ACT Versus SAT Conversions: What Students Need to Know

The competition for spots in the top U.S. universities and schools gets tougher every year, and students are constantly looking for ways to gain a bit of an edge.

For many, this means prepping as hard as possible for the ACT or the SAT exams — both of which can have a major influence on whether or not a student gets into the school of their choice.

Should You Take the ACT or the SAT?

It’s increasingly common for students to take both the ACT and the SAT exams. While most schools no longer have a preference, there are always a few that require one test over the other. Taking both gives students the flexibility they need in those situations.

It’s also quite normal for students to do better on one test than the other. While both tests take similar amounts of time, the ACT is the only one that tests scientific reasoning and critical thinking skills. Both also include optional (but recommended) essays, but the essay for the ACT is designed to test your ability to analyze complex issues, while the SAT gauges your reading comprehension.

How do ACT and SAT Scores Relate?

The big difference between the ACT and the SAT, of course, is how each test is scored. After each section of the test is evaluated, students are given a composite picture of the results:

The ACT is scored on a scale of one to 36.
The SAT is scored on a scale of 400-1600.

The ACT and the College Board conducted a study to determine exactly how the score on one test relates to a score on the other. You can use either an online tool or the table below to see how your composite score on one test compares to the composite other:

ACTSAT

ACT vs SAT Test Score Comparison
36	1570-1600
35	1530-1560
34	1490-1520
33	1450-1480
32	1420-1440
31	1390-1410
30	1360-1380
29	1330-1350
28	1300-1320
27	1260-1290
26	1230-1250
25	1200-1220
24	1160-1190
23	1130-1150
22	1100-1120
21	1060-1090
20	1030-1050
19	990-1020
18	960-980
17	920-950
16	880-910
15	830-870
14	780-820
13	730-770
12	690-720
11	650-680
10	620-640
09	590-610

If a preferred school is willing to accept either test as part of its admissions process, it can be wise to look over this chart carefully.

For example, if your composite SAT score was 1480 and your ACT composite score was 33, they’re essentially the same. However, if your SAT score was 1410 and your ACT was a 33, your ACT would be considered the higher score. While the difference between 1410 and 1480 may seem slight, 1410 on the SAT only converts to a 31 on the ACT, not a 33. In that situation, it would serve you better to submit the ACT score on your university application instead of the SAT.

What if You’re Still Unsure Which Test to Take?

There are no shortages of timed, full-length practice tests available that students can use to determine whether they tend to do better on one test over the other. You may ultimately determine that it’s simply wisest to do both the ACT and the SAT and see how you fare — and prepping for the tests simultaneously can give you the foundation you need to handle them both with confidence and ease.