ACT to SAT Conversion (2026): Full Concordance Chart

The official chart, how to use it, and what it means for your college list.

To convert between the ACT and the SAT, you use the official concordance published jointly by the College Board and ACT. It maps every ACT Composite score to its equivalent on the 400 to 1600 SAT scale. For example, a 30 on the ACT is about a 1370 on the SAT, and a 1400 SAT is about a 31 ACT. The full chart is below.

ACT to SAT Conversion Chart

The middle column is the single concordant SAT score for each ACT, which is what to use when you need a one-to-one comparison. The right column shows the small SAT range that maps to that ACT, since the two tests do not line up perfectly.

How to Use the Concordance

The conversion is most useful for one decision: which test to focus on. Here is how to put it to work:

1. Take a practice test of each. Score a practice SAT and a practice ACT
2. Convert one to the other using the chart, so you are comparing on the same scale
3. Pick the test where you rank higher, then focus all your prep there. Colleges accept both equally, so there is no advantage to taking both

For the full decision, including format differences, see our guides on how to choose between the SAT and ACT and whether the SAT or ACT is easier.

Converting SAT to ACT

The same chart works in reverse. Find your SAT total in the middle or right column and read across to the ACT. A few common conversions:

• 1600 SAT is a 36 ACT
• 1500 SAT is about a 34 ACT
• 1400 SAT is about a 31 ACT
• 1300 SAT is about a 28 ACT
• 1200 SAT is about a 25 ACT

Why the Conversion Is a Range, Not an Exact Number

The SAT and the ACT test overlapping but not identical skills, so no conversion is perfectly precise. The concordance is built from a large joint study of students who took both tests, and it gives the statistically equivalent score, plus a small range around it. Treat the converted number as a close estimate, not an exact translation. Note also that the ACT recently made its Science section optional, but the 1 to 36 Composite scale and this concordance are unchanged.

Frequently Asked Questions About ACT to SAT Conversion

What is a 30 ACT in SAT terms?

A 30 on the ACT is equivalent to about a 1370 on the SAT, within a range of roughly 1360 to 1380.

What ACT score equals a 1400 SAT?

A 1400 SAT is equivalent to about a 31 on the ACT.

How accurate is the ACT to SAT conversion?

It is a close estimate, not exact. The official concordance is based on a large study of students who took both tests, and it gives a statistically equivalent score with a small range, because the two exams are not identical.

Do colleges convert ACT and SAT scores?

Yes. Admissions offices use the official concordance to compare applicants who submit different tests, and they accept both tests equally with no preference.

Which is better, the SAT or ACT?

Neither. Colleges treat them the same. The better test is whichever one you score higher on, which is exactly what the concordance helps you figure out.