SAT Score Equivalent to ACT

Why Convert Scores?

If you have taken both the SAT and the ACT, you should submit the score that is relatively higher. But since the scoring scales are completely different (400-1600 vs. 1-36), you need an official conversion chart to compare them.

How Colleges View Equivalent Scores

Admissions officers use these exact concordance tables to standardize applicant data. An SAT score of 1400 is treated as roughly equal to an ACT score of 30.

• Sending Scores: You generally do not need to send both scores unless a specific program requests it. Send your strongest one.
• Merit Aid: Some scholarships have specific cutoffs for each test (e.g., "1350 SAT or 29 ACT"). Always check the conversion to see if you qualify.

Conversion Chart (SAT → ACT)

Based on the official 2018 ACT/SAT concordance published jointly by the College Board and ACT, Inc. Ranges are rounded for readability; use the interactive tool above for a single-point lookup.

How the SAT and ACT Differ

The two exams cover overlapping skills but package them very differently. Understanding the structural differences explains why a direct point-for-point conversion isn't possible and why the concordance table exists in the first place.

*As of 2025, the ACT Science section is optional. See our ACT calculator without science.

Worked Examples: Reading Your SAT in ACT Terms

Concordance becomes intuitive once you see it applied. Here are three common SAT totals translated to the ACT scale and what that equivalence means in practice:

• 1500 SAT ≈ 34 ACT: Both sit around the 99th percentile. Either score is competitive for the most selective universities — there is no advantage to retaking.
• 1350 SAT ≈ 29 ACT: A strong, top-10% score. If a scholarship lists "30 ACT" as its cutoff, you're one point short on the ACT scale even though your SAT is excellent — worth knowing before you apply.
• 1200 SAT ≈ 25 ACT: Above the national average on both tests. Solid for many state universities and a reasonable baseline to build on with further prep.

Strategies for High Scorers

If your SAT score is already in the 1500+ range, sitting the ACT can act as a "second chance" at a perfect score. Because the tests reward slightly different skills, some students who plateau near the top of the SAT scale find a clean 36 ACT easier to reach — and a 36 looks just as strong on an application as a 1600. Before committing to a retake, confirm the concordance: a 1540 SAT already equals a 35 ACT, so the upside may be a single point.

When the Conversion Actually Matters

For most applicants, you simply submit whichever score is higher on the concordance and move on. The conversion matters most in three situations: (1) scholarship cutoffs that are stated in only one test's units, (2) NCAA or honors-program eligibility thresholds, and (3) deciding which test to focus your remaining prep on. If you want the reverse direction, see our ACT score equivalent to SAT page, or get the full picture with the SAT/ACT concordance converter.

Other SAT & ACT Conversion Tools

This page breaks down an SAT total into ACT terms at the section level. For a different need, use one of our companion resources:

• SAT to ACT Converter — the full interactive concordance plus a "which test is right for you" breakdown.
• ACT to SAT Converter — ACT-first tool with target scores by college tier and ACT superscoring rules.
• ACT Score Equivalent to SAT — percentile matching and scholarship-cutoff guidance for an ACT composite.

Frequently Asked Questions