SatCalcs

ACT to SAT Conversion — Official 2018 Concordance, Both Directions

Who this is for: For families juggling both tests — one child scored the SAT, the other the ACT, and the group chat needs one number to compare.

The official 2018 concordance, both directions — pick an ACT composite or an SAT total and see its counterpart range.

Quick answer: Official 2018 concordance anchors: ACT 36 → SAT 1570–1600 · 30 → 1360–1380 · 28 → 1300–1320 · 24 → 1160–1190 · 20 → 1030–1050. Pick a score in either direction below — you get the counterpart range, not a fake single number.

Direction
ACT 30 ⇄ SAT range
1360–1380
official concordance range
Range midpoint
1370
a point estimate, nothing more

Anchor rows of the official table

ACT compositeSAT total
361570–1600
321420–1440
301360–1380
281300–1320
261230–1250
241160–1190
221100–1120
201030–1050
18960–980
16880–910
Concordance ≠ equivalence: the tables link scores with the same percentile standing among students who took both tests. An ACT 30 “is” SAT 1360–1380 the way 6′0″ “is” 183 cm — same fact, different rulers.
Official 2018 ACT/SAT concordance — percentile-equivalent scores, not difficulty guarantees.
Core facts
Sourceofficial 2018 ACT/SAT concordance (joint publication)
Top anchors36 → 1570–1600 · 34 → 1490–1520 · 32 → 1420–1440
Mid anchors30 → 1360–1380 · 28 → 1300–1320 · 26 → 1230–1250
Entry anchors24 → 1160–1190 · 20 → 1030–1050 · 16 → 880–910
Rulecomposite ↔ total only; sections carry wider bands
StatusOfficial anchors: 2018 ACT/SAT concordance tables (ACT Inc. + College Board), College Board SAT user percentiles (recent graduating classes), and published raw-to-scaled ranges. Raw-to-scaled curves are re-equilibrated every administration — this engine shows a representative conversion plus a range, so treat it as planning-grade, not an official score report.

How do ACT and SAT scores convert?

They convert through concordance, not arithmetic: ACT Inc. and the College Board jointly published tables (last in 2018) that link scores with the same percentile standing in co-normed research samples. The headline anchors: ACT 36 ↔ SAT 1570–1600, ACT 32 ↔ 1420–1440, ACT 30 ↔ 1360–1380, ACT 28 ↔ 1300–1320, ACT 24 ↔ 1160–1190, ACT 20 ↔ 1030–1050, ACT 16 ↔ 880–910. Read a conversion as a range, not a point: an ACT 30 is 'SAT 1360–1380 territory', and an SAT 1300 is 'ACT 28 territory'. The tables link composite-to-total; section-level links exist but carry wider bands, so this tool — like the official guidance — sticks to the composite. Concordance is not a promise of equivalence in difficulty: it says the two scores tell the same percentile story.

Common uses

  • Comparing an ACT practice score against an SAT target
  • Filling in a recruiter or program form that asks for the other test
  • Deciding which test to prep after a first practice run of each
  • Sanity-checking a conversion some website invented without sourcing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 30 on the ACT in SAT terms?
ACT 30 concords to SAT 1360–1380 on the official 2018 tables. If a college list shows a 25th–75th SAT band of 1350–1480, an ACT 30 applicant is inside the range — the concordance exists precisely so you can read one test's requirement from the other's number.
What SAT score is a 36 ACT?
ACT 36 concords to SAT 1570–1600 — in practice, a perfect 36 sits at the top of both scales (SAT 1600 concords back to 36). A 1580 SAT and a 36 ACT make the same percentile claim.
How accurate are ACT-to-SAT conversions?
As accurate as percentile linking gets: the 2018 tables were built from students who took both tests, so the link is real but statistical — a range, not a point. Never use a conversion to argue a college 'should' have admitted someone; use it to compare your own practice scores.
Is the concordance updated for the Digital SAT and Enhanced ACT?
The 2018 tables remain the last official joint publication, and both organizations still reference them for the new formats — the 200–800 and 1–36 scales didn't change, so the link carries over. Treat cross-format conversions with the same range logic and check for an updated joint table before 2027 decisions.
Do colleges convert my ACT to an SAT number?
Most admissions offices read ACT scores natively — they publish both SAT and ACT middle-50% bands and don't need to convert. Conversion tables are for students and families comparing their own options, and for programs that only quote one test.
Which should I take, ACT or SAT?
Take one practice test of each, convert to the same scale with this tool, and prep the one you scored higher on (or prefer the pacing of). The formats differ more than the content: ACT = faster pacing, optional Science on 2025+; SAT = adaptive modules, more time per question.

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