How is an ACT composite converted to an SAT total?

The official concordance maps each ACT composite to a band of SAT totals representing equivalent performance. Because the SAT scale is finer, one ACT point spans a range of SAT scores, so the tool reports both a representative midpoint and that range.

Is the conversion exact?

No. The tests overlap but are not identical, so the concordance gives the most likely equivalent rather than a precise value. The midpoint is a reasonable single figure, and the range shows the spread of equivalent SAT scores.

Which concordance is used?

The official 2018 ACT and College Board concordance, the current standard for the 400 to 1600 SAT scale, including the Digital SAT. Both organizations endorse this table.

Should I report my ACT or SAT?

Report whichever places you higher relative to your target schools' admitted ranges. Converting to a common scale with this tool helps you decide which exam to submit.

Why might a college show a different SAT equivalent?

Some colleges maintain their own internal concordance or superscore across sittings. The official table is the most widely accepted reference, but always check a specific school's policy.

What is the ACT to SAT Score Conversion Calculator?

Enter your ACT composite from 1 to 36 to compute the equivalent SAT total from 400 to 1600 using the official ACT and College Board concordance, with the equivalent SAT range shown. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

ACT to SAT Score Conversion Calculator

Name: ACT to SAT Score Conversion Calculator
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Translate your ACT into SAT terms

If you took the ACT but want to compare against SAT admitted-student ranges, this calculator converts your composite into an equivalent SAT total using the official ACT and College Board concordance. Because the SAT scale is finer than the ACT, each composite maps to a band of SAT scores, so the tool reports a representative midpoint along with that range.

How it works

The 2018 concordance pairs each ACT composite with an SAT range of equivalent performance. The tool stores, for every composite from 1 to 36, the low and high SAT totals that concord to it. It returns the midpoint of that band as a single representative SAT total and also shows the full equivalent range.

Why there is a band, not a single number

The ACT and SAT measure similar but not identical skills, and the concordance was built from students who sat both tests. Because the two scales are different in granularity (ACT goes 1–36, SAT 400–1600) and test construction, one ACT composite point spans a range of SAT performances. An ACT 30 concords to a band spanning roughly 60 SAT points, and an ACT 25 to a similar-width band. Using the midpoint of the band as a single figure is appropriate for comparing against a school’s middle-50% SAT range; the band itself tells you how much uncertainty is in the comparison.

Illustrative concordance reference

ACT Composite	Approximate SAT Total (midpoint)
36	1570–1600
34	1500–1520
32	1430–1450
30	1380–1400
28	1310–1330
26	1230–1250
24	1160–1180
22	1080–1100
20	990–1010

These are approximate ranges based on the 2018 concordance. Always use the concordance table directly or this calculator for a specific composite.

When to use this conversion

Deciding which score to send. Most US colleges accept both ACT and SAT equally. Convert your ACT to the SAT equivalent, find the school’s middle-50% SAT range, and check where your converted score lands. Then do the same in the other direction (use the SAT-to-ACT tool if you have an SAT score). Send whichever original score places you higher in that school’s range.

Applying to schools that publish only SAT ranges. Many school-specific data sources (including Common Data Set files) report admitted-student ranges in SAT terms. Converting lets you benchmark yourself even if you only hold an ACT score.

Notes

The mapping is statistical, not exact. Some colleges maintain their own internal concordance, so confirm a specific school’s policy when it matters for a scholarship or admission threshold.