Score Converter

SAT ↔ ACT Score Converter

Built on the 2018 official College Board / ACT concordance. Convert total and section scores, see your national percentile, and find out which test fits your student's strengths.

Official 2018 concordanceSAT ↔ ACT both directionsSection-by-section analysisWhich test recommendation

Official 2018 concordance tables · Digital SAT supported · Verified May 2025

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Enter your score

Digital SAT — same 400–1600 scale. The 2018 concordance applies.

Optional — enables section analysis

Optional — SAT R/W ↔ ACT English+Reading

SAT → ACT Conversion

28–30

ACT Composite (concordance band)

Equivalent score (band)

ACT 28–30

Point estimate: 29

SAT percentile

87th

National (2023)

Concordance source

2018 Official

College Board / ACT, Inc.

Score position

SAT input: 13001300
4001600
ACT equivalent: 28–3029
136

Why a range, not a single number?

Concordance produces a statistical band, not a single number. Two students with the same SAT score may earn ACT scores that differ by 1-2 points because the tests measure overlapping but not identical constructs. The reported band (+/- 30 SAT points, +/- 1 ACT point) reflects the published concordance uncertainty.

Digital SAT — same concordance applies

The Digital SAT (launched March 2024) uses the same 400-1600 score scale as the paper SAT. College Board has confirmed that the 2018 SAT-ACT concordance tables apply to Digital SAT scores. The format changed (shorter, adaptive, fully digital) but the scoring construct is equivalent.

How to use this calculator

  1. Choose conversion direction

    Select SAT to ACT or ACT to SAT. The direction determines which inputs appear. You can switch freely at any time.

  2. Enter your total score

    Input the SAT total (400-1600) or ACT composite (1-36). Results appear immediately. Indicate Digital SAT or legacy paper SAT if applicable.

  3. Add section scores (optional)

    Expand section scores to unlock Math and Reading/Writing comparisons, plus the "Which Test?" recommendation with reasoning.

  4. Add additional sittings (optional)

    Enter scores from multiple test dates. The converter shows all conversions side-by-side and highlights the best equivalent.

  5. Review your results

    See the concordance band, national percentile, section analysis, and a personalized test recommendation — all in one place.

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Understanding your results

±30 SAT pts

Typical concordance uncertainty band

2018

Current official concordance (supersedes 2016)

26 pairs

ACT 11–36 ↔ SAT 570–1590 covered

Many online converters still use the outdated 2016 tables

The 2018 concordance differs from the 2016 version by 10-20 points in some score ranges. Always check which year a converter cites. This tool uses the current 2018 jointly-published tables.

Key conversion anchor points (2018 official)

ACT CompositeSAT TotalApprox. PercentileContext
361,59099thPerfect / near-perfect range
341,52099thTop 1% on both scales
321,44097thNational Merit threshold (varies by state)
301,36095thStrong for selective colleges
281,28091stAbove 75th at most flagship universities
251,16079thAverage at moderately selective colleges
221,04062ndNational average range
1993041stBelow national average

Why concordance produces a range, not a point

Different constructs, same scale

The SAT and ACT measure overlapping but distinct skills. Two students with the same SAT can earn different ACT scores because ACT tests faster pace, different math content, and a Science section with no SAT analog.

Statistical derivation

The 2018 concordance was derived from a large sample of students who took both tests. For any SAT score, there was a distribution of ACT scores those students earned — not a single number. The table reports the midpoint of that distribution.

Reliability varies by range

Middle ranges (ACT 18-32, SAT 870-1480) have the most data and highest reliability. Extreme high and low scores are based on fewer students and carry more uncertainty — which is why this tool explicitly labels out-of-range scores.

Section-level conversions are estimates

The composite concordance is the primary official publication. Section-level tables (SAT Math ↔ ACT Math; SAT Reading/Writing ↔ ACT English+Reading) are derived from the 2018 tables but carry more uncertainty. Use them to identify relative strengths, not as precise equivalencies. ACT Science has no SAT analog — it tests data interpretation, not science content.

Why parents use this calculator

Most parents encounter the SAT-ACT question at the start of test prep. Their child has a score on one test, friends are asking about the other, and a college list includes schools from both coasts. The converter answers the immediate question — "what does this score mean on the other scale?" — but the more valuable output is the decision framework: given these section scores, which test is actually a better fit?

2018

Current concordance established jointly by College Board and ACT, Inc.

~56%

Of college admissions officers report no preference for SAT vs. ACT (NACAC survey)

10-20 pts

Difference between 2016 and 2018 concordance at some score ranges — verify your tool

Real-world examples

1

Maya: SAT 1320, wondering whether to try the ACT

Maya is a junior with SAT 1320 (Math 620, Reading/Writing 700). Her section analysis shows Reading/Writing is significantly stronger than Math. She wants to know what to expect on the ACT.

SAT 1320 converts to ACT 26-27. But the section profile matters more: her Reading/Writing strength translates to a higher ACT English+Reading score, while her Math would likely land around ACT 25-26. ACT might suit her verbal strengths better.

Takeaway: When section scores diverge significantly, concordance alone misses the real picture. Maya should take an ACT diagnostic to see if her verbal strength boosts her composite above the concordance equivalent.

2

Tyler: ACT 26 with strong math, weaker English

Tyler scored ACT 26 (Math 30, English 22, Reading 24). He is considering switching to the SAT to see if math-heavy format helps. The SAT equivalent of ACT 26 is SAT 1200.

Tyler's ACT Math 30 converts to approximately SAT Math 680. His English+Reading composite (23 avg) converts to about SAT R/W 560. If he took the SAT, his projected SAT would be around 1240 — above the raw concordance equivalent of 1200, because SAT weights Math more heavily.

Takeaway: Students with strong math relative to verbal can often beat the concordance equivalent on the SAT. Tyler's profile favors the SAT, and a diagnostic test would confirm this with real data.

3

Jordan: three test sittings across both tests

Jordan took the ACT twice (25, then 26) and the SAT once (1190). She wants to know which score package to present to colleges.

SAT 1190 converts to ACT 24-25. Her actual ACT 26 beats the SAT conversion by one composite point. Multi-sitting view shows: ACT Sitting 1 = 25, ACT Sitting 2 = 26 (best), SAT 1190 → ACT 24-25 (below both ACT attempts).

Takeaway: Jordan should focus on improving her ACT to 27-28 rather than switching to the SAT. Her best ACT of 26 already outperforms her SAT conversion, and continuing on the ACT avoids the cost of starting over with a new test format.

4

Priya: ACT 34, targeting selective colleges

Priya has an ACT 34 and is building a college list that includes schools she has only seen SAT scores for. She wants to know how her score compares.

ACT 34 concordance = SAT 1520, placing her in the 99th percentile on both scales. At this score level, concordance has slightly more uncertainty — ACT 33-34 maps to a narrow SAT band (1480-1520). Colleges that publish SAT middle 50th percentile ranges would place her at or above the 75th percentile for most top-30 schools.

Takeaway: At high score ranges, focus on the percentile rather than the point concordance. Priya is competitive at selective schools on both scales. She should focus prep energy on the specific colleges' score ranges rather than test-switching.

Common mistakes parents make

  1. Using 2016 concordance tables

    Many widely-shared score conversion charts and older online tools still use the 2016 SAT-ACT concordance. The 2018 tables differ by 10-20 points in some ranges and are the current standard jointly endorsed by College Board and ACT. Always check which year the tool cites — if it is not stated, assume it may be outdated.

  2. Treating the converted score as exact

    Concordance is a statistical band, not a formula. A student with SAT 1300 might earn ACT 25, 26, 27, or 28 — all are consistent with the concordance band. Using the conversion as if it were precise leads to overconfidence in comparing scores across tests.

  3. Submitting the converted score to colleges

    Colleges receive the scores from the actual tests taken, verified by College Board or ACT. You cannot submit a converted equivalent. Some students mistakenly think they can optimize by submitting whichever conversion looks best — this is not possible and should not drive test choice.

  4. Ignoring section-level performance when choosing between tests

    The composite concordance shows two tests are equivalent at a given score level, but section profiles vary substantially. A student who scores SAT 1280 with Math 720 / R/W 560 will likely outperform their SAT equivalent on ACT Math but underperform on the verbal sections. Composite concordance misses this.

  5. Assuming colleges prefer one test

    Most colleges explicitly accept SAT and ACT equally and evaluate them on their own scales (not as converted scores). NACAC surveys consistently show no institutional preference at the majority of four-year colleges. Geographic patterns exist (SAT slightly more common on coasts) but should not override section-score analysis.

  6. Not accounting for ACT Science when evaluating fit

    ACT Science is a distinct section with no SAT analog. It tests data interpretation at a fast pace (40 questions, 35 minutes) — not biology, chemistry, or physics content. Students who dislike fast-paced data analysis often score lower on ACT than their other sections suggest. A diagnostic ACT is the only way to know how this affects composite.

  7. Stopping after one concordance check when section scores differ significantly

    If a student's SAT section scores diverge by 100+ points (e.g., Math 720, R/W 570), the composite concordance understates how differently they would perform on ACT. Section-level concordance in this tool is designed precisely to surface these differences. One composite lookup is rarely enough.

  8. Using concordance for scholarship cutoffs without verifying program policy

    Some merit scholarship programs set score cutoffs for one specific test. A student with ACT 28 cannot assume their SAT 1280 concordance equivalent qualifies them for an ACT-denominated scholarship cutoff. Always read scholarship eligibility requirements directly — they specify which test and which score.

  9. Applying the composite concordance to section scores

    The composite table converts ACT composite to SAT total. It does not accurately convert ACT Math to SAT Math, or ACT English to SAT Reading/Writing. These require separate section-level tables, which have different scaling. Using composite concordance for section comparisons produces systematically incorrect results.

  10. Not retaking the stronger-section test after an off-sitting

    If a student took both tests once and scored differently across sections, the right response is usually to retake the better-fit test with more prep — not to switch formats. Every new test format requires its own adjustment period. Most students improve most by doubling down on the test where their section profile is strongest.

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