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ACT to SAT Conversion Chart and Calculator – Convert Your Score

Kristin Fracchia

March 18, 2020

ACT

When you’ve taken both the SAT and the ACT, how do you know which scores you should send to schools or scholarship programs? 400 to 1600, 1 to 36…it really can feel like comparing apples to oranges. After all, how many “SAT points” are one “ACT point”? But don’t let the different score scales throw you off! An ACT to SAT conversion (and an SAT to ACT conversion) is possible. In this post, we’ll take a look at how to compare your scores to find ACT/SAT equivalents.

To answer the ACT to SAT conversion question, we’ve created this ACT to SAT and SAT to ACT conversion tool!

(Still deciding which test to take? Remember that college admissions committees treat the SAT as equivalent to the ACT and vice-versa. Check out our ultimate guide to choosing the ACT or SAT for everything you need to know about comparing the two tests, including ACT vs SAT scores. Or try an ACT practice test or an SAT practice test and then come back to this post to see how your test scores compare!)

ACT to SAT Total Score Conversion

Curious about how boosting your score on one test would change the ACT to SAT score conversions? Take a look at how all ACT scores stack up to SAT scores with this ACT/SAT conversion chart! Hint: You can also type in your score into the search box to pull up the relevant line of converted ACT or SAT scores.

ACT Composite Score	New SAT Total Score (400-1600)
36	1600
36	1590
36	1580
36	1570
35	1560
35	1550
35	1540
35	1530
34	1520
34	1510
34	1500
34	1490
33	1480
33	1470
33	1460
33	1450
32	1440
32	1430
32	1420
31	1410
31	1400
31	1390
30	1380
30	1370
30	1360
29	1350
29	1340
29	1330
28	1320
28	1310
28	1300
27	1290
27	1280
27	1270
27	1260
26	1250
26	1240
26	1230
25	1220
25	1210
25	1200
24	1190
24	1180
24	1170
24	1160
23	1150
23	1140
23	1130
22	1120
22	1110
22	1100
21	1090
21	1080
21	1070
21	1060
20	1050
20	1040
20	1030
19	1020
19	1010
19	1000
19	990
18	980
18	970
18	960
17	950
17	940
17	930
17	920
16	910
16	900
16	890
16	880
15	870
15	860
15	850
15	840
15	830
14	820
14	810
14	800
14	790
14	780
13	770
13	760
13	750
13	740
13	730
12	720
12	710
12	700
12	690
11	680
11	670
11	660
11	650
10	640
10	630
10	620
9	610
9	600
9	590
N/A	580
N/A	570
N/A	560
N/A	550
N/A	540
N/A	530
N/A	520
N/A	510
N/A	500
N/A	490
N/A	480
N/A	470
N/A	460
N/A	450
N/A	440
N/A	430
N/A	420
N/A	410
N/A	400

As of 2019, the College Board has noted: “The 2018 tables are now the only official concordance tables between the ACT and the SAT and should be used as the single source of reference when comparing scores on the two tests.” In other words, discard the old (2016) tables—this is what you should be looking at!

Check out how students have improved their scores using Magoosh SAT and Magoosh ACT and schedule your next SAT test date or ACT test date by clicking on these links to get your complete guides to choosing the right ones for you!

Previous ACT to SAT Scores Converter Table

Wondering how your ACT scores stack up to “old” (pre-2016) SAT scores on the 600-2400 scale? Take a look at the table for the old SAT to ACT conversion! (Note that this chart uses the SAT to ACT score conversion based on the current ACT concordance tables from 2018.)

Old SAT to ACT Score Comparison

ACT Composite Score	Old SAT Total Score (600-2400)
36	2390
36	2380
36	2350
36	2330
35	2300
35	2280
35	2260
35	2230
34	2210
34	2190
34	2170
34	2150
33	2130
33	2110
33	2090
33	2080
32	2060
32	2040
32	2020
31	2000
31	1990
31	1970
30	1950
30	1930
30	1920
29	1900
29	1880
29	1870
28	1850
28	1840
28	1820
27	1810
27	1790
27	1780
27	1760
26	1750
26	1730
26	1710
25	1700
25	1680
25	1670
24	1650
24	1640
24	1620
24	1610
23	1590
23	1570
23	1560
22	1540
22	1530
22	1510
21	1490
21	1480
21	1460
21	1450
20	1430
20	1420
20	1400
19	1390
19	1370
19	1360
19	1340
18	1330
18	1310
18	1300
17	1280
17	1270
17	1250
17	1240
16	1220
16	1210
16	1200
16	1180
15	1170
15	1150
15	1140
15	1120
15	1110
14	1090
14	1070
14	1060
14	1040
14	1030
13	1010
13	990
13	980
13	960
13	950
12	930
12	910
12	900
12	880
11	870
11	860
11	850
11	840
10	830
10	820
10	810
9	800
9	790
9	780
N/A	770
N/A	760
N/A	750
N/A	740
N/A	730
N/A	730
N/A	720
N/A	710
N/A	700
N/A	690
N/A	680
N/A	670
N/A	660
N/A	650
N/A	640
N/A	630
N/A	620
N/A	610
N/A	600

SAT Concordance Tables

Wondering what your post-2016 scores “translate” to on the old scale? We have you covered! Here are the concordance tables for the old SAT to new SAT scores (composite).

New SAT Scores to Old SAT Scores (Composite)

New SAT Total Score (400-1600)	Old SAT Total Score (600-2400)
400	600
410	610
420	620
430	630
440	640
450	650
460	660
470	670
480	680
490	690
500	700
510	710
520	720
530	730
540	730
550	740
560	750
570	760
580	770
590	780
600	790
610	800
620	810
630	820
640	830
650	840
660	850
670	860
680	870
690	880
700	900
710	910
720	930
730	950
740	960
750	980
760	990
770	1010
780	1030
790	1040
800	1060
810	1070
820	1090
830	1110
840	1120
850	1140
860	1150
870	1170
880	1180
890	1200
900	1210
910	1220
920	1240
930	1250
940	1270
950	1280
960	1300
970	1310
980	1330
990	1340
1000	1360
1010	1370
1020	1390
1030	1400
1040	1420
1050	1430
1060	1450
1070	1460
1080	1480
1090	1490
1100	1510
1110	1530
1120	1540
1130	1560
1140	1570
1150	1590
1160	1610
1170	1620
1180	1640
1190	1650
1200	1670
1210	1680
1220	1700
1230	1710
1240	1730
1250	1750
1260	1760
1270	1780
1280	1790
1290	1810
1300	1820
1310	1840
1320	1850
1330	1870
1340	1880
1350	1900
1360	1920
1370	1930
1380	1950
1390	1970
1400	1990
1410	2000
1420	2020
1430	2040
1440	2060
1450	2080
1460	2090
1470	2110
1480	2130
1490	2150
1500	2170
1510	2190
1520	2210
1530	2230
1540	2260
1550	2280
1560	2300
1570	2330
1580	2350
1590	2370
1600	2390

What Next?

Now that you know what your scores mean in relationship to one another (including old SAT scores to ACT scores), you can plan for the future! First, determine what test you did better on with the above ACT to SAT comparisons. If you’re happy with your scores, it’s a great time to send either your ACT scores or SAT scores to colleges. You can also use those links to find how to check SAT scores and ACT scores and take a deeper look at the ACT compared to the SAT.

On the other hand, if you’re still looking to get your scores even higher, take a look at our tips for further standardized test prep: retaking the ACT or retaking the SAT. As you proceed, remember you can bookmark this page for SAT/ACT concordance information to check how your future SAT scores compared to ACT scores stack up!

Need more help?

With Magoosh ACT, you can choose between a live cohorted class with an instructor (which includes all our lessons and practice questions) or access to the self-study option by itself.

Author

Kristin Fracchia

Dr. Kristin Fracchia has over fifteen years of expertise in college and graduate school admissions and with a variety of standardized tests, including the ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT, with several 99% scores. She had a PhD from the University of California, Irvine, an MA degree from The Catholic University, and BA degrees in Secondary Education and English Literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. She was the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Club Fellowship from the University of California, Irvine. She’s worked as a high school teacher and university professor, as an independent college and graduate school admissions counselor, and as an expert tutor for standardized tests, helping hundreds of students gain acceptance into premier national and international institutions. She now develops accessible and effective edtech products for Magoosh. Her free online content and YouTube videos providing test prep and college admissions advice have received over 6 million views in over 125 countries. Kristin is an advocate for improving access to education: you can check out her TEDx talk on the topic. Follow Kristin on LinkedIn!

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8 responses to “ACT to SAT Conversion Chart and Calculator – Convert Your Score”

Jessica

August 7, 2016

Hello! I am currently a Senior in high school who achieved a 29 on the ACT and a 1400 on the SAT over the summer. I was wondering if a 1400 on the SAT is valued more than a 29 on the ACT? Should I even worry about retaking either test? According to the chart above, my SAT score was equivalent to a 30 on the ACT. Does that mean that I performed better on the SAT?
Sincerely,
A confused high-schooler

Reply
1. Magoosh Test Prep Expert
  
  August 9, 2016
  
  Hi Jessica,
  
  When we compare the overall measures, yes, the 1400 will be similar to a 30 on the ACT and this could potentially mean you did a little better on the SAT, but it isn’t actually that simple. You should also look at your percentile achievement for the skills broken apart, though (this would be on your test reports). If one test shows you are much better at math and the other shows a more even distribution of skills, you’ll have to decide which one is better for your application.
  
  Having two strong scores can also help you because you are in a position to see if one of your scores is more persuasive at a university than another. When I was preparing for my college applications, I didn’t even have to take the SAT because my PSAT and ACT scores were more than enough proof for the universities I wanted to apply to. Take some time to find out what the average admitted student has gotten on the tests (only at the unis you care about!) and decide if these are enough to get you in. In any case, I think you are in a strong position, Jessica! 🙂
  
  Reply
Sarah

October 5, 2016

Hi! I am a junior in high school and I got a 34 composite on the ACT, but my math score was far lower than the other areas. I got a 29 in math, but got 36s in reading and English. Would you recommend retaking the ACT to try to improve my math, or should just accept my current score because the composite is good. Thank you so much!

– Sarah

Reply
1. Magoosh Test Prep Expert
  
  October 13, 2016
  
  Hi Sarah,
  
  Ultimately that choice comes down to how you feel about it and what you’re trying to do in university. There are plenty of places where your scores are more than enough to get you where you want to go! But if you have a specific path of study that requires you to get a higher math score, then you would be better off retaking the exam. If you have an admissions counselor available to ask advice from, too, I highly recommend that! 🙂
  
  Reply
Sarah

May 1, 2017

Are these ACT and SAT scores intended to be somewhat equivalent to PSAT/NMSQT scores as well? I scored 1400 on the PSAT/NMSQT and 30 on ACT, and am about to take the SAT. Does this mean I’ll get another score of roughly 1400?

Reply
1. David Recine
  
  May 2, 2017
  
  You’ve got it exactly right. A 1400 on the PSAT and a 30 on the ACT both roughly correspond to a 1400 on the new SAT. So you’ll likely get a score in that range– or near it– if you are about to take the SAT.
  
  Reply
Saim

October 4, 2019

Hello ,
I got a score of 1200 in sat

, will i get admitted in good university with this score ?

Reply
1. Magoosh Test Prep Expert
  
  February 7, 2020
  
  Hi Saim,
  
  Nice job! Thanks for sharing your score.
  
  Everybody’s opinion of what is a “good university” varies depending on your personal goals and preferences. So I suggest that you do some research and choose a few universities that you would like to attend. Once you’ve done that, you can do some research on the test scores that each school wants applicants to have. A great way to do this is to contact the admissions department at the university and ask what GPA, test scores, and other qualifications a student may need in order to be accepted. Good luck with your admissions!
  
  Reply