![]() We'll start with a prominent East Coast school. As you'll see, the differences are quite small in most cases, but they can help you aim for the most competitive target score possible. We are not showing that you can game the system by taking the “easier” test for a certain school. Notice as we go through these examples just how small the differences tend to be. You can use this information as a guide when looking up the schools you're applying to. Thus, for some schools, you'd have to do slightly better on one test to be a competitive applicant. So do these ranges for the ACT and SAT match up according to the conversions above? The truth is, at many colleges, the SAT and ACT middle 50 percent ranges don’t match up exactly. In other words, telling potential applicants that admitted students usually get ACT scores between 16 and 36 is not particularly helpful! Reporting the full range of scores would be much less helpful as schools might have an admit or two with an extremely low test score, or a few admits with perfect scores. Schools report this data since it's a clear way to present the average test score ranges of admitted students. For example, if a school has an ACT middle 50 percent range of 24 to 28, this means that 25% of admits had 24 or lower, 50% had between 24 and 28, and 25% had 28 or higher on the ACT. Now that we've learned about the SAT-ACT conversion tables made by the test makers themselves, you might think that if you look at admission statistics for various colleges, their SAT and ACT middle 50 percent ranges will match the official SAT-ACT conversions.īefore we jump into this idea, though, what is the "middle 50 percent"? For a school, this phrase refers to the SAT/ACT score ranges for the middle 50 percent (or 25th to 75th percentile scores) of admitted students. Is There an “Easier” Test at Certain Schools? ![]() Which is easier, the ACT or the SAT? Find out with our detailed, comprehensive guide to figuring out which test is better for you. In other words, only use the following table if you took the ACT or SAT before 2016 and want to know how your scores would have translated at the time you took the test.Īll estimates below are calculated using the above table and this SAT composite score conversion chart. Because the current version of the SAT has been in effect since 2016, most readers will want to use the conversion table above. (as opposed to the 2016 initial concordance from the College Board) this chart is what schools will be using to compare SAT and ACT scores.įor those of you who want to compare an ACT score with an old SAT score out of 2400, use the table below. Note that this is the most up-to-date conversion and recommended by both the College Board and ACT, Inc. *Use this SAT score when a single score point comparison is needed These are the only official conversion charts you can use to translate your ACT score into an SAT score (and vice versa). The most accurate SAT-ACT concordance tables come directly from the makers of the SAT and ACT (the College Board and ACT, Inc., respectively). As a result, always convert your section scores, too. Understanding what converting is and why it is not always even at certain schools can help you maximize your admission chances.įinally, be aware that converting composite scores won't give you the most accurate data. ![]() If you score dramatically higher on one test vs the other (say, the equivalent of 2 ACT points), you'll know to study for and take that test instead.Īs we explore below, ACT-SAT conversion doesn't always line up exactly at schools. But if you take just one test, it’s useful to know how your score translates so you can better understand your performance as well as your chances of admission at various colleges.įor example, by taking a practice test for both the SAT and ACT, you can figure out which test you're naturally better at. It’s smartest to focus your efforts on just the SAT or ACT to maximize your score, rather than trying to score well on both tests. Download it for free now:ĪCT to SAT conversion can be extremely helpful for figuring out which test you're better at. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score.
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