Convert your 35 ACT score to SAT equivalent and understand what it means for college admissions.
A 35 ACT is virtually top of the class - it puts you around the 99th percentile. Official concordance tables place a 35 ACT at roughly a 1540 SAT score (out of 1600), with a typical range around 1530-1560.
In other words, you would need only a handful more points to hit the highest SAT scores. Colleges accept either test, so you usually do not even have to worry about conversions in admissions.
You can double-check this estimate with our concordance calculator:
Digital SAT format: The modern SAT is fully digital and has just two sections - Math and combined Reading and Writing (each scored 200-800). This means your ACT scores in English and Reading both contribute to SAT Reading/Writing.
| ACT Section | ACT Score | SAT Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Math | 35 | SAT Math ~780 |
| English + Reading | 35 + 35 | SAT Reading and Writing ~750 |
| Science | 35 | No SAT equivalent |
ACT Math (35): This converts to about a 780 on SAT Math. In fact, ACT Math 35 is almost identical to a near-perfect 780-790 on the SAT Math section.
ACT English + Reading (35 each): A combined score of 70 (i.e., 35 in English and 35 in Reading) equates to roughly 750 on SAT Reading and Writing. Each ACT section is out of 36, so two 35s sum to 70.
ACT Science: The SAT has no science section. ACT Science measures data interpretation rather than science content, so there is no direct SAT equivalent for that score.
In short, think of a 35 in English/Reading as yielding a high-700s SAT Reading and Writing, and a 35 in Math as yielding around a high-700 on SAT Math.
The key takeaway: a 35 ACT translates into near-max scores in SAT terms, especially now that the Digital SAT just has Math and a combined Reading/Writing section.
Probably not. A 35 is so high that admissions counselors and prep experts generally say there is no pressing reason to retake. You are already at the 99th percentile - a perfect score is nice, but a 35 will not hold you back.
If you love standardized tests you could try one more time, but realistically a 35 is already essentially a done deal.
A 35 ACT makes you a strong candidate at virtually any college. You will be above the middle 50% at nearly every school in the country. It is strong enough to apply to the Ivy League or elite STEM programs - MIT, Princeton, Penn and the like commonly admit students scoring this high.
Of course, top schools have low admit rates, so even a 35 is technically "reach" at Harvard or Stanford, but it means you are scoring at their level of admittees. A 35 is one of the best possible scores and puts you in the same range as most admitted students at elite universities.
You will also likely qualify for significant merit scholarships at many schools.
Once you have a 35 ACT, you do not need to take the SAT - colleges will accept the ACT just fine. If anything, focus your energy on polishing the rest of your application.
That said, some students still opt to try the SAT "just because." Taking both tests can never hurt - it might snag a slightly higher composite or qualify you for specific scholarship cutoffs.
Taking both lets you choose the better test score, and that can help with certain programs or awards. But if you are already happy with a 35, do not feel any pressure. In practice, that ACT score is as strong as any SAT score you will get - it stands on its own.