ACT to SAT Conversion Chart and Calculator – Convert Your Score

student filling out scantron with pencil to represent act to sat conversion -image by Magoosh

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!

 

Enter your SAT OR ACT score here to find out the score conversion to the other test:


 

(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 ScoreNew SAT Total Score (400-1600)
361600
361590
361580
361570
351560
351550
351540
351530
341520
341510
341500
341490
331480
331470
331460
331450
321440
321430
321420
311410
311400
311390
301380
301370
301360
291350
291340
291330
281320
281310
281300
271290
271280
271270
271260
261250
261240
261230
251220
251210
251200
241190
241180
241170
241160
231150
231140
231130
221120
221110
221100
211090
211080
211070
211060
201050
201040
201030
191020
191010
191000
19990
18980
18970
18960
17950
17940
17930
17920
16910
16900
16890
16880
15870
15860
15850
15840
15830
14820
14810
14800
14790
14780
13770
13760
13750
13740
13730
12720
12710
12700
12690
11680
11670
11660
11650
10640
10630
10620
9610
9600
9590
N/A580
N/A570
N/A560
N/A550
N/A540
N/A530
N/A520
N/A510
N/A500
N/A490
N/A480
N/A470
N/A460
N/A450
N/A440
N/A430
N/A420
N/A410
N/A400

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 ScoreOld SAT Total Score (600-2400)
362390
362380
362350
362330
352300
352280
352260
352230
342210
342190
342170
342150
332130
332110
332090
332080
322060
322040
322020
312000
311990
311970
301950
301930
301920
291900
291880
291870
281850
281840
281820
271810
271790
271780
271760
261750
261730
261710
251700
251680
251670
241650
241640
241620
241610
231590
231570
231560
221540
221530
221510
211490
211480
211460
211450
201430
201420
201400
191390
191370
191360
191340
181330
181310
181300
171280
171270
171250
171240
161220
161210
161200
161180
151170
151150
151140
151120
151110
141090
141070
141060
141040
141030
131010
13990
13980
13960
13950
12930
12910
12900
12880
11870
11860
11850
11840
10830
10820
10810
9800
9790
9780
N/A770
N/A760
N/A750
N/A740
N/A730
N/A730
N/A720
N/A710
N/A700
N/A690
N/A680
N/A670
N/A660
N/A650
N/A640
N/A630
N/A620
N/A610
N/A600

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)
400600
410610
420620
430630
440640
450650
460660
470670
480680
490690
500700
510710
520720
530730
540730
550740
560750
570760
580770
590780
600790
610800
620810
630820
640830
650840
660850
670860
680870
690880
700900
710910
720930
730950
740960
750980
760990
7701010
7801030
7901040
8001060
8101070
8201090
8301110
8401120
8501140
8601150
8701170
8801180
8901200
9001210
9101220
9201240
9301250
9401270
9501280
9601300
9701310
9801330
9901340
10001360
10101370
10201390
10301400
10401420
10501430
10601450
10701460
10801480
10901490
11001510
11101530
11201540
11301560
11401570
11501590
11601610
11701620
11801640
11901650
12001670
12101680
12201700
12301710
12401730
12501750
12601760
12701780
12801790
12901810
13001820
13101840
13201850
13301870
13401880
13501900
13601920
13701930
13801950
13901970
14001990
14102000
14202020
14302040
14402060
14502080
14602090
14702110
14802130
14902150
15002170
15102190
15202210
15302230
15402260
15502280
15602300
15702330
15802350
15902370
16002390

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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By the way, Magoosh can help you study for both the SAT and ACT exams. Click here to learn more!

8 Responses to ACT to SAT Conversion Chart and Calculator – Convert Your Score

  1. Jessica August 7, 2016 at 10:33 pm #

    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

    • Magoosh Expert
      Magoosh Test Prep Expert August 9, 2016 at 12:53 am #

      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! 🙂

  2. Sarah October 5, 2016 at 1:20 pm #

    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

    • Magoosh Expert
      Magoosh Test Prep Expert October 13, 2016 at 7:49 am #

      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! 🙂

  3. Sarah May 1, 2017 at 2:51 pm #

    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?

    • David Recine
      David Recine May 2, 2017 at 4:06 am #

      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.

  4. Saim October 4, 2019 at 3:26 am #

    Hello ,
    I got a score of 1200 in sat

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

    • Magoosh Expert
      Magoosh Test Prep Expert February 7, 2020 at 10:08 am #

      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!


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