Wondering what your SAT score translates to on the ACT? The official SAT to ACT score conversion is based on concordance tables developed from data on approximately 600,000 students. Whether you are deciding which test to take, which score to submit, or how your scores stack up, this guide gives you the complete conversion charts, a free interactive converter, and expert guidance on making the right choice.
The table below shows the official SAT to ACT score conversion for composite scores. This concordance was developed by ACT Inc. and College Board using data from approximately 600,000 students in the class of 2017 who took both exams. Find your SAT total score on the left to see the equivalent ACT composite on the right.
| SAT Total Score | ACT Composite Score |
|---|---|
| 1570–1600 | 36 |
| 1530–1560 | 35 |
| 1490–1520 | 34 |
| 1450–1480 | 33 |
| 1420–1440 | 32 |
| 1390–1410 | 31 |
| 1360–1380 | 30 |
| 1330–1350 | 29 |
| 1300–1320 | 28 |
| 1260–1290 | 27 |
| 1230–1250 | 26 |
| 1200–1220 | 25 |
| 1160–1190 | 24 |
| 1130–1150 | 23 |
| 1100–1120 | 22 |
| 1060–1090 | 21 |
| 1030–1050 | 20 |
| 990–1020 | 19 |
| 960–980 | 18 |
| 920–950 | 17 |
| 880–910 | 16 |
| 830–870 | 15 |
| 780–820 | 14 |
| 730–770 | 13 |
| 690–720 | 12 |
| 650–680 | 11 |
| 620–640 | 10 |
| 590–610 | 9 |
ACT Inc. and the College Board jointly released the concordance tables in 2018, based on analysis of approximately 600,000 students from the high school class of 2017 who took both tests. Researchers matched students who took the SAT and ACT within a close time window and used statistical methods to identify score pairs that represent equivalent achievement levels. This is the most robust SAT-to-ACT comparison data available.
A concordance does not predict what you would score on the other test. It tells you that, among students who earned a given score on one test, the middle of the pack earned a particular score on the other. Your individual result could vary based on content strengths, testing conditions, and exam format preferences. Think of concordance as a strong statistical guideline, not a guarantee.
Select your SAT score range to instantly see the equivalent ACT composite score.
Section-level conversions reveal strengths that composite scores can hide. The SAT Math section (200-800) and ACT Math section (1-36) test similar content but differ in pacing, calculator policy, and question style. Below is the section-level concordance for math scores.
| SAT Math Score | ACT Math Score |
|---|---|
| 800 | 36 |
| 780–790 | 35 |
| 760–770 | 34 |
| 740–750 | 33 |
| 720–730 | 32 |
| 710 | 31 |
| 700 | 30 |
| 680–690 | 29 |
| 660–670 | 28 |
| 640–650 | 27 |
| 620–630 | 26 |
| 600–610 | 25 |
| 580–590 | 24 |
| 560–570 | 23 |
| 540–550 | 22 |
| 520–530 | 21 |
| 500–510 | 20 |
The SAT combines Evidence-Based Reading and Writing into a single section score (200-800), while the ACT separates English and Reading into two distinct sections (each 1-36). A direct one-to-one conversion between SAT ERW and ACT English+Reading is less precise because of this structural difference. Generally, a strong SAT ERW score correlates with strong performance across both ACT English and ACT Reading, but students who excel at grammar (ACT English) more than passage analysis (ACT Reading) — or vice versa — may find one test more favorable.
Composite conversions can be misleading if your section strengths are uneven. The SAT composite is the sum of two sections (Math + ERW), so a very high math score carries significant weight. The ACT composite is the average of four sections (English, Math, Reading, Science), so no single section dominates as heavily.
Worked Example
A student scores 680 on SAT Math and 590 on SAT ERW (total 1270). They want to know if they should try the ACT instead.
Converting your SAT to an ACT equivalent (or vice versa) is only half the picture — you also need to know what that score means for your target schools. The table below breaks down SAT and ACT score comparison ranges by competitiveness level. Historically, only about 7% of SAT test-takers score in the 1400-1600 range, so scores at that level are genuinely rare.
| SAT Score Range | ACT Equivalent | Percentile Tier | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400–1600 | 31–36 | 95th–99th+ | Ivy League and top-20 universities |
| 1200–1390 | 25–30 | 75th–94th | Top 50 universities and competitive state schools |
| 1000–1190 | 20–24 | 50th–74th | Many state universities and less selective schools |
| 800–990 | 16–19 | 25th–49th | Open-admission and community colleges |
| 590–790 | 9–15 | Below 25th | Consider retesting or test-optional applications |
What if your SAT converts to an ACT 28, but your actual ACT is 29? A one-point difference on the ACT scale is within the concordance margin of error. In these situations, the "better" score depends on other factors: does the school superscore one test but not the other? Did you take one test more recently? Is one score from a single sitting while the other is a superscore? When scores are within 1-2 ACT points of each other, these contextual factors matter more than the raw numbers.
If you have taken both tests, use the concordance table to convert your SAT score to an ACT equivalent. If your actual ACT score is higher than the converted equivalent, your ACT is the stronger score. If the converted equivalent is higher, your SAT is stronger. This direct comparison removes the confusion of comparing two completely different scales.
| Feature | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Score Range | 400–1600 | 1–36 (composite) |
| Sections | Reading & Writing, Math | English, Math, Reading, Science (optional 2025+) |
| Duration | 2 hours 14 minutes (digital) | 2 hours 55 minutes (with Science) |
| Math Calculator Policy | Calculator allowed throughout | Calculator allowed on Math only |
| Science Section | No dedicated section | Yes (optional starting April 2025) |
| Scoring Method | Sum of two section scores | Average of section scores |
| Test Format | Digital (adaptive) | Paper-based (digital pilot in progress) |
Superscoring takes your highest section scores across multiple test dates and combines them into a new composite. Many schools superscore the SAT, and a growing number also superscore the ACT — but policies vary. Some schools require you to send all scores (no score choice), while others let you pick which test dates to submit. Always check each school's specific policy before deciding which scores to send.
Research from Compass Education Group suggests that about 25% of students perform significantly better on one test than the other. The differences tend to stem from test format preferences: the SAT's adaptive digital format versus the ACT's linear paper-based approach, the ACT's time pressure (more questions per minute), and whether or not you thrive with a separate science section. The only way to know is to take a full-length practice test for each exam under timed conditions.
Worked Example
A student has an SAT score of 1350 and an ACT score of 30. Which should they submit?
Enter your SAT and ACT scores to see which one is stronger based on the concordance table.
Every accredited U.S. college and university accepts both the SAT and ACT. No admissions office gives preference to one test over the other. When reviewing applications, admissions officers convert submitted scores using the same concordance tables outlined above to ensure a fair, apples-to-apples comparison. Your choice of test does not signal anything positive or negative about your application.
When an admissions office reviews applicants, they normalize all test scores to a single scale using the official concordance. A student who submits an SAT 1350 and a student who submits an ACT 29 are viewed as having equivalent test performance. This normalization is especially important at schools that publish score ranges — when a college reports a "middle 50% ACT range of 29-34," they include SAT scores converted to that same ACT scale.
The SAT transitioned to a fully digital, adaptive format in 2024. Despite the format change, Digital SAT scores use the same 400-1600 scale as the paper version. College Board has confirmed that scores from the digital and paper formats are directly comparable, meaning the 2018 concordance tables remain valid for converting Digital SAT scores to ACT equivalents.
Starting April 2025, ACT introduced major changes under the "Enhanced ACT" format. The Science section is now optional, and the composite score is calculated as the average of English, Math, and Reading only (previously it was the average of all four sections including Science). Students who take Science receive a separate STEM score, but it does not factor into the composite. Note that the three-section composite initially applies to online national Saturday tests starting April 2025, while paper-based tests retain the four-section composite until September 2025, when all administrations move to the new scoring.
No updated concordance tables have been released for the Enhanced ACT. The existing 2018 tables remain the official standard. However, because the Enhanced ACT composite now averages three sections instead of four, a student's composite score may shift — particularly for those who were strong or weak in Science. Until ACT and College Board release revised concordance data, use the current tables with the understanding that the mapping may be slightly less precise for Enhanced ACT composites.
The most common mistake is treating the concordance table as a score predictor. If the table says your SAT 1200 equals an ACT 25, that does not mean you will score a 25 on the ACT. It means that among the 600,000 students in the concordance study, the median ACT score for students who earned a 1200 SAT was 25. Your individual result could be higher or lower depending on your content strengths and test-taking style.
Some students pick the SAT or ACT based on concordance alone without ever taking a practice test for the other exam. This is a missed opportunity. About 25% of students do significantly better on one test, and you will not know which until you try both under realistic timed conditions. A single practice test for each exam takes one morning and could reveal a meaningful score difference.
You cannot combine your best SAT Math score with your best ACT English score to create a hybrid superscore. Superscoring only works within the same test — your highest SAT Math with your highest SAT ERW, or your highest ACT English with your highest ACT Math, Reading, and Science. Colleges do not mix scores across test types.
See how well you understand SAT to ACT score conversion with these quick practice questions.