ACT vs SAT Scores: How to Compare Them

By James L., Test Prep Specialist

The direct answer: ACT and SAT scores are not equal, but an official concordance table lets you compare them. A perfect 36 ACT lines up with a 1590 SAT, while a 1600 SAT maps to a 36 ACT. I have sat across the table from families who panicked because a 30 ACT "looked low" next to a friend's 1370 SAT. The digits are not on the same scale, and the concordance exists so you can read them side by side. This guide explains the conversion and how to use it when choosing or submitting scores.

SAT is a trademark of the College Board. ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. StudyInk is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.

ACT vs SAT Scores at a Glance

Why the Two Scores Are Different

The ACT® reports a Composite from 1 to 36, averaged from English, math, and reading on the redesigned ACT. The SAT® reports 400 to 1600, the sum of two section scores of 200 to 800. Because the scales differ, a raw number means nothing without context. A 30 ACT and a 1370 SAT are at similar percentile standing, but the digits look far apart, which is exactly why students misread their own results.

The official 2018 concordance study by ACT and College Board is the only table both organizations stand behind. ACT publishes the concordance tables and College Board hosts the same research. The tables pair scores that students who took both tests achieved at the same percentile. They do not predict how you would score on the other test, a point both groups stress.

The Concordance in Practice

Here are key reference points from the table. A 36 ACT concords to a 1590 SAT, with a range of 1570 to 1600. A 32 ACT maps to about 1420 to 1440 SAT. A 28 ACT maps to about 1300 to 1320 SAT. Moving the other way, a 1400 SAT concords to a 31 ACT, and a 1200 SAT concords to a 25 ACT (ACT concordance tables).

Remember the ranges. A single ACT score corresponds to a band of SAT scores, not one exact number. The publishers state the tables help find comparable scores, and they do not equate scores. When I help a student decide which score to send, I look at the band, not the point estimate, because admissions readers understand the range too.

How Colleges Use the Comparison

Most admissions offices convert one score to the other internally, so you do not need to send both. They are looking for your best evidence of readiness. If your ACT Composite is strong and your SAT is weaker, send the ACT. If the reverse is true, send the SAT.

Some scholarship programs set cutoff scores on one test. If you have a borderline result, use the concordance to see whether your other test clears the line. Because the conversion is a statistical relationship across groups, not a prediction for an individual, treat it as a planning tool rather than a guarantee.

Superscoring Changes the Math

The SAT® superscore combines your best section scores across dates. ACT® superscore averages your best section scores across attempts as well. A student with a strong math SAT and a strong reading SAT on different days can post a higher superscore than any single sitting. The concordance does not change under superscoring, but the higher combined number does change which side looks stronger.

I have watched a student with a 28 ACT and a 31 ACT across two sittings end up with a 32 ACT Superscore, because the second attempt lifted reading by several points. The same logic applies to the digital SAT, where your best reading and best math from different dates combine. The comparison is only meaningful once each test is already optimized through superscoring.

Which Test Should You Prep For?

Take a timed practice test of each, then concord the results to compare like for like. If your concorded scores are close, pick the format that fits your strengths. The ACT® has a faster pace and a science reasoning section that is now optional. The digital SAT® gives more time per question and shorter reading passages.

Students who prefer steady pacing and graph based reasoning may like the ACT. Students who prefer more time and integrated reading may prefer the SAT. Either path is valid. The cheapest way to find out is to take one timed practice ACT and one timed practice digital SAT in the same month, then run both through the official concordance. The test where your concorded score clears your target schools' middle 50 percent with the least prep is the one to commit to. I have seen students save a full prep season by making this call in the fall instead of guessing.

Common Mistakes

• Treating the numbers as equal. A 30 and a 1370 are comparable, not identical.
• Sending both tests when one is clearly stronger.
• Ignoring superscore policy at target schools.
• Assuming the concordance predicts your other score. It only compares standing.
• Picking a test based on a friend's experience instead of your own practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 36 ACT better than a 1600 SAT?

They are at the top of each scale. A 1600 SAT concords to a 36 ACT, and a 36 ACT concords to a 1590 SAT with a range up to 1600. Both signal top performance.

Can I convert my score myself?

Yes, using the official concordance table published by ACT and College Board (ACT concordance).

Do colleges prefer one test?

Most schools accept both without preference. Send the score that shows you best.

What if my ACT and SAT scores disagree after conversion?

That can happen because the tests measure related but different skills. Trust your stronger test and prepare for it.

How does superscoring affect the comparison?

Superscoring can lift your best combined result above any single sitting on either test. Optimize each test's superscore before comparing.

Should a sophomore take both?

One diagnostic of each is enough to choose. Preparing for both at once splits your effort.

SAT is a trademark of the College Board. AP is a trademark of the College Board. ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. StudyInk is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations.