How the ACT to SAT Calculator Works
This calculator uses the official 2018 concordance table published jointly by the College Board and ACT, Inc. This table is still the current standard used by colleges today. It is the only research-backed method for comparing scores across the two tests.
The calculator does not guess or average old data. It matches your ACT composite score to the SAT range that lines up with the same percentile rank. That means a student who scores a 27 on the ACT performs at about the same level, compared to other test takers, as a student who scores between 1260 and 1290 on the SAT.
To use the tool, simply type in your ACT composite score. If you only have raw practice answers, find your composite with the ACT score calculator first. You will see the matching SAT total score range right away. There is no sign up and no waiting.
Why Trust This Conversion Method
A concordance table is not a formula someone made up. It comes from a large study where thousands of students took both the ACT and the SAT within a short time of each other. Researchers then compared how each student scored on both tests. This lets them line up scores that represent the same level of performance.
Because this data comes directly from the two testing organizations, it is the most reliable way to compare scores. Anyone using outdated tables, like the 2016 version, may get numbers that are slightly off. Our conversion calculator always reflects the current 2018 standard.
Full ACT to SAT Concordance Table
Below is the complete score conversion chart. Find your ACT composite score in the left column, then read across to see your SAT total score range.
| ACT Composite | SAT Total Score Range |
|---|---|
| 36 | 1570 to 1600 |
| 35 | 1530 to 1560 |
| 34 | 1490 to 1520 |
| 33 | 1450 to 1480 |
| 32 | 1420 to 1440 |
| 31 | 1400 to 1410 |
| 30 | 1360 to 1390 |
| 29 | 1330 to 1350 |
| 28 | 1300 to 1320 |
| 27 | 1260 to 1290 |
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 25 | 1170 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1140 to 1160 |
| 23 | 1110 to 1130 |
| 22 | 1080 to 1100 |
| 21 | 1050 to 1070 |
| 20 | 1010 to 1040 |
| 19 | 970 to 1000 |
| 18 | 930 to 960 |
| 17 | 890 to 920 |
| 16 | 850 to 880 |
| 15 | 800 to 840 |
| 14 | 730 to 790 |
| 13 | 690 to 720 |
| 12 | 620 to 680 |
| 11 | 590 to 610 |
Ranges reflect statistical equivalence, not an exact one to one match. A student who scores a 28 on the ACT will not score exactly 1310 on the SAT every time. The range shows where their performance would likely land.
Does the Digital SAT Change the Conversion?
No, the digital SAT switch in 2024 did not require a new concordance table. The College Board kept the same 400 to 1600 point scale for the digital test that it used for the paper test. Because the scale stayed the same, the 2018 concordance table still applies to digital SAT scores.
This is good news if you already took the ACT and are wondering how it stacks up against a digital SAT score. You can use the same chart above without any adjustment. Many students use this fact to help decide whether to retake the SAT or the ACT after seeing their first set of scores.
Does the 2025 Enhanced ACT Affect the Conversion?
The Enhanced ACT, which rolled out in 2025, changed a few things about the test. It removed the science section as a required part of the composite score for most test takers and shortened the overall test. However, the composite score itself is still reported on the familiar 1 to 36 scale.
Because the final composite scale did not change, the official concordance table still works for Enhanced ACT scores. Colleges and scholarship programs continue to use the 2018 table as their reference point. If you are unsure which version of the ACT you took, check your score report for the test date and format.
ACT to SAT Section Score Comparisons
Comparing full composite scores is fairly reliable. Comparing individual sections is harder, because the two tests measure different skills in different ways. The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The SAT has two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math.
If you want to compare Math scores specifically, the College Board and ACT do offer a separate section-level concordance. The same is true for comparing ACT English and Reading combined against SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. These section comparisons carry more uncertainty than the full composite chart, so admissions officers rely mainly on the total score conversion.
SAT to ACT Conversion (Reverse Direction)
The concordance table also works in reverse. If you already have an SAT score and want to know your ACT equivalent, find your SAT score range in the table above and read across to the matching ACT composite. For example, a 1400 SAT lines up with a 31 ACT.
Students who took both tests often use this reverse lookup to decide which score to send to colleges. Whichever score converts to a higher equivalent is usually the stronger one to submit, assuming the school superscores or accepts either test. Our SAT to ACT calculator handles this reverse lookup automatically.
How to Use Your Converted Score
Once you know your converted score, you can use it in a few practical ways.
First, compare it against the middle 50 percent range published by your target colleges. If a school lists an SAT middle 50 percent of 1350 to 1450, and your ACT converts to 1360, you fall inside that range. This gives you a rough sense of how competitive your application will be.
Second, use the conversion to decide whether to retake a test. If your ACT score converts to a number below where you want to be, you might consider more prep time or a switch to the other test. Many students find one test format fits their strengths better than the other, which you can explore in our ACT vs SAT comparison guide.
Third, some scholarship programs and athletic eligibility rules use SAT equivalent scores even if you only took the ACT. Knowing your converted score ahead of time helps you understand whether you meet a minimum threshold before you apply.
Common Mistakes When Converting Scores
Students often make a few avoidable errors when converting ACT and SAT scores.
Using an outdated chart. Some websites still show the 2016 concordance table instead of the updated 2018 version. The two tables differ, especially in the middle score ranges, so always confirm you are using current data.
Treating the conversion as exact. A concordance table shows a likely range, not a guaranteed score. Two students with the same ACT score could convert to slightly different places within the SAT range depending on which section of the study group they matched.
Averaging section scores incorrectly. You cannot simply add your ACT English and Reading scores and expect them to match SAT Reading and Writing exactly. Section-level comparisons carry more error than full composite comparisons.
Ignoring the test date. If you took an older version of either test, before major format changes, double check that the score scale still lines up with current concordance tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good ACT to SAT conversion score?
A good converted score depends on your target colleges. Generally, a 1200 SAT (about a 25 ACT) is considered above the national average. A 1400 SAT (about a 31 ACT) is competitive for most selective schools.
Is a 1200 SAT the same as what ACT score?
A 1200 SAT converts to approximately a 25 ACT under the official concordance table. Both scores sit around the 74th percentile nationally.
What ACT score is equal to a 1400 SAT?
A 1400 SAT converts to approximately a 31 ACT. This places a student in roughly the 95th percentile on the SAT scale.
Do colleges prefer the SAT or the ACT?
No. Nearly all accredited US colleges accept both tests equally and do not favor one over the other. Admissions officers use the concordance table to compare applicants fairly, regardless of which test they submitted.
Is the ACT to SAT conversion table official?
Yes. The table is jointly published and endorsed by the College Board and ACT, Inc. It is based on a large scale research study, not an estimate from a third party website.
Has the concordance table changed since the digital SAT launched?
No. The digital SAT kept the same 400 to 1600 scoring scale as the paper test, so the 2018 concordance table still applies without any adjustment.
Can I convert individual section scores, like ACT Math to SAT Math?
Yes, but section level conversions are less precise than full composite conversions. The College Board and ACT do publish separate section concordance tables for Math and for Reading and Writing.
Should I submit my ACT score or my SAT score to colleges?
Convert both scores to the same scale using the concordance table, then submit whichever one is relatively higher, as long as your target school accepts either test.
Why is there a range instead of one single SAT score for each ACT score?
Concordance is based on statistical matching between two different test groups. A range reflects the natural variation in how students who share an ACT score actually performed on the SAT.
Does the new Enhanced ACT (2025) still use the same conversion chart?
Yes. The Enhanced ACT still reports a composite score on the 1 to 36 scale, so the existing 2018 concordance table continues to apply.