After recent redesigns, the ACT and SAT are almost identical today. Both cover the same overall subject matter and look similar to each other. However, they both operate on two very different point scales. Here is a quick and easy ACT conversion to ACT score guide.
Every student wants to see how good their ACT score is against the SAT.
It’s normal, especially if you’re thinking about switching tests to take before application time. However, remember that they’re still two different tests, so it’s never going to be a pure equivalency.
But you can get a decent approximation between them. Both tests still cover similar subjects. The SAT’s two main section areas are:
The ACT, on the other hand, has four main sections to handle:
In addition, both have essay writing sections, but those are optional, so won’t overly affect the scores here. Also, if you’re better at Science-related subjects, the ACT is a better option to consider than the SAT.
ACT Composite Score | SAT Composite Score |
---|---|
36 | 1570-1600 |
35 | 1530-1560 |
34 | 1490-1520 |
33 | 1450-1480 |
32 | 1420-1440 |
31 | 1390-1410 |
30 | 1360-1380 |
29 | 1330-1350 |
28 | 1300-1320 |
27 | 1260-1290 |
26 | 1230-1250 |
25 | 1200-1220 |
24 | 1160-1190 |
23 | 1130-1150 |
22 | 1100-1120 |
21 | 1060-1090 |
20 | 1030-1050 |
19 | 990-1020 |
18 | 960-980 |
17 | 920-950 |
16 | 880-910 |
15 | 830-870 |
14 | 780-820 |
13 | 730-770 |
12 | 690-720 |
11 | 650-680 |
10 | 620-640 |
9 | 590-610 |
ACT English | SAT ERW |
---|---|
36 | 800 |
36 | 790 |
36 | 780 |
35 | 770 |
35 | 760 |
35 | 750 |
35 | 740 |
35 | 730 |
34 | 720 |
34 | 710 |
33 | 700 |
32 | 690 |
31 | 680 |
30 | 670 |
30 | 660 |
29 | 650 |
28 | 640 |
27 | 630 |
26 | 620 |
25 | 610 |
25 | 600 |
24 | 590 |
24 | 580 |
22 | 570 |
22 | 560 |
21 | 550 |
20 | 540 |
20 | 530 |
19 | 520 |
18 | 510 |
17 | 500 |
16 | 490 |
16 | 480 |
15 | 470 |
15 | 460 |
14 | 450 |
14 | 440 |
13 | 430 |
13 | 420 |
12 | 410 |
11 | 400 |
11 | 390 |
10 | 380 |
10 | 370 |
10 | 360 |
9 | 350 |
8 | 340 |
8 | 330 |
7 | 320 |
7 | 310 |
6 | 300 |
5 | 290 |
4 | 280 |
4 | 270 |
3 | 260 |
2 | 250 |
1 | 240 |
ACT Math | SAT Math |
---|---|
36 | 800 |
35 | 790 |
35 | 780 |
34 | 770 |
33 | 760 |
32 | 750 |
32 | 740 |
31 | 730 |
30 | 720 |
30 | 710 |
29 | 700 |
29 | 690 |
28 | 680 |
28 | 670 |
27 | 660 |
27 | 650 |
27 | 640 |
26 | 630 |
26 | 620 |
25 | 610 |
25 | 600 |
24 | 590 |
24 | 580 |
23 | 570 |
23 | 560 |
22 | 550 |
21 | 540 |
20 | 530 |
19 | 520 |
18 | 510 |
18 | 500 |
17 | 490 |
17 | 480 |
17 | 470 |
16 | 460 |
16 | 450 |
16 | 440 |
16 | 430 |
15 | 420 |
15 | 410 |
15 | 400 |
15 | 390 |
14 | 380 |
14 | 370 |
14 | 360 |
13 | 350 |
13 | 340 |
13 | 330 |
12 | 320 |
11 | 310 |
10 | 300 |
9 | 290 |
8 | 280 |
6 | 270 |
4 | 260 |
2 | 250 |
1 | 240 |
The most elite schools go after students ranked in the top 10 percent of their class academically.
It’s even better if their test scores are also in the top 10 percent of all test-takers. Remember, colleges and universities, look at assembling classes like sports teams. The higher-level applicants they can get in, the more prestige and funding they’ll receive.
To be competitive you want to have either ACT scores that are 30 or above, or SAT scores at 700 or higher. If you can get your composite scores in that range, you stand a stronger chance of getting into your dream school.
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