SAT Conversion To ACT | Quick Guide

The SAT and ACT are closer than ever, in terms of design and subject matter. However, the score scales are still different. Here then is a quick SAT conversion to ACT score guide to help understand scoring better.

SAT Conversion To ACT – Why People Care

Students often want to know how their SAT scores would translate to the ACT.

It’s perfectly natural; you want to see how you’d do on the other test, as a fallback option. Remember that they’re still two fundamentally different tests, so there’s never a pure 1-to-1 comparison.

But you can get a fair approximation between the two. Remember, both tests are different but cover similar subjects. The SAT has two main section areas:

The ACT has four equivalent main sections:

Both tests also come with optional Essay sections. Also, note that the ACT has its own Science section but the SAT does not. While there are Science-related questions that pop up, there isn’t an equivalent for the ACT’s Science section.

SAT Total to ACT Composite

SAT Composite 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

SAT To ACT English Scores

SAT ERW ACT English
800 36
790 36
780 36
770 35
760 35
750 35
740 35
730 35
720 34
710 34
700 33
690 32
680 31
670 30
660 30
650 29
640 28
630 27
620 26
610 25
600 25
590 24
580 24
570 22
560 22
550 21
540 20
530 20
520 19
510 18
500 17
490 16
480 16
470 15
460 15
450 14
440 14
430 13
420 13
410 12
400 11
390 11
380 10
370 10
360 10
350 9
340 8
330 8
320 7
310 7
300 6
290 5
280 4
270 4
260 3
250 2
240 1

SAT To ACT Math Scores

SAT Math ACT Math
800 36
790 35
780 35
770 34
760 33
750 32
740 32
730 31
720 30
710 30
700 29
690 29
680 28
670 28
660 27
650 27
640 27
630 26
620 26
610 25
600 25
590 24
580 24
570 23
560 23
550 22
540 21
530 20
520 19
510 18
500 18
490 17
480 17
470 17
460 16
450 16
440 16
430 16
420 15
410 15
400 15
390 15
380 14
370 14
360 14
350 13
340 13
330 13
320 12
310 11
300 10
290 9
280 8
270 6
260 4
250 2
240 1

What Elite Schools Are Looking For In Test Scores

The scores above can help you quickly calculate what you need to succeed.

The most selective schools admit students ranked in the top 10 percent of their class. It’s even better if they also have test scores in the top 10 percent of all test-takers for that class.

To be considered at that level, you want to score at least a 670 SAT Evidence-Based Reading or 30 ACT English, as well as, a 680 SAT Math score or 28 ACT Math.

Overall, SAT scores that are 700+ or ACT scores that are 30+ are considered strong with competitive schools. If your scores are in that range, then whichever test gets you though doesn’t matter as much.

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