SAT to ACT Score Converter
Convert SAT total scores to ACT composite (and back) using the College Board / ACT official concordance table.
What is SAT to ACT Score Converter?
The SAT-to-ACT converter translates scores between the two major U.S. college admissions tests using the official concordance table jointly published by the College Board and ACT.
Use it to compare your scores apples-to-apples when one school reports 25th/75th percentile SAT ranges and another reports ACT ranges, or to decide which test to submit after taking both.
Formula
No formula — the mapping is empirical, based on co-test-taker data. Key anchors:
- 1600 SAT ≈ 36 ACT (top)
- 1400 SAT ≈ 32 ACT
- 1200 SAT ≈ 25 ACT (near the national average)
- 1000 SAT ≈ 19 ACT
- 800 SAT ≈ 15 ACT
The College Board/ACT concordance was last revised in 2018 when the post-2016 digital SAT was introduced.
Worked example
SAT 1200 → ACT 25. That's about the 75th percentile nationally — a strong applicant at most four-year colleges.
SAT 1450 → ACT 33 — top 5% of test-takers, in range for top-20 schools.
How to use this calculator
- Pick your direction: SAT → ACT if you've taken the SAT, ACT → SAT if you've taken the ACT.
- Enter the score you have.
- Compare the converted score to the school's published SAT or ACT mid-50% range to gauge fit.
Frequently asked questions
Should I submit both SAT and ACT?
Only if both are in your target school's 75th percentile. Otherwise submit the stronger one. Colleges say they "consider" all scores, but super-high-low splits are not a plus.
Which test is easier?
Neither. The SAT has more reading-heavy math; the ACT has a science section (really data-interpretation) and is more time-pressured. Take a practice of each — whichever feels smoother is the one to focus on.
Are test-optional schools really test-optional?
In 2026 most schools remain test-optional but a growing number (MIT, Georgetown, Dartmouth, UT-Austin) have reinstated requirements. Strong scores help even at test-optional schools — applicants who submit tend to be admitted at higher rates.
Is this the current digital SAT score scale?
Yes. The digital SAT launched in spring 2024 uses the same 400–1600 scale as the paper SAT, and the concordance table is unchanged. Only the test format changed.