College-bound students are often grappling with the SAT and ACT dilemma. The good news is that colleges in the US accept both with equal preferences. The choice may seem overwhelming, but the best way to choose one comes down to your individual strengths, learning style, test content and its format preferences. Neither the SAT nor the ACT scoring format offers any inherent advantage. But we are often asked how SAT to ACT score conversion is done and this article will talk about the SAT to ACT concordance and detail the conversion methodology.
ACT vs SAT – An Overview
Scholastic Assessment Test
SAT is now completely digital. It has two sections and its total duration is 2 hours and 14 minutes. The two sections include –
- Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) – It consists of 54 questions with a duration of 64 minutes.
- Math – It comprises 44 questions with a duration of 70 minutes.
Some of the latest features of SAT are –
- Adaptive Nature – The test gives you a personalised experience as the difficulty level gets adjusted based on your performance as you go along the test.
- No Science Section – The SAT does not have a dedicated Science section like ACT.
- Extended Response Time – You will have more time per question now and will benefit students who prefer a slower pace.
- Sub-Scores – The SAT provides subscores on a scale of 1-15 for specific skill areas within each section and provides a more detailed feedback.
American College Testing
ACT is by and large paper-based, but it is slowly transitioning to the digital format now. Starting 2024, ACT offers digital options for students in the US, but it is mandatorily digital for students outside of the US. It has four main sections and an optional essay with a total duration of 2 hours and 55 minutes (excluding breaks). The sections include –
- English – It comprises 75 questions to be solved within 45 minutes.
- Math – The Math section has 60 questions to be solved within 60 minutes.
- Reading – The reading section consists of 40 questions to be solved in 35 minutes.
- Science – It has 40 questions with a duration of 35 minutes.
- Writing (Optional) – One essay to be written in 40 minutes.
Some of its features include –
Superscoring – Superscoring means that if you take the test multiple times, you can calculate the ACT composite score by choosing the best section-wise score from every test effort and submit it during college admissions.
Consistency – ACT is suitable for students who prefer consistency over the adaptive nature of a test.
Application based questions – It’s suitable for students who perform well under pressure and are good at data interpretation over rote learning, especially with the Science section.
ACT vs SAT Scoring
Understanding the SAT to ACT score conversion is crucial for students who decide to take both the tests. They must know which score stands out more while submitting an application during college admissions. To begin with, let’s see how each test is scored –
| Test | Scoring Scale | Score Breakdown | Penalty | Superscoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | 1- 36 (Composite Score)2-12 (Optional Essay is separate) | English – 1-36Math – 1-36Reading – 1-36Science – 1-36 | None | Offered by ACT Inc. |
| SAT | 400 to 1600 | EBRW – 200-800Math – 200-800 | None | Not offered by the College Board but some colleges do. |
There is no way to decide which test is better. But you can decide which test is better for YOU. Choosing what to take depends on your strengths and preferences. You can take practice tests of ACT and SAT and decide which format aligns with your skills better.
Why is it important to understand the SAT to ACT score conversion?
To Choose The Right Test for You
It’s important for a student to understand the SAT to ACT score conversion to know where they stand and which format and content areas they are good at. If their ACT equivalent SAT score is significantly higher than their actual SAT score or vice versa, it suggests that they are more suited for that particular test format. It helps them choose which test to take and focus their preparation on it.
To Understand Your Dream College Test Requirement Better
Colleges often publish a list of admitted students along with their ACT or SAT test scores. If you have any one test, but the college has released a cutoff of test scores for the other, ACT to SAT score conversion or SAT to ACT score conversion help you compare your performance against the college’s admitted list of applicant profiles.
To Help You Choose the Better Score of the Two
If you have taken both the tests, SAT ACT score comparison enables you to weigh your scores objectively and find out which one would ensure a stronger academic profile. SAT to ACT score conversion helps you make informed decisions and choose the better and more apt test score for your dream college.
To Understand Your Scholarship Eligibility
Many scholarships often ask for your SAT or ACT scores. Understanding the SAT to ACT score conversion helps you determine whether your score in one test meets the equivalent score for the other.
To Understand the Holistic Admission Process
Each college often uses their own SAT ACT concordance table to compare applications and student profiles who submit different test scores – either SAT or ACT. Knowing the SAT to ACT score conversion chart gives you an insight into how the admission committee may be viewing your scores in context to that.
SAT to ACT Score Conversion Chart
Confused about SAT and ACT score equivalents? The SAT and ACT concordance tables are developed using strong statistical relationships between scores from thousands of test takers ensuring a solid level of reliability for the score equivalencies provided in the table below. Here’s the updated SAT to ACT conversion chart –
| SAT Score | ACT Score |
|---|---|
| 1600-1570 | 36 |
| 1560-1530 | 35 |
| 1520-1490 | 34 |
| 1480-1450 | 33 |
| 1440-1420 | 32 |
| 1410-1390 | 31 |
| 1380-1360 | 30 |
| 1350-1330 | 29 |
| 1320-1300 | 28 |
| 1290-1260 | 27 |
| 1250-1230 | 26 |
| 1220-1200 | 25 |
| 1190-1160 | 24 |
| 1150-1130 | 23 |
| 1120-1100 | 22 |
| 1090-1060 | 21 |
| 1050-1030 | 20 |
| 1020-990 | 19 |
| 980-960 | 18 |
| 950-920 | 17 |
| 910-880 | 16 |
| 870-830 | 15 |
| 820-780 | 14 |
| 770-730 | 13 |
SAT to ACT Score Conversion Walkthrough
Let’s discuss three scenarios to understand the SAT to ACT score conversion better, using examples.
Example 1 – Let’s say you decide to take both SAT and ACT and you attain a score of 1440 in SAT and 33 in AC. Which one would you choose? If you refer to the SAT to ACT score conversion chart above, an SAT score of 1440 corresponds to an ACT score of 32. So, in this case, you will choose to submit your ACT score of 33 instead, which is higher than 1440 on the SAT.
Example 2 – Recently, Jay decided to take both the tests and scored 1370 and 29 in SAT and ACT respectively. Convert SAT to ACT scores and tell us which one do you think he must have chosen to submit during college admissions? He would choose his SAT score over his ACT score as 1370 corresponds to 30 in ACT as per the SAT to ACT score conversion chart, which is obviously better than the 29 he scored in it.
Example 3 – How about if you received perfect or nearly perfect and similar scores in both the exams? Ascend Now recommends that you submit your SAT score as very few students get a perfect score on the SAT.
Find Your Perfect Fit – SAT or ACT
If you must choose to take one test, here are some practical tips to decide which one and why. Take a full length practice test for both SAT and ACT. Compare your scores on the SAT to ACT score conversion chart to determine which test suits your aptitude more and identify the stronger option. Focus your preparation exclusively on that exam. Make sure the test preparation format suits your thinking and learning style. Test strategically and avoid overtesting. Consult a college counsellor to weigh the score in context of your application. It’s important to remember that a standardised test is just one aspect of your application profile but it is an important one.
Test Tips for SAT and ACT
- Simulate exam conditions and practice the real test experience. Avoid breaks, eating a snack in between or looking at the phone and complete the test in one sitting.
- Strategise your preparation by spending more time on weaker points and working on them.
- Understand the test structure and familiarise yourself with each section, the number of questions etc. to reduce your anxiety on test day.
- Maintain a steady and consistent study-schedule. Track your progress by taking practice tests once in a while.
- Work on time management. ACT especially needs you to work on your timing. Maintain a steady pace throughout both exams. Set a rhythm and come back to a question if you get stuck on it.
- You may be aware of the general instructions of a test. But do read the instructions carefully on test-day to avoid surprises and misunderstandings.
- Remember to tackle the easier questions first before tackling the difficult ones.
- Know your calculator well and practice all the required functions on it. Make sure the batteries are fresh.
- Practice wellness, rest well at night, hydrate yourself and eat a good breakfast on test day. You cannot afford to be distracted by any of this during the test.
ACT vs SAT Scoring Solutions with Ascend Now
Ascend Now and our experienced counsellors and tutors help students navigate the complex journey of college admissions. We understand that students often have a dilemma regarding choosing the right standardised tests. We specialise in identifying a student’s potential and demystifying the intricacies of ACT and SAT for them and guiding them to comprehend each test’s methodologies and the SAT to ACT score conversion charts. We offer guidance, expert tutoring and tailored preparation strategies for both SAT and ACT to help you achieve your highest potential on your chosen exam.
