LARGO, Fla. — Of the millions of people who take the SAT each year, only 1% get a perfect score — and Pinellas County teen Grayson Burns is one of them.
Grayson earned a perfect 1,600 on the SAT on his first try.
And you can't chalk it up to beginner's luck. Earlier this month, the Largo High School junior got the highest score possible on his PSAT, too, with a 1,520,
Grayson said his secret is practice, lots of practice. He told the Pinellas County School District that he took several practice exams at home, simulating not just the test but the test structure.
That means taking the test in the allotted three hours, with a 10-minute break after the reading section and a five-minute break after the math section.
The 11th grader also said it's important not to cram the material and to get a good night's sleep before the exam.
"A lot of people think cramming is a good idea. Cramming is not the best idea. It's worked for some people, but for me, it never works," he said.
Grayson is a student in Largo High’s International Baccalaureate program and a member of the National Honor Society. According to the school district, his perfect scores will qualify him for National Merit Scholarships and help attract the attention of college recruiters.
The teen says he hopes to pursue a career in engineering or computer science.
Congratulations, Grayson!