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'd need only a handful more points to hit the highest SAT scores. Colleges accept either test, so you usually don't even have to worry about conversions in admissions.
You can double-check this estimate with an online concordance calculator:
Instructions
Enter your SAT or ACT score in the fields below to convert between the two tests using the official concordance tables.
SAT Score (400-1600)
ACT Score (1-36)
Digital SAT format: The modern SAT is fully digital and has just two sections – Math and combined Reading & Writing (each scored 200–800). This means your ACT scores in English and Reading both contribute to SAT Reading/Writing.
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 & Writing. Each ACT section is out of 36, so two 35's sum to 70.
ACT Science: The SAT has no science section. ACT Science measures data interpretation rather than science content, so there's no direct SAT equivalent for that 34–36 science score.
In short, think of a 35 in English/Reading as yielding a high-700s SAT Reading & 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's no pressing reason to retake. You're already at the 99th percentile – a perfect score is nice, but a 35 won't hold you back.
Most agree your effort is better spent elsewhere (like essays or AP tests) rather than chasing that single extra point. With a 35, if you don't get in, it won't be due to your ACT score.
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 shoo-in candidate at virtually any college. You'll be above the middle 50% at nearly every school in the country. It's 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're 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'll also likely qualify for significant merit scholarships at many schools.
Once you have a 35 ACT, you don't 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're already happy with a 35, don't feel any pressure. In practice, that ACT score is as strong as any SAT score you'll get – it stands on its own.