The American College Testing (ACT) and the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) are standard assessments for students planning to pursue their undergraduate degree in the US and Canada. These exams test their knowledge and skills and determine their readiness for college. Both exams hold equal importance, so students can attempt either SAT or ACT for college admissions. You can also convert your SAT and ACT scores to have a better chance of applying for admission to multiple educational institutions. Here’s everything you need to know about the ACT to SAT converter.

SAT and ACT exams: An overview

Exam factor ACT SAT
Question type Multiple choice Multiple choice
No. of sections 4 3
Total duration 2 hours 55 minutes

With optional writing section – 3 hours 35 minutes

 3 hours
No. of questions 215 154
Total score 36 1600

Data updated as of June 2023

ACT and SAT exams: Key highlights

  • The SAT and ACT exams evaluate your knowledge and skills through maths, reading and English sections. Both are standard assessments for entrance into educational institutions in the US and Canada.
  • The ACT exam pattern consists of four sections: English, maths, reading, and science.

The SAT exam syllabus comprises three sections: reading, writing and language, and maths. Despite the differences in pattern and duration, both exams aim to evaluate the candidate’s readiness for college.

  • ACT is conducted four times a year (March, May, October, and December), whereas the SAT exam is held six times annually (February, April, June, July, September, and October).

Why do you need an ACT to SAT converter?

  • An ACT to SAT converter helps students and colleges standardise their scores and compares their performances better. Some institutions prefer ACT or SAT, so the score conversion ensures a smooth admission process.
  • The conversion also helps educational institutions follow a fair evaluation of international students during admission. There are various ACT to SAT converters, or you can also check your equivalent using an SAT to ACT conversion chart.

ACT to SAT converter

Students can convert their ACT to SAT scores in the table below. It is important to note that the table only provides an approximate equivalent value between the scores.

SAT to ACT conversion chart

SAT score ACT score SAT score ACT score SAT score ACT score
1600 36 1260 27 920 17
1590 36 1250 26 910 16
1580 36 1240 26 900 16
1570 36 1230 26 890 16
1560 35 1220 25 880 16
1550 35 1210 25 870 15
1540 35 1200 25 860 15
1530 35 1190 24 850 15
1520 34 1180 24 840 15
1500 34 1170 24 830 15
1490 34 1150 23 810 14
1480 33 1140 23 800 14
1470 33 1130 23 790 14
1460 33 1120 22 780 14
1450 33 1110 22 770 13
1440 32 1100 22 760 13
1430 32 1090 21 750 13
1420 32 1080 21 740 13
1410 31 1070 21 730 13
1400 31 1060 21 720 12
1390 31 1050 20 710 12
1380 30 1040 20 700 12
1370 30 1030 20 690 12
1360 30 1020 19 680 11
1350 29 1010 19 670 11
1340 29 1000 19 660 11
1330 29 990 19 650 11
1320 28 980 18 640 10
1310 28 970 18 630 10
1300 28 960 18 620 10
1290 27 950 17 610 9
1280 27 940 17 600 9
1270 27 930 17 590 9

Data updated as of June 2023

ACT or SAT: Which one should you take?

There are various factors to consider when deciding whether to take ACT or SAT. Before choosing which exam would be best for you, here’s what you should consider.

  • The test format or pattern is different in the SAT and ACT exams. While ACT has four sections and has a longer duration with the optional writing section, SAT only has three sections and no optional tasks.
  • The ACT exam comprises a science section and includes complex maths problems. The SAT exam does not have a science section and focuses more on determining students’ logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Review the pattern and syllabus to determine which exam best aligns with your strengths.
  • Educational institutions do not have any preference when it comes to ACT or SAT. Although, in rare cases, some universities might ask for either of the exams. Check your university requirements before registering for any exam.

Frequently asked questions

What is a 27 on the ACT in SAT?

The SAT equivalent for an ACT score of 27 ranges between 1260-1290.

What is ACT to SAT conversion?

The ACT to SAT conversion provides equivalent scores between the ACT and SAT marks. This conversion allows educational institutions in the US and Canada to compare students’ performance by having a standard measure of their abilities.

Is ACT math easier than SAT?

The difficulty level of the ACT and SAT maths exams depends on the candidate’s strength in different areas of maths. The ACT maths exam focuses on complex mathematical problems and concepts, like trigonometry, to analyse students’ problem-solving skills. Whereas the SAT exam includes complex word problems, data analysis, and algebra. So the difficulty level varies with each student based on their strengths and weaknesses in maths.

What does a 21 ACT score convert to SAT?

The ACT to SAT converter for an ACT score of 21 for SAT ranges between 1060-1090.

What is a good ACT score for Ivy League?

Ivy League schools prefer an ACT score of at least 34. Students with scores above 34 have a good chance of getting into institutions like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton Universities.

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