17 ACT to SAT Score
You probably stumbled upon this blog because you have either taken the ACT or will take it in the future, and you are apprehensive about how your test scores will translate to a different aptitude test such as the SAT. You might have asked yourself, “What would my ACT score be equivalent to if it were converted to an SAT score?” You’re in the right place to look for answers! In this blog, we will help you convert your 17 ACT score to SAT score.
Moreover, we will also detail how to convert scores in general and how the ACT to SAT conversion chart can be relevant to you as a student.
ACT to SAT Conversion: An Overview
The two most popular college entrance examinations in the United States, the SAT and ACT, are taken by millions of high school students each year. While considering applicants for admission, many universities look at their SAT and ACT scores. How well you would have performed on the alternative test was likely one of your initial considerations after receiving your ACT or SAT results. Fortunately, ACT to SAT conversion has been made possible, and vice versa.
Obviously, the ACT and SAT aren’t the same tests, despite some form and content similarities. How they are scored is one significant distinction. Although the ACT utilizes a score range of 1-36, the SAT employs a range of 400-1600.
Students frequently take both the SAT and the ACT in order to prepare for the college admissions process. To ascertain the correlation between ACT scores and SAT scores, the ACT and the College Board undertook a study. Based on the findings of that research, the ACT and SAT Conversion Chart was made.
What would your ACT score be when converted to an SAT Score?
So, what would a 17 ACT score to SAT score be? Simply put, a 17 ACT composite score is equivalent to an SAT score of 920-950.
A 17 score is not a good mary for aspiring college students. It will prevent you from getting into the best schools in the country. Despite how well you felt you performed on the test, it’s still not enough to get into the top universities. We highly recommend that you retake the test to get a better score.
This may be difficult to accept, but you shouldn’t let it overwhelm you. Consider this as one of the hurdles that you need to go through before you can get accepted to your dream college. It’s all about staying focused on your ultimate goal and doing what it takes to get there.
ACT to SAT Conversion: What are they for?
Converting from ACT to SAT can be quite beneficial for determining which test you perform better on. To maximize your score, it’s best to concentrate all of your efforts on either the SAT or ACT rather than attempting to do well on both exams. But even if you only take one exam, knowing how your score translates will help you better assess your performance and your prospects of getting into different universities.
You can determine which test you perform best on by taking practice exams for both the SAT and ACT, for instance. You will know to prepare for and take that test instead if you significantly outperform yourself on one test compared to the other (let’s say by the equivalent of two ACT points).
The ACT to SAT conversion at schools isn’t always accurate, as we’ll see later. You can increase your chances of being admitted by being aware of what converting is and why it isn’t usually allowed, even at some schools.
Remember that converting composite scores won’t provide you with the most accurate information. Thus, convert all of your section scores as well.
ACT to SAT Conversion Chart
The official concordance table created by ACT Inc., which manages the ACT, and the College Board, which manages the SAT, is provided here.
This graphic, which was published in 2018, enables test takers, parents/guardians, teachers, counselors, and college admissions staff to compare ACT and SAT scores. Using the same chart, you can convert a 17 ACT score to SAT score.
Please take note that these conversions are approximations and cannot accurately forecast how a person will fare on the other test.
| ACT Composite | SAT Total | ACT Composite | SAT Total |
| 36 | 1570-1600 | 22 | 110-1120 |
| 35 | 1530-1560 | 21 | 1060-1090 |
| 34 | 1490-1520 | 20 | 1030-1050 |
| 33 | 1450-1480 | 19 | 990-1020 |
| 32 | 1420-1440 | 18 | 960-980 |
| 31 | 1390-1410 | 17 | 920-950 |
| 30 | 1360-1380 | 16 | 880-910 |
| 29 | 1330-1350 | 15 | 830-870 |
| 28 | 1300-1320 | 14 | 780-820 |
| 27 | 1260-1290 | 13 | 730-770 |
| 26 | 1230-1250 | 12 | 690-720 |
| 25 | 1200-1220 | 11 | 650-680 |
| 24 | 1160-1190 | 10 | 620-640 |
| 23 | 1130-1150 | 9 | 590-610 |
ACT to SAT Conversion Chart: Section-specific
The College Board and ACT Inc. also made available two subject-specific concordance tables, one for math and one for reading and writing, in addition to the general SAT-to-ACT conversion chart above.
The math comparison table below contrasts the ACT and SAT math test scores. There is no concordance chart for science-related scores because the SAT does not include a distinct Science part as the ACT does.
| ACT Math | SAT Math | ACT Math | SAT Math |
| 36 | 800 | 22 | 540 |
| 35 | 770-790 | 21 | 530 |
| 34 | 760 | 20 | 520 |
| 33 | 740-750 | 19 | 510 |
| 32 | 720-730 | 18 | 490-500 |
| 31 | 710 | 17 | 460-480 |
| 30 | 690-700 | 16 | 420-450 |
| 29 | 680 | 15 | 380-410 |
| 28 | 660-670 | 14 | 350-370 |
| 27 | 630-650 | 13 | 320-340 |
| 26 | 610-620 | 12 | 300-310 |
| 25 | 590-600 | 11 | 280-290 |
| 24 | 570-580 | 10 | 260-270 |
| 23 | 550-560 |
The following table translates your SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) scores, which are made up of your Reading, Writing, and Language scores, into ACT English + Reading scores (and vice versa).
It is important to note that the ACT Reading and English scores, which each use a scale of 1-36, have been put together, which is why ACT scores can reach a maximum of 72.
| ACT English + Reading | SAT EBRW | ACT English + Reading | SAT EBRW |
| 72 | 790-800 | 39 | 520 |
| 71 | 770-780 | 38 | 510 |
| 70 | 750-760 | 36-37 | 500 |
| 69 | 740 | 35 | 490 |
| 68 | 730 | 34 | 480 |
| 67 | 720 | 33 | 470 |
| 66 | 710 | 32 | 460 |
| 64-65 | 700 | 31 | 450 |
| 63 | 690 | 30 | 440 |
| 61-62 | 680 | 29 | 430 |
| 60 | 670 | 28 | 420 |
| 58-59 | 660 | 27 | 410 |
| 57 | 650 | 26 | 400 |
| 55-56 | 640 | 25 | 390 |
| 53-54 | 630 | 24 | 380 |
| 52 | 620 | 23 | 370 |
| 50-51 | 610 | 22 | 360 |
| 49 | 600 | 21 | 350 |
| 48 | 590 | 20 | 340 |
| 46-47 | 580 | 19 | 330 |
| 45 | 570 | 18 | 320 |
| 44 | 560 | 17 | 310 |
| 43 | 550 | 16 | 300 |
| 41-42 | 540 | 15 | 290 |
| 40 | 530 | 14 | 280 |
How to interpret scores using the ACT to SAT conversion chart
If you’re trying to decide whether it would be better for you to submit ACT or New SAT results to a school, the chart below can be a helpful resource. The graphic indicates that, for instance, if you received a total SAT score of 1250 and an ACT score of 26, these are equivalent results. You can submit either score (or both), as none is notably “greater” or “lower” than the other. Yet, if you received a total SAT score of 1130 and an ACT score of 27, your ACT score is “greater” and would probably be a better number to submit to institutions.
Say your ACT score was 26, for example. You now want to understand how well you would have performed on the old and new SAT tests. According to the table, a score of 26 corresponds to a score range of 1230–1250 on the new SAT.
It’s crucial to remember that these conversions aren’t exact, so this isn’t the exact score you would have gotten. Instead of depending on the one exam you did take, these concordance tables give an approximate result for a test.
Calculators are available at several schools, like Bradley University, to translate section scores between exams. For instance, a student can convert their math score from the ACT to the SAT to assess where they stand among current students at these schools in terms of math in particular.
ACT to SAT Conversion Chart: How to use them
The ACT to SATconversion tables that we have shown can be used by students to compare their SAT or ACT results, guide their college search, and determine whether they are college-ready.
These charts can also be useful for students thinking about taking the SAT or ACT because they can show you where you’re likely to score on the other test. Bear in mind, however, that they are not completely accurate.
Apart from students and their parents, other people can benefit from this chart as well:
Guidance counselors: Can measure students’ readiness for college-level coursework and offer advice and guidance to high school students as they explore their college options using SAT to ACT conversion tables.
School administration: Can measure kids’ readiness for college by averaging their scores from the two tests and altering curricula and resources for any potential improvement needs.
Universities and other academic institutions: can use ACT to SAT conversion tables to establish admission eligibility, evaluate general college preparation, and give scholarships. These tables can be used by schools for test score comparison and predictive modeling among certain student groupings.
Teachers: Can evaluate students’ college readiness using conversion charts to combine test scores from several sources.
Researchers: Can utilize concordance tables to average results from the two examinations to assess a student population’s level of college preparedness.
Final Words
While the two tests differ in structure, they both measure a student’s ability to think critically and solve problems. Both tests are designed to assess a student’s readiness for college-level coursework, and scores are used by admissions officers to evaluate a student’s potential for success in college.
One key difference between the two tests is the type of questions they ask. The ACT is known for its emphasis on math and science, while the SAT is known for its focus on vocabulary and critical reading skills. The SAT also includes a math section that allows the use of a calculator, while the ACT does not.
Another difference between the two tests is the time allotted for each section. The ACT is a longer test, with a total testing time of 2 hours and 55 minutes (or 3 hours and 35 minutes with the optional writing section). The SAT has a total testing time of 3 hours (or 3 hours and 50 minutes with the optional essay section).
Students should also consider which test is preferred by the colleges they are interested in. While most colleges accept either test, some have a preference for one over the other. Students should check with the colleges they are interested in to determine which test they should take.
Ultimately, the decision to take the ACT or SAT is a personal one. Some students may perform better on one test than the other, depending on their strengths and weaknesses. It is important for students to prepare for the test they choose to take, whether through self-study or with the help of a tutor or test prep course.
In conclusion, both the ACT and SAT are important standardized tests used by colleges and universities in the admissions process. While they differ in structure and content, and the gaps are bridged by tools such as ACT to SAT conversion charts, they both measure a student’s ability to think critically and solve problems. Students should consider their own strengths and weaknesses as well as the preferences of the colleges they are interested in when deciding which test to take. With proper preparation, students can perform their best on either test and increase their chances of getting accepted into the college of their choice.
Through the years, AdmissionSight has successfully assisted thousands of high school students in going through the rigorous college admissions process. In most cases, these students end up getting accepted to top universities such as Harvard and Princeton.
We provide a wide range of services to help high school students get the most out of the college admissions process. We’re happy to talk to you about how we can help you. If you’d like more information about our services, please contact us today.
We’ll set up a free consultation to talk about the various aspects of the college admissions process, and we’re happy to answer all of your questions.
