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.
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
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! 🙂
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
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! 🙂
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?
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.
Hello ,
I got a score of 1200 in sat
, will i get admitted in good university with this score ?
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!