Is a 970 bad sat score?

A 970 SAT score is considered below average. The average SAT score is around 1050, and a score of 970 places you significantly below that. Whether it's "bad" depends entirely on your individual goals and the colleges you're applying to. Some colleges may still consider applications with a 970, particularly if other aspects of your application are strong (e.g., extracurricular activities, essays, recommendations), but many selective colleges will find it a significant hurdle to overcome.