Official ACT to SAT (New 1600 and Old 2400) Conversion Charts

Official ACT to SAT (New 1600 and Old 2400) Conversion Charts SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips One of the first thoughts you might have after getting back your ACT or SAT score is how well you would have done on the other test. Luckily, SAT to ACT conversion (and ACT to SAT conversion) is possible! In this post, we provide conversion charts from the test makers themselves to help you with score conversions between both the current and old versions of the SAT and the ACT. We also look at whether certain colleges go easier on the SAT or ACT- and what you can do about it. ACT to SAT Conversion Tool We took the College Board's official concordance tables and made a tool for you to automatically convert your ACT scores into SAT scores. We've even included both current 1600 and old 2400 SAT conversions. Look at the latter if you took the ACT before 2016 and are curious about how your ACT score would have translated into an SAT score when originally you took the ACT. Just enter your ACT score on the left to get your SAT scores on the right: Enter your ACT score here: ACT Composite (out of 36) Get SAT scores here: SAT Composite (out of 1600) Old SAT Composite (out of 2400) // 36) { $(this).val(36); } var act = parseInt($("#in_act").val()); var old_sat; var new_sat; if (!isNaN(act)) { switch (act){ case 36: new_sat = 1600; old_sat = 2390; break; case 35: new_sat = "1560 to 1590"; old_sat = "2300 to 2370"; break; case 34: new_sat = "1520 to 1550"; old_sat = "2210 to 2280"; break; case 33: new_sat = "1490 to 1510"; old_sat = "2150 to 2190"; break; case 32: new_sat = "1450 to 1480"; old_sat = "2080 to 2130"; break; case 31: new_sat = "1420 to 1440"; old_sat = "2020 to 2060"; break; case 30: new_sat = "1400 to 1410"; old_sat = "1970 to 2000"; break; case 29: new_sat = "1350 to 1380"; old_sat = "1900 to 1950"; break; case 28: new_sat = "1310 to 1340"; old_sat = "1840 to 1880"; break; case 27: new_sat = "1280 to 1300"; old_sat = "1790 to 1820"; break; case 26: new_sat = "1240 to 1270"; old_sat = "1730 to 1780"; break; case 25: new_sat = "1200 to 1230"; old_sat = "1670 to 1710"; break; case 24: new_sat = "1160 to 1190"; old_sat = "1610 to 1650"; break; case 23: new_sat = "1130 to 1150"; old_sat = "1560 to 1590"; break; case 22: new_sat = "1100 to 1120"; old_sat = "1510 to 1540"; break; case 21: new_sat = "1060 to 1090"; old_sat = "1450 to 1490"; break; case 20: new_sat = "1020 to 1050"; old_sat = "1390 to 1430"; break; case 19: new_sat = "980 to 1010"; old_sat = "1330 to 1370"; break; case 18: new_sat = "940 to 970"; old_sat = "1270 to 1310"; break; case 17: new_sat = "900 to 930"; old_sat = "1210 to 1250"; break; case 16: new_sat = "860 to 890"; old_sat = "1150 to 1200"; break; case 15: new_sat = "810 to 850"; old_sat = "1070 to 1140"; break; case 14: new_sat = "760 to 800"; old_sat = "990 to 1060"; break; case 13: new_sat = "720 to 750"; old_sat = "930 to 980"; break; case 12: new_sat = "630 to 710"; old_sat = "820 to 910"; break; case 11: new_sat = "560 to 620"; old_sat = "750 to 810"; break; default: new_sat = "Too low for data"; old_sat = "Too low for data" } $("#out_new_sat").val(new_sat); $("#out_old_sat").val(old_sat); } else { $("#out_old_total").val(''); $("#out_new_total").val(''); } }); }); // ]]> You'll probably want to see how your ACT and SAT subscores compare, too. For that, simply read our guide to converting subscores. Also, if you're converting to see which test you should take, we recommend checking out our guide to see whether you're a good candidate for taking both the ACT and SAT. SAT to ACT Conversion Tool Want to go in the other direction? Here are two tools to go from current 1600 SAT to ACT, or from old 2400 SAT to ACT. Note that the vast majority of high school students these days will have taken the 1600 SAT, but if you took the SAT before 2016 and are curious about how your scores would have converted to an ACT score (perhaps you're applying for an educational job or are casually comparing scores with friends), our conversion tool can lend you a hand. SAT to ACT Conversion Enter your SAT score here: SAT (out of 1600) Get your ACT score here: ACT Composite (out of 36) // 1600) { $(this).val(1600); } var new_sat = parseInt($("#in_newsat").val()); var act; if (!isNaN(new_sat)) { if (new_sat > 1590) {act = 36;} else if (new_sat > 1550 } else if (new_sat > 1520 } else if (new_sat > 1490 } else if (new_sat > 1450 } else if (new_sat > 1420 } else if (new_sat > 1390 } else if (new_sat > 1350 } else if (new_sat > 1310 } else if (new_sat > 1280 } else if (new_sat > 1240 } else if (new_sat > 1200 } else if (new_sat > 1160 } else if (new_sat > 1130 } else if (new_sat > 1100 } else if (new_sat > 1060 } else if (new_sat > 1020 } else if (new_sat > 980 } else if (new_sat > 940 } else if (new_sat > 900 } else if (new_sat > 860 } else if (new_sat > 810 } else if (new_sat > 760 } else if (new_sat > 720 } else if (new_sat > 630 } else if (new_sat > 560 } else { act = "Too low"; } $("#out_act").val(act); } else { $("#out_act").val(''); } }); }); // ]]> Old 2400 SAT to ACT Conversion Enter your Old SAT score here: Old SAT Composite (out of 2400) Get your ACT score here: ACT Composite (out of 36) // 2400) { $(this).val(2400); } var old_sat = parseInt($("#in_oldsat").val()); var act; if (!isNaN(old_sat)) { if (old_sat >= 2390) {act = 36;} else if (old_sat >= 2300 } else if (old_sat >= 2210 } else if (old_sat >= 2150 } else if (old_sat >= 2080 } else if (old_sat >= 2020 } else if (old_sat >= 1970 } else if (old_sat >= 1900 } else if (old_sat >= 1840 } else if (old_sat >= 1790 } else if (old_sat >= 1730 } else if (old_sat >= 1670 } else if (old_sat >= 1610 } else if (old_sat >= 1560 } else if (old_sat >= 1510 } else if (old_sat >= 1450 } else if (old_sat >= 1390 } else if (old_sat >= 1330 } else if (old_sat >= 1270 } else if (old_sat >= 1210 } else if (old_sat >= 1150 } else if (old_sat >= 1070 } else if (old_sat >= 990 } else if (old_sat >= 930 } else if (old_sat >= 820 } else if (old_sat >= 750 } else { act = "Too low"; } $("#out_act2").val(act); } else { $("#out_act2").val(''); } }); }); // ]]> Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: Why Convert Between the SAT and ACT? ACT to SAT conversion can be extremely helpful for figuring out which test you're better at. It’s smartest to focus your efforts on just the SAT or ACT to maximize your score, rather than trying to score well on both tests. But if you take just one test, it’s useful to know how your score translates so you can better understand your performance as well as your chances of admission at various colleges. For example, by taking a practice test for both the SAT and ACT, you can figure out which test you're naturally better at. If you score dramatically higher on one test vs the other (say, the equivalent of 2 ACT points), you'll know to study for and take that test instead. If you're applying to college in the United States, you'll most likely need to take either the SAT or ACT. How can you decide which test to take? By using our SAT/ACT Decider Tool, of course! Learn which test you'll do best on and get a suggested testing schedule today. As we explore below, ACT-SAT conversion doesn't always line up exactly at schools. Understanding what converting is and why it is not always even at certain schools can help you maximize your admission chances. Finally, be aware that converting composite scores won't give you the most accurate data. As a result, always convert your section scores, too. SAT-ACT Conversion Tables The most accurate SAT-ACT concordance tables come directly from the makers of the SAT and ACT (the College Board and ACT, Inc., respectively). These are the only official conversion charts you can use to translate your ACT score into an SAT score (and vice versa). Table 1: SAT-ACT Conversion Table SAT ACT SAT ACT SAT ACT 1600 36 1250 26 900 16 1590 36 1240 26 890 16 1580 36 1230 26 880 16 1570 36 1220 25 870 15 1560 35 1210 25 860 15 1550 35 1200 25 850 15 1540 35 1190 24 840 15 1530 35 1180 24 830 15 1520 34 1170 24 820 14 1510 34 1160 24 810 14 1500 34 1150 23 800 14 1490 34 1140 23 790 14 1480 33 1130 23 780 14 1470 33 1120 22 770 13 1460 33 1110 22 760 13 1450 33 1100 22 750 13 1440 32 1090 21 740 13 1430 32 1080 21 730 13 1420 32 1070 21 720 12 1410 31 1060 21 710 12 1400 31 1050 20 700 12 1390 31 1040 20 690 12 1380 30 1030 20 680 11 1370 30 1020 19 670 11 1360 30 1010 19 660 11 1350 29 1000 19 650 11 1340 29 990 19 640 10 1330 29 980 18 630 10 1320 28 970 18 620 10 1310 28 960 18 610 9 1300 28 950 17 600 9 1290 27 940 17 590 9 1280 27 930 17 1270 27 920 17 1260 27 910 16 Source: The College Board Note that this conversion chart comes from the College Board only. ACT, Inc., has commented that this table has not yet been verified by them, and that the two organizations must collaborate to create a more accurate conversion table. In my opinion, this table is likely to be pretty close in accuracy, so it's OK to use it for planning purposes for now. Table 2: Old SAT-ACT Conversion Table For those of you who want to compare an ACT score with an old SAT score out of 2400, use the table below. Because the current version of the SAT has been in effect since 2016, most readers will want to use the conversion table above. In other words, only use the following table if you took the ACT or SAT before 2016 and want to know how your scores would have translated at the time you took the test. All estimates below are calculated using the above table and this SAT composite score conversion chart. ACT Composite Score Estimated SAT Composite Estimated SAT Composite Range 36 2390 2310-2390 35 2300 2220-2300 34 2210 2140-2210 33 2130 2070-2130 32 2060 2010-2060 31 2000 1960-2000 30 1950 1910-1950 29 1900 1860-1900 28 1850 1820-1850 27 1810 1730-1810 26 1720 1710-1720 25 1700 1660-1700 24 1650 1600-1650 23 1590 1550-1590 22 1540 1500-1540 21 1490 1440-1490 20 1430 1400-1430 19 1390 1340-1390 18 1330 1290-1330 17 1280 1230-1280 16 1220 1180-1220 15 1170 1100-1170 14 1090 1020-1090 13 1010 940-1010 12 930 880-930 11 870 840-870 10 830 810-830 9 800 780-800 Which is easier, the ACT or the SAT? Find out with our detailed, comprehensive guide to figuring out which test is better for you. Is There an â€Å"Easier† Test at Certain Schools? Now that we've learned about the SAT-ACT conversion tables made by the test makers themselves, you might think that if you look at admission statistics for various colleges, their SAT and ACT middle 50 percent ranges will match the official SAT-ACT conversions. Before we jump into this idea, though, what is the "middle 50 percent"? For a school, this phrase refers to the SAT/ACT score ranges for the middle 50 percent (or 25th to 75th percentile scores) of admitted students. For example, if a school has an ACT middle 50 percent range of 24 to 28, this means that 25% of admits had 24 or lower, 50% had between 24 and 28, and 25% had 28 or higher on the ACT. Schools report this data since it's a clear way to present the average test score ranges of admitted students. Reporting the full range of scores would be much less helpful as schools might have an admit or two with an extremely low test score, or a few admits with perfect scores. In other words, telling potential applicants that admitted students usually get ACT scores between 16 and 36 is not particularly helpful! So do these ranges for the ACT and SAT match up according to the conversions above? The truth is, at many colleges, the SAT and ACT middle 50 percent ranges don’t match up exactly. Thus, for some schools, you'd have to do slightly better on one test to be a competitive applicant. We'll go over a few example below. You can use this information as a guide when looking up the schools you're applying to. Notice as we go through these examples just how small the differences tend to be. We are not showing that you can game the system by taking the â€Å"easier† test for a certain school. As you'll see, the differences are quite small in most cases, but they can help you aim for the most competitive target score possible. NYU We'll start with a prominent East Coast school. NYU's middle 50 percent ranges are as follows: ACT: 29-33 SAT: 1290-1490 Using Table 1 to compare the scores, we see that ACT composite scores of 29-33 match up to SAT composite scores of 1350-1480. NYU’s actual SAT range is slightly lower than that, which means you'd need a comparatively higher ACT score to be within NYU’s 50 percent range. Princeton For a highly competitive East Coast example, let’s look at Princeton. This school has the following SAT and ACT middle 50 percent ranges: ACT: 31-35 SAT: 1430-1570 According to Table 1, these SAT scores match with an ACT score range of 32-36, which is very close to Princeton's actual ACT score range. At Princeton, then, there is not a slight ACT score advantage like there is at NYU. Penn State Here are Penn State’s middle 50 percent ranges: ACT: 28-32 SAT: 1250-1430 Table 1 shows that these ACT scores convert to an SAT range of 1300-1440. In this case, you'd need to score slightly lower on the ACT than you would on the SAT to be in Penn State's middle 50 percent. University of Washington Now for a West Coast example. Here are the the University of Washington’s score ranges: ACT: 27-32 SAT: 1190-1420 According to Table 1, UW's SAT range would match up with 24-32 ACT composite. However, its actual ACT range is slightly higher at 27-32. This means you could get a comparatively lower SAT score of 1190 and be within range at UW. But if you had the matching ACT score of 24, you'd be a little less competitive. University of Southern California Another West Coast example is USC. Here are USC's middle 50 percent ranges for the SAT and ACT: ACT: 30-34 SAT: 1300-1500 By converting these ACT scores into SAT scores using Table 1, we get an SAT score range of 1360-1520. As we suspected, this suggests that your ACT score needs to be a little higher than your SAT score does to be competitive at USC. How To Maximize Your Converted ACT/SAT Score So what can we take from all of this? There are definitely some slight but noticeable differences in certain colleges’ SAT and ACT middle 50 percent ranges compared with the expected conversions. However, there are plenty of exceptions as well. Here's the thing: even in schools that seem to go slightly easier on one test, the differences are nominal. This means that it doesn't make sense to base your testing strategy entirely on whether a school appears to go easier on ACT or SAT scores. Instead, it’s much smarter to focus on the test you can do better on to maximize your score. In our test cases above, ACT and SAT ranges did not deviate from expected values by more than 20 -60 SAT points or 1-2 ACT composite points. These are minor score differences you can easily overcome with smart studying, especially if you're taking the test better suited to your strengths. For example, say you're a better SAT taker, but you notice that some Ivy League schools go a bit easier on ACT scores. If you took the ACT and got a 30 when you were capable of scoring between 1450 and 1550 on the SAT, you'd decrease your chance of getting in. In the end, there is no substitute for smart studying. But it's still useful to look up the middle 50 percent test score ranges for your target schools. You can even use the conversion charts like we did to see if the school favors one test. Then, use this info to form your own target score. For example, if you’re applying to a school that goes a bit easier on the ACT, aim for an ACT score in the upper end of their middle 50 range to ensure that, even with ACT-SAT conversion, you are still well within their typical ranges. Remember, the bottom line in college admissions is to play up your strengths. Maximizing your ACT or SAT score is by far the best advantage you can give yourself on the standardized testing front! Nearly every college and university in the United States accepts both SAT and ACT scores. However, for some of these schools, there is a significant difference between the level of SAT scores and the level of ACT scores of admitted students. What schools accept students with comparatively lower SAT scores, and what schools accept students with comparatively lower ACT scores? We've gathered our proprietary research on this topic and analysis of what these score differences mean for your testing and application strategies into this ebook. What’s Next? Sure, we’ve argued that colleges don’t give a huge advantage to either the SAT or ACT, but is one test easier than the other? Find out whether the SAT or ACT is easier. Also, check out the 11 key differences between the two tests to help you decide which one to take. If you already know which test you're taking, use our SAT or ACT goal score guide to develop a target score based on the schools you're applying to. Curious about what it takes to get a perfect SAT or ACT score? Read our perfect SAT and ACT guides, written by our resident full scorer! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points, or your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve both your SAT and ACT scores dramatically.