ACT Conversion To SAT | How To Guide

After recent redesigns, the ACT and SAT are almost identical today. Both cover the same overall subject matter and look similar to each other. However, they both operate on two very different point scales. Here is a quick and easy ACT conversion to ACT score guide.

A major question we often are asked is “do colleges prefer SAT or ACT scores”, so we address it here.

ACT Conversion To SAT – Why It’s Good To Know

Every student wants to see how good their ACT score is against the SAT.

It’s normal, especially if you’re thinking about switching tests to take before application time. However, remember that they’re still two different tests, so it’s never going to be a pure equivalency.

But you can get a decent approximation between them. Both tests still cover similar subjects. The SAT’s two main section areas are:

  • Math
  • Evidence-Based Reading

The ACT, on the other hand, has four main sections to handle:

  • English Language
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Reading
  • Science

In addition, both have essay writing sections, but those are optional, so won’t overly affect the scores here. Also, if you’re better at Science-related subjects, the ACT is a better option to consider than the SAT.

ACT To SAT Composite Score Conversion

ACT Composite Score SAT Composite Score
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
9 590-610

ACT To SAT English Scores

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

ACT To SAT Math Scores

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

How Colleges And Universities Look At Scores

The most elite schools go after students ranked in the top 10 percent of their class academically.

It’s even better if their test scores are also in the top 10 percent of all test-takers. Remember, colleges and universities, look at assembling classes like sports teams. The higher-level applicants they can get in, the more prestige and funding they’ll receive.

To be competitive you want to have either ACT scores that are 30 or above, or SAT scores at 700 or higher. If you can get your composite scores in that range, you stand a stronger chance of getting into your dream school.

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