You got your ACT score back, but now you’re wondering what it would look like on the SAT. Maybe you’re comparing the two tests before deciding which one to take, or perhaps you want to understand how your score compares with the numbers colleges publish.
That’s where an ACT to SAT conversion chart can help.
The official ACT–SAT concordance tables provide a way to compare scores from the two exams. For example, an ACT Composite score of 30 corresponds to an SAT score of 1370, with a published SAT range of 1360–1380.
There is an important distinction, though: a converted score is a comparison, not a prediction of how you would score if you took the other test.
The official concordance tables were released in 2018 and have not been updated annually. ACT also changed how it calculates the Composite score beginning in September 2025. We’ll explain what that means for students using the chart today.
ACT to SAT Conversion Chart
The table below uses the official ACT–SAT concordance table. It shows the ACT Composite score, the corresponding single SAT score, and the published SAT score range.
| ACT Composite Score | SAT Equivalent Score | SAT Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1590 | 1570–1600 |
| 35 | 1540 | 1530–1560 |
| 34 | 1500 | 1490–1520 |
| 33 | 1460 | 1450–1480 |
| 32 | 1430 | 1420–1440 |
| 31 | 1400 | 1390–1410 |
| 30 | 1370 | 1360–1380 |
| 29 | 1340 | 1330–1350 |
| 28 | 1310 | 1300–1320 |
| 27 | 1280 | 1260–1290 |
| 26 | 1240 | 1230–1250 |
| 25 | 1210 | 1200–1220 |
| 24 | 1180 | 1160–1190 |
| 23 | 1140 | 1130–1150 |
| 22 | 1110 | 1100–1120 |
| 21 | 1080 | 1060–1090 |
| 20 | 1040 | 1030–1050 |
| 19 | 1010 | 990–1020 |
| 18 | 970 | 960–980 |
| 17 | 930 | 920–950 |
| 16 | 890 | 880–910 |
| 15 | 850 | 830–870 |
| 14 | 800 | 780–820 |
| 13 | 760 | 730–770 |
| 12 | 710 | 690–720 |
| 11 | 670 | 650–680 |
| 10 | 630 | 620–640 |
| 9 | 590 | 590–610 |
Source: official ACT–SAT concordance tables. The SAT equivalent column gives the single score used when one score-point comparison is needed; the range shows the associated SAT interval.
The official table lists concordance values for ACT Composite scores from 9 through 36. It does not provide a corresponding SAT score for ACT scores below 9, so you should not extrapolate a conversion beyond the published table.
For the source table and its accompanying guidance, see the official ACT to SAT conversion page.
How to Read the ACT to SAT Conversion Chart
Let’s say you received a 28 on the ACT. According to the table, that score corresponds to an SAT score of 1310, with a published range of 1300–1320.
That gives you a useful comparison point. It does not mean that you would automatically earn 1310 if you sat for the SAT.
The same principle applies to higher scores. An ACT 33 corresponds to a 1460 SAT, with a range of 1450–1480. An ACT 24 corresponds to an 1180 SAT, with a range of 1160–1190.
What is the difference between the SAT equivalent and the SAT range?
The single equivalent score is useful when you need one number for a straightforward comparison.
The range gives more context. It shows that an ACT score corresponds to a band of SAT scores rather than establishing that one exact score is the only valid comparison.
For example, an ACT 30 has a single-score equivalent of 1370, but the published range is 1360–1380. Both pieces of information are useful, depending on why you’re comparing the tests.
If a college or scholarship program gives specific instructions about how it compares scores, follow those instructions rather than choosing the number that looks most favorable.
An Important Note About the Enhanced ACT
If you’re using the chart in 2026, there is another detail worth understanding.
The official ACT–SAT concordance was released in 2018. ACT states that the table is not updated annually. Separately, ACT introduced changes to its test beginning in 2025.
Starting with ACT tests administered in September 2025, the Composite score is calculated from English, Math, and Reading. The Science section became optional for the national test, although students who take it can receive a separate Science score and STEM score.
This is different from the earlier Composite calculation, which included the Science score.
The published ACT–SAT chart remains the official concordance available from ACT and College Board, but its underlying study predates the revised Composite calculation. For that reason, readers should be cautious about treating a converted score as an exact, individual-level prediction.
You can review ACT’s current scoring explanation in its official Enhanced ACT FAQs.
If a college uses a score threshold for admission, scholarships, or placement, check how it interprets your current ACT score. The conversion chart is useful background, but the college’s own policy should guide your decision.
What Is a Good ACT Score Compared With the SAT?
Whether your score is strong depends on the colleges you’re considering and the rest of your application.
Here are a few examples from the official concordance table:
| ACT Score | SAT Equivalent | SAT Range |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1590 | 1570–1600 |
| 34 | 1500 | 1490–1520 |
| 32 | 1430 | 1420–1440 |
| 30 | 1370 | 1360–1380 |
| 28 | 1310 | 1300–1320 |
| 25 | 1210 | 1200–1220 |
| 22 | 1110 | 1100–1120 |
| 20 | 1040 | 1030–1050 |
These examples can help you understand the general relationship between the two scales. They should not be treated as universal college admission targets.
If you’re trying to understand whether your SAT comparison score is competitive, our guide to what makes a good SAT score can help you put it into context.
You can also review the SAT score chart to see how scores are distributed across the 400–1600 scale, and the guide to SAT score percentiles for a different way of understanding your performance.
Concordance and percentile are not the same thing. Concordance compares scores across two different tests; a percentile describes how a score ranks relative to a comparison group.
Can You Calculate an SAT Score From Your ACT Score?
You can use the official concordance table to look up the SAT comparison score, but there is no simple arithmetic formula that turns every ACT score into an exact SAT result.
The tests use different scoring scales and formats. The ACT Composite is reported on a 1–36 scale, while the SAT total score ranges from 400 to 1600.
The conversion table provides the published relationship between the two scales. It should not be interpreted as a personal score calculator that can predict what you would earn on a different exam.
Here’s how to use it:
- Find your ACT Composite score in the first column.
- Read across to the single SAT equivalent if you need one comparison number.
- Check the SAT range to understand the broader concordance.
- Look at the requirements of the college or program you’re interested in before making a decision.
If you are comparing scores to decide which exam to take, it is helpful to take a full-length practice test for each test under realistic timing conditions. Our SAT practice test guide can help you get started with SAT preparation.
Can You Convert Individual ACT Section Scores to SAT Section Scores?
Yes. The official concordance tables also include comparisons for individual sections, including ACT Math to SAT Math and ACT English plus Reading to SAT Reading and Writing.
These comparisons can help you understand strengths in particular areas, but they should not be confused with the Composite-to-total chart above.
For example, in the official section-level concordance, an ACT Math score of 30 corresponds to an SAT Math score of 700. An ACT Math score of 25 corresponds to 590.
The section tables can be particularly useful if you’re stronger in one area than another. But remember that the tests organize and measure their content differently, so a section comparison is still a broad benchmark rather than a guarantee.
If Math is one of the areas you’re working on, our SAT Math practice test offers a way to focus on SAT-style questions. For verbal preparation, the SAT Reading and Writing guide covers the skills assessed in that section.
Should You Take the ACT or the SAT?
An ACT-to-SAT conversion can be a helpful starting point, but the chart alone shouldn’t determine which exam you take.
The ACT and SAT are both used in U.S. college admissions, but their structures and timing differ. One may feel more manageable to you depending on how you read, solve problems, and handle time pressure.
For example, you may feel comfortable working quickly through the ACT, while the SAT’s digital adaptive format may better suit your pacing and problem-solving style. Another student may have the opposite experience.
A sensible way to decide is to take a realistic practice test for each exam. Compare your results, but also pay attention to how you felt during each test. Were you rushing through Reading? Did you have time to check your Math answers? Did one format feel more natural?
Our guide to choosing between the ACT and SAT explains the differences in more detail.
You don’t have to take both exams simply because you can. If one test gives you a better opportunity to show your academic skills, focusing your preparation on that exam may make more sense than splitting your time between two formats.
Does an ACT-to-SAT Conversion Tell You Your College Admission Chances?
No. A conversion table cannot predict whether a college will admit you.
Colleges consider different factors depending on their admissions policies. These may include grades, course rigor, essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and other parts of your application. Some schools require standardized test scores, while others have different submission policies.
The converted score can help you compare your performance with the published score information for a college. But it should not replace the college’s own admissions requirements or score-reporting instructions.
If you’re applying to selective institutions, review the school’s current testing policy and score information. Our guides to colleges accepting SAT scores and SAT scores for Ivy League schools can help you understand the admissions context.
Scholarship rules can also vary. A scholarship may specify an ACT or SAT threshold, but you should not assume that a conversion chart automatically satisfies the requirement. Confirm the program’s own instructions. Our SAT scholarships guide offers further context.
For colleges and scholarship programs that have specific score criteria, always use their current guidance rather than relying solely on a converted estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ACT score equivalent of a 1400 SAT?
The official concordance table maps an SAT score of 1400 to an ACT Composite of 31. The associated SAT range for an ACT 31 is 1390–1410.
What SAT score is equivalent to a 30 ACT?
An ACT Composite of 30 corresponds to a single SAT score of 1370, with a published SAT range of 1360–1380.
Is a 28 ACT equivalent to a 1300 SAT?
The official table maps an ACT 28 to 1310, with an SAT range of 1300–1320. A 1300 falls within that range.
What SAT score is equivalent to a 34 ACT?
An ACT Composite of 34 corresponds to an SAT score of 1500, with a published range of 1490–1520.
Is ACT-to-SAT conversion exact?
No. The concordance tables compare scores across the two exams, but they do not predict what an individual student would score on the other test.
Are the official ACT-to-SAT conversion tables updated every year?
No. ACT states that the latest published concordance tables were released in 2018 and are not updated annually.
Can I use the chart for the Enhanced ACT introduced in 2025?
The published ACT–SAT concordance remains the official chart available from ACT and College Board. However, ACT changed how it calculates its Composite score beginning in September 2025. Use the table as a comparison benchmark and confirm how a college interprets current ACT scores if the decision depends on a specific score threshold.
Should I take the ACT or the SAT?
That depends on your strengths and comfort with each test’s content, timing, and format. Take a realistic practice test for both exams if you are unsure, then compare your scores and how well you handled each test.
Final Thoughts
The ACT test conversion to SAT chart is useful when you want to compare your ACT Composite score with the SAT scale. According to the official concordance, an ACT 30 corresponds to a 1370 SAT, an ACT 33 to a 1460 SAT, and an ACT 36 to a 1590 SAT, with a range associated with each score.
Use the chart to understand the relationship between the two exams—not as a promise of how you would perform on the SAT or whether a college will admit you.
Because ACT changed its Composite scoring calculation in 2025 while the published concordance table remains the 2018 version, it’s especially important to check a college’s current score policies when making admissions or scholarship decisions.
If you’re still deciding between the two tests, take a practice test for each, compare your results, and choose the exam that gives you the best opportunity to show what you know.
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