If your student has taken practice college admissions tests and is deciding whether to focus on the SAT® or the ACT®, you may have wondered how the scores compare across the two tests. That’s where the ACT/SAT concordance table comes in. This table is your key to translating scores between the two major college entrance exams, and it can play a critical role in test prep strategy, college applications, and goal setting.
What do the SAT and ACT scores mean?
The ACT/SAT concordance tables are official tools developed jointly by the College Board and ACT to help compare scores from the SAT and the ACT. They show how a score on one test maps to a corresponding score on the other.
For example:
An ACT composite score of 20 roughly corresponds to an SAT total score of 1030–1050 (national averages for each test).
A perfect ACT composite score of 36 roughly corresponds to a perfect or near-perfect SAT score of 1570–1600.
Essentially, all you have to do is find your score on one test, then look across to see what that would roughly correspond to on the other. It is like a translation guide for your results.
*Note: Concorded scores do not perfectly predict how a student would perform on the other test. They’re just useful as rough estimates of comparable scores.
How is The ACT/SAT Comparison Guide Useful?
The ACT/SAT score comparison guide can help students decide which test scores to submit to colleges.
Despite testing similar curricula in roughly similar ways, there are subtle differences between the SAT’s and ACT’s question phrasings, test structures, and timing conditions. And since everyone has a unique mix of strengths and weaknesses, the simple truth is that many students will perform significantly better on one test than the other.
Concordance tables help you figure out which score looks more impressive. For example, if your 1150 SAT concords to a 23 ACT, but you scored a 26 on the actual ACT, then you know your ACT score is your stronger showing.
Choosing a Test Based on Strengths
Not everyone has the time or energy to prepare intensively for two standardized tests especially if you are a student-athlete or have a rigorous academic workload. You might want to just pick one test and go all-in on it instead.
If you’re not sure which test fits your skill set better, you can take a diagnostic test for each, then use the concordance table to see which score is stronger. That can help you focus your prep time where it will make the most impact.
Putting It All Together
The ACT/SAT concordance tables are a strategic tool for college applicants. Whether you are deciding which score to send, setting a goal, or evaluating where you stand, understanding these score conversions can help you make more informed decisions during the college application process.
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