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20 ACT to SAT Score

By Eric Eng

By Eric Eng

10 Reasons Why College is Worth It

20 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 20 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 20 ACT score to SAT score be? Simply put, a 20 ACT composite score is equivalent to an SAT score of 1030-1050.

teenage student paying attention to lecture in classroom.

A 20 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 20 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).

Portrait of young teacher helping a student during class.

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:

high school students inside a classroom

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.

 

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