When students apply to college, admissions offices need a fair way to compare ACT and SAT scores. That’s where the ACT–SAT concordance comes in. This page provides the official 2018 ACT–SAT conversion tables from the College Board and ACT, plus our easy-to-use interactive calculator.
Try the tool below to instantly convert your ACT and SAT scores:
About these tables
- ACT & College Board joint study; latest official tables published 2018 and not updated annually.
- “Single-point” SAT is the official one-value mapping per ACT; a SAT range is also provided for each ACT composite.
- Concordance ≠ equating; use for comparison, eligibility, and policy reference, not as a predictor.
Source: ACT’s official ACT/SAT Concordance (2018 tables A1/A2, B1/B2, C1/C2).
What Is the ACT–SAT Concordance?
The ACT and the SAT are two different standardized tests. They measure similar academic skills, but the scales are completely different:
- ACT Composite ranges from 1 to 36
- SAT Total ranges from 400 to 1600
Because of that difference, colleges, scholarships, and students need a translation chart. A concordance is that translation — a way to see what an ACT score roughly “equals” on the SAT scale, and vice versa.
Important: Concordance is not a predictor. Scoring a 28 on the ACT doesn’t guarantee you’d earn a 1310 on the SAT. It’s a statistical relationship across large groups of students, not individuals.
The Official ACT–SAT Concordance Tables (2018)
The most recent official concordance study was released in 2018 jointly by ACT and the College Board. These tables have been in use ever since, and no newer official study has replaced them.
The data below comes directly from that study.
ACT to SAT Composite Concordance
| ACT Composite | SAT Total (Single Point) | SAT Total 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 |
ACT Math ↔ SAT Math Concordance
| ACT Math | SAT Math |
|---|---|
| 36 | 800 |
| 35 | 780 |
| 34 | 760 |
| 33 | 740 |
| 32 | 720 |
| 31 | 710 |
| 30 | 700 |
| 29 | 680 |
| 28 | 660 |
| 27 | 640 |
| 26 | 610 |
| 25 | 590 |
| 24 | 580 |
| 23 | 560 |
| 22 | 540 |
| 21 | 530 |
| 20 | 520 |
| 19 | 510 |
| 18 | 500 |
| 17 | 470 |
| 16 | 430 |
| 15 | 400 |
| 14 | 360 |
| 13 | 330 |
| 12 | 310 |
| 11 | 280 |
| 10 | 260 |
ACT English + Reading ↔ SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (ERW)
| ACT English + Reading | SAT ERW |
|---|---|
| 72 | 790 |
| 71 | 770 |
| 70 | 750 |
| 69 | 740 |
| 68 | 730 |
| 67 | 720 |
| 66 | 710 |
| 65 | 700 |
| 64 | 700 |
| 63 | 690 |
| 62 | 680 |
| 61 | 680 |
| 60 | 670 |
| 59 | 660 |
| 58 | 660 |
| 57 | 650 |
| 56 | 640 |
| 55 | 640 |
| 54 | 630 |
| 53 | 630 |
| 52 | 620 |
| 51 | 610 |
| 50 | 610 |
| 49 | 600 |
| 48 | 590 |
| 47 | 580 |
| 46 | 580 |
| 45 | 570 |
| 44 | 560 |
| 43 | 550 |
| 42 | 540 |
| 41 | 540 |
| 40 | 520 |
| 39 | 520 |
| 38 | 510 |
| 37 | 500 |
| 36 | 500 |
| 35 | 490 |
| 34 | 480 |
| 33 | 470 |
| 32 | 460 |
| 31 | 450 |
| 30 | 440 |
| 29 | 430 |
| 28 | 420 |
| 27 | 410 |
| 26 | 400 |
| 25 | 390 |
| 24 | 380 |
| 23 | 370 |
| 22 | 360 |
| 21 | 350 |
| 20 | 340 |
| 19 | 330 |
| 18 | 320 |
| 17 | 310 |
| 16 | 300 |
| 15 | 290 |
| 14 | 280 |
How Colleges Use ACT–SAT Concordance
Colleges and universities use these tables to:
- Evaluate applicants fairly. Since some submit ACT and others SAT, admissions teams need a common baseline.
- Set scholarship cutoffs. A program might say “minimum ACT 28” but accept SAT equivalents.
- Understand applicant pools. National reporting often relies on concordance.
For families, concordance is most useful when:
- Comparing which test your student performed better on
- Deciding whether to retest on ACT vs SAT
- Estimating eligibility for programs or scholarships
How Accurate Is the ACT–SAT Concordance?
The concordance is statistical, not individual:
- A given ACT score corresponds to a range of SAT scores.
- Students don’t always score “equally” on both exams.
- Concordance doesn’t predict what you’ll earn if you switch tests — it just shows how scores compare in the big picture.
Bottom line: use it as a guide, not a guarantee.
Should I Take the ACT or the SAT?
Every student is different. Some students’ strengths align better with the ACT, others with the SAT.
Key differences to consider:
- Timing: ACT is faster-paced; SAT allows more time per question.
- Math Content: SAT leans more heavily on algebra and data analysis; ACT includes more geometry/trig.
- Science Section: Only the ACT has it.
Pro tip: Try a full-length practice test of each. Then use the concordance to compare which one you’re relatively stronger on.
If your SAT concordant score is significantly higher than your ACT (or vice versa), that’s a strong signal of which test to focus on.
Need help? The National Test Prep Association connects families with expert tutors across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do colleges prefer the ACT or SAT?
No. All U.S. colleges accept both tests equally.
Has the concordance changed since 2018?
No. The 2018 ACT–SAT concordance tables are still the official standard.
Is a concordance the same as equating?
No. Equating is a psychometric process within a single test (like ACT to ACT). Concordance compares across different tests.
What if my ACT and SAT scores don’t line up exactly?
That’s normal! Use concordance to guide decisions, but colleges will consider your best official test score.
Should I submit both ACT and SAT?
Most students focus on their stronger test. Submitting both is optional and rarely necessary unless both are equally strong.
Conclusion: Use Concordance to Make Smart Testing Decisions
The ACT–SAT concordance is a powerful resource for students and families navigating test prep and admissions. With the interactive calculator above and the official tables provided here, you can:
- Translate between ACT and SAT scores instantly
- Understand how your performance compares
- Make informed choices about which test to prioritize
For personalized guidance, connect with a trusted test prep professional through the National Test Prep Association.