Score Comparison
SAT to ACT Score Conversion Chart
Official 2018 ACT and College Board concordance showing equivalent score ranges between the two tests. A concorded score reflects the same percentile standing, not a predicted score on the other test.
About This Concordance
This page reflects the official joint ACT and College Board concordance study, a percentile-equating methodology that establishes score relationships based on data from hundreds of thousands of students who took both tests. The most recent concordance tables were published in 2018 and remain current as the official standard for comparing SAT and ACT scores. These tables establish which SAT and ACT scores place students at the same percentile rank, not whether a student would achieve the same score on both tests.
Methodology
How the Official Concordance Was Built
In 2018, ACT, Inc. and the College Board released a joint study examining the relationship between SAT and ACT scores. The concordance was built using percentile-equating methodology, analyzing data from a large representative sample of students who took both the redesigned SAT (2016 format or later) and the ACT within a 24-month window.
The resulting tables show which SAT Total scores correspond to the same percentile rank as ACT Composite scores. For example, a student scoring 1500 on the SAT occupies approximately the same percentile in the test-taking population as a student scoring 34 on the ACT. However, a concorded score does not predict how a student would perform if they took the other test. It only shows equivalent standing.
Concordance updates are released periodically, not annually, reflecting shifts in the test-taking population. The 2018 tables remain the current official standard.
Score Ranges
SAT to ACT Conversion Bands
The table below shows official SAT to ACT score ranges in bands rather than exact 1-to-1 conversions. For precise 1-point-granularity concordance tables, consult the official PDFs linked in the Sources section.
| SAT Total | ACT Composite | Percentile Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1570–1600 | 36 | 99th |
| 1530–1560 | 35 | 98th–99th |
| 1490–1520 | 34 | 97th–98th |
| 1450–1480 | 33 | 96th–97th |
| 1420–1440 | 32 | 95th–96th |
| 1390–1410 | 31 | 93rd–95th |
| 1360–1380 | 30 | 91st–93rd |
| 1330–1350 | 29 | 89th–91st |
| 1300–1320 | 28 | 86th–89th |
| 1270–1290 | 27 | 83rd–86th |
| 1240–1260 | 26 | 80th–83rd |
| 1210–1230 | 25 | 76th–80th |
| 1180–1200 | 24 | 72nd–76th |
| 1150–1170 | 23 | 68th–72nd |
| 1120–1140 | 22 | 63rd–68th |
| 1090–1110 | 21 | 58th–63rd |
| 1060–1080 | 20 | 52nd–58th |
| 1030–1050 | 19 | 47th–52nd |
| 1000–1020 | 18 | 41st–47th |
| 970–990 | 17 | 35th–41st |
Note: This table shows representative ranges. For exact 1-point concordance values, download the official PDF and Excel tables from ACT and College Board using the links in Sources.
Example
Worked Example: Converting Your Score
Scenario: You took the SAT and scored 1420.
According to the official concordance, an SAT score of 1420 falls in the 1420–1440 range, which corresponds to an ACT Composite of 32. This means you occupy approximately the same percentile standing as a test-taker who scored 32 on the ACT. If you were to take the ACT, the concordance does not predict you would score 32. It only tells you where each score stands relative to the population of test-takers.
Why the distinction matters: The SAT and ACT assess slightly different skills and have different formats. A concorded score reflects equal standing, not equal performance. Your actual ACT score could be higher or lower depending on how well the test format and content align with your strengths.
Related Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Does concordance work both ways? Can I convert ACT to SAT too?
Yes. The concordance tables are bidirectional. An ACT score of 32 corresponds to the same percentile as an SAT score of 1420. You can use the official concordance tables or PDFs to convert in either direction.
Do colleges superscore across the SAT and ACT?
No. Colleges do not mix SAT and ACT scores or superscores. If you submit both test scores, admissions offices view them separately and typically use the test score that presents you most favorably. They do not average or combine scores across the two tests. Some colleges are test-optional and will not consider test scores at all.
Is concordance the same as a percentile rank?
Concordance and percentile rank are related but distinct. A percentile rank tells you what percent of test-takers scored at or below your score on a single test (e.g., your SAT score is at the 92nd percentile). Concordance shows which scores on two different tests place you at the same percentile. For example, an SAT of 1420 and an ACT of 32 both place you around the 95th percentile, meaning roughly the same percent of students score below each value on their respective tests.
When was the most recent concordance study released?
The official ACT and College Board concordance study was released in June 2018. This remains the current standard used by colleges, scholarships, and testing organizations. Concordance tables are updated periodically when sufficient new data is available, but annual updates are not released.
Can I predict my ACT score from my SAT score using concordance?
No. Concordance shows equivalent standing (percentile), not predicted performance. A concorded SAT score does not mean you would earn that ACT score if you took the test. Your actual ACT score depends on how well the ACT format and content suit your strengths and preparation. Some students score higher on one test than the concordance suggests; others score lower. Always treat concordance as a comparison of percentiles, not a guarantee of performance.