Tools
SAT to ACT Conversion Chart
The official 2018 SAT–ACT concordance maps 1400 SAT to 31 ACT, 1500 to 34 and 1600 to 36. ACT still directs institutions to use this concordance with the enhanced ACT. It compares reported scores; it does not predict your result on a different test.
Official SAT total to ACT composite bands
These rows group identical entries from the official 2018 concordance table. Use the SAT total and the ACT composite, not one section. The original study predates the enhanced ACT, but ACT’s current multi-score guidance still instructs institutions to use the 2018 concordance.
| SAT total band | ACT composite |
|---|---|
| 1570–1600 | 36 |
| 1530–1560 | 35 |
| 1490–1520 | 34 |
| 1450–1480 | 33 |
| 1420–1440 | 32 |
| 1390–1410 | 31 |
| 1360–1380 | 30 |
| 1330–1350 | 29 |
| 1300–1320 | 28 |
| 1260–1290 | 27 |
| 1230–1250 | 26 |
| 1200–1220 | 25 |
| 1160–1190 | 24 |
| 1130–1150 | 23 |
| 1100–1120 | 22 |
| 1060–1090 | 21 |
| 1030–1050 | 20 |
| 990–1020 | 19 |
What a conversion means
A 1500 SAT corresponds to 34 ACT in this table; it is not a 34–35 interval. Conversely, the ACT-to-SAT table can show a band because multiple SAT totals correspond to one ACT composite. Read the direction and use the official full table for values outside these rows.
Concordance relates scores from different tests. It is not equating, and it does not guarantee that you would earn the concorded score if you switched tests tomorrow.
Old and enhanced ACT composites
The enhanced ACT composite uses English, Math and Reading; Science is optional. A legacy four-section composite includes Science. Use the official composite printed on your report and the institution’s current policy, rather than recalculating a composite across incompatible formats.
The continued use of 2018 concordance is current ACT guidance. Label the table 2018 rather than inventing a new “2026 conversion” study.
Which score should you submit?
Compare each reported score with the institution’s relevant SAT or ACT range and its reporting rules. If the college permits superscoring, use its stated policy. Do not combine SAT and ACT sections into one fictional result.
If both are comparable, choose using the college’s instructions and any section requirements. The concordance alone does not establish that a 1500 SAT is preferred to a 34 ACT.
Sources
Next steps
FAQs
What ACT score equals a 1400 SAT?
The official 2018 SAT-total-to-ACT-composite table maps 1400 to 31.
Is 1500 SAT a 35 ACT?
No. The official SAT-to-ACT direction maps 1500 to 34; SAT totals 1530–1560 map to 35.
Is the 2018 concordance obsolete for the enhanced ACT?
ACT’s current guidance says institutions receiving both ACT and SAT scores should use the 2018 concordance. It still is a comparison, not a prediction.
Related SAT resources
- PSAT to SAT Conversion Chart
PSAT-to-SAT score comparison using official vertical scaling, score-range limits and a fresh-test baseline instead of a guaranteed growth chart.
- SAT Score Chart
SAT score chart for the 400–1600 scale: every 100-point total with its College Board percentile for SAT takers and nationally, plus a possible section split for each.
- SAT Percentile Chart
SAT percentile chart: a 1500 is the 97th percentile among SAT takers, a 1400 the 93rd and a 1300 the 85th, with College Board’s nationally representative ranks beside each.