ACT SAT Conversion Chart: Why Your Score Comparison is Probably Wrong

You’ve got your score back. Maybe it’s a 29 on the ACT. Or perhaps a 1310 on the SAT. Now you're staring at a screen, wondering if that's "good enough" for your dream school, and more importantly, if you would have done better on the other test. Everyone looks for an ACT SAT conversion chart the second they finish their first practice exam. It’s human nature to want to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the testing fence.

But here is the thing. Most of those "concordance" charts you see floating around Reddit or random tutoring blogs are actually just copies of the official 2018 data released by the College Board and ACT. They aren't magical. They are statistical averages.

Testing is weird. You might be a "math person" who thrives on the SAT’s logic-heavy puzzles, or a "fast reader" who crushes the ACT’s breakneck speed. Comparing them is like comparing a marathon to a sprint; they both involve running, but the training is totally different.

The Math Behind the ACT SAT Conversion Chart

Back in 2018, the College Board and ACT, Inc. actually sat down and played nice for a minute. They looked at a massive sample of students who took both tests and figured out where the scores aligned. This wasn't just a guess. They used a process called "concordance."

Basically, if a student scores a 1200 on the SAT, what is the most likely ACT score they would get? The data says 25.

But wait. There’s a range. A 1200 SAT score actually aligns with a 25 ACT, but the "concordance" range technically covers anyone scoring between a 24 and a 26. This is where people get tripped up. You aren't a data point; you’re a student with specific strengths.

Let's look at some of the heavy hitters. If you are aiming for the Ivy League, you’re looking at the top of the ACT SAT conversion chart. A perfect 1600 on the SAT is a 36 on the ACT. Simple, right? But a 1560 is also technically a 35. And a 1570? Also a 35. The SAT has 1600 possible points, while the ACT only has 36. This means the SAT is a much more granular scale. It's like measuring something in millimeters versus inches.

Breaking Down the Middle of the Pack

Most students live in the 1000 to 1200 SAT range. If you have an 1100, you are looking at a 22 on the ACT.

Honestly, if you have a 1050 (SAT) and a 20 (ACT), you are pretty much in the same ballpark. Colleges don't look at a one-point ACT difference as a dealbreaker. They see those as equivalent.

Think about the structure. The ACT has a dedicated Science section. The SAT doesn't, though it weaves science questions into the Reading and Writing sections. If you love interpreting graphs and data under extreme time pressure, your ACT score might actually outpace what the ACT SAT conversion chart predicts based on your SAT math score.

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Why Colleges Care About Concordance

Admissions officers have a problem. They get 50,000 applications. Some kids take the SAT. Some take the ACT. How do they compare a kid from rural Ohio with a 32 ACT to a kid from Brooklyn with a 1450 SAT?

They use the chart.

Every university has its own internal system, but almost all of them rely on the 2018 concordance tables. It’s the industry standard. When a school like Vanderbilt or Stanford reports their "middle 50%" scores, they use these conversions to make sure their data is clean.

However, don't assume they prefer one over the other. They don't. They really don't. They just want the highest equivalent score. If your 34 ACT converts to a 1500 SAT, but you actually have a 1480 SAT, they are going to look at that 34 and be much more impressed.

The "Big Gap" Phenomenon

Sometimes, the ACT SAT conversion chart just... fails.

I’ve seen students with a 1400 SAT (which should be a 31 ACT) struggle to break a 26 on the ACT. Why? Speed. The ACT is a time crunch. You have 36 seconds per question on English and 60 seconds on Math. Some brilliant thinkers just need more time to process.

Conversely, I’ve seen kids with a 34 ACT (equivalent to a 1500) who can't get past a 1350 on the SAT. Usually, it's because the SAT's "No Calculator" section or the trickiness of the wording gets in their head.

If your scores are wildly different—meaning they don't align on the chart by more than 3 or 4 points—stop trying to "fix" the lower one. Just lean into the test where you naturally excel.

How to Use the Chart Without Going Crazy

1. Take a full-length, timed practice test for both.
2. Use the official 2018 ACT SAT conversion chart to see which one is higher.
3. Check the "Composite" score first, but don't ignore the sub-scores.
4. If your scores are within 1-2 points of each other, pick the test you hated less.

Seriously. You’re going to spend 50+ hours studying for this thing. If the ACT Science section makes you want to throw your pencil across the room, but your scores are "equivalent," just take the SAT.

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The Math and Reading Split

Let’s get specific. On the SAT, Math is 50% of your total score. On the ACT, Math is only 25%.

If you are a math whiz but your reading comprehension is just "okay," the SAT is your best friend. Your high math score carries more weight. But if you're a literature nerd who breaks out in hives at the sight of a parabola, the ACT is usually the better bet because the Math section is diluted by three other sections (English, Reading, Science).

The ACT SAT conversion chart doesn't account for this nuance. It just looks at the final number.

Recent Trends in 2025 and 2026

With the Digital SAT (DSAT) now fully implemented, the way we think about the ACT SAT conversion chart is shifting slightly. The DSAT is adaptive. It changes difficulty as you go. The ACT is still "linear"—it's the same test for everyone in the room.

Early data suggests the concordance still holds up, but the "vibe" of the tests has never been more different. The DSAT has much shorter reading passages. We’re talking one paragraph per question. The ACT still has those long, 800-word essays you have to digest in minutes.

If you have ADHD or struggle with sustained focus, the DSAT might actually lead to a higher "real world" score for you than the ACT, even if your practice ACT score looks better on paper.

Real World Examples of Score Alignment

Let's look at some common pairings.

A score of 1300 on the SAT. Where does that land you? On the ACT SAT conversion chart, that’s a 28. If you have a 28 and you’re looking at a school where the average is a 30, you need about 60-70 more points on your SAT to bridge that gap.

What about a 1500? That’s the "magic number" for many top-tier public universities. A 1500 is a 34. If you have a 33 ACT, you are just shy of that 1500 mark. Does it matter? To a computer algorithm, maybe. To a human reader at an admissions office? Probably not.

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Beyond the Numbers: Test Prep Strategy

Don't just stare at the chart. Use it to build a roadmap.

If your converted SAT score is significantly lower than your ACT score, stop buying SAT books. You are wasting time. Double down on the ACT.

Also, remember that "Super-scoring" changes everything. Most colleges will take your best sections from different dates and mash them together. The ACT SAT conversion chart is based on single-session composite scores. If you super-score a 34 ACT but your best single-session SAT is a 1450, the ACT is your golden ticket.

Key Score Benchmarks

• 1530-1600 SAT / 35-36 ACT: You are in the top 1% of all test takers. At this level, the conversion is almost meaningless because you've already cleared the bar for every school in the country.
• 1400-1500 SAT / 31-34 ACT: Competitive for top 50 universities. This is where you should look closely at the chart to see if switching tests could net you those extra few "points" of prestige.
• 1200-1350 SAT / 25-29 ACT: Solid scores for many state flagship schools.
• 1000-1150 SAT / 20-24 ACT: Average range. Focus on the test that feels more comfortable.

The Problem with "New" Charts

You might see some "Updated 2026 ACT SAT conversion charts" online. Be careful. Unless they are citing the 2018 concordance study or a massive new peer-reviewed study, they are likely just guessing based on the new Digital SAT scales.

The 2018 data is still the "Gold Standard" because it was a joint effort. Any other chart is just an imitation.

Actionable Steps for Your Testing Journey

Stop obsessing over the perfect conversion and start acting on the data you have.

First, get your hands on a copy of the official concordance tables. Don't use a screenshot from a TikTok video. Go to the source.

Second, look at your "Section" scores. If your SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) is a 700 but your Math is a 500, you have a massive imbalance. The ACT SAT conversion chart might say you have an 1200 total (25 ACT), but the ACT might actually be harder for you because the math is faster and covers more geometry and trig.

Third, check your target schools. Look at their Common Data Set (just Google "[School Name] Common Data Set"). See which test their students actually submit. If 80% of students submit SAT scores, they might be more "fluent" in reading SAT scores, even if they officially accept both.

Finally, remember that test scores are becoming "optional" at many places, but "preferred" at others. A high score—confirmed by a solid conversion—is always better than no score at all.

Next Steps for You:

1. Download a full-length practice SAT and ACT from the official sites.
2. Take them both under strict timing (yes, including the breaks).
3. Compare your scores using the 2018 concordance table.
4. If one test is 2+ points higher on the ACT scale, stick with that one.
5. If they are equal, choose the Digital SAT if you like shorter passages, or the ACT if you prefer straightforward questions and don't mind the speed.