia.