SAT–ACT Conversion 2025: Practical Use in Applications

Students often ask “Should I take SAT or ACT?” The right answer depends on strengths and logistics—but you still need a reliable conversion to compare options and plan targets.

Concordance basics

• Use the latest official concordance to map SAT total to comparable ACT composite (and vice versa).
• Releases can vary slightly by year—always prefer the newest table and consider institutional preferences.

Quick reference (approximate)

Note: This is an approximate mapping; admissions decisions consider section strengths and the whole application.

When to prefer SAT vs ACT

1. Strengths: precise grammar and editing → SAT may fit; faster science reading → ACT could fit.
2. Logistics: practice materials, habits, and support available.
3. Program preferences: a minority of schools lean historically one way—check details.

Practical workflow

1. Take SAT and ACT diagnostics; record correct counts and friction points.
2. Feed SAT numbers into the Calculator to visualize the gap.
3. Use the table or official concordance to convert targets and compare which path is faster for you.
4. Check target bands in College Data. If SAT 1440 vs ACT 32 is the decision, pick the quicker path to competitiveness.

Reporting strategy

• Most schools accept either SAT or ACT; if you took both, submit the stronger set.
• If superscoring benefits you (supported at some ACT schools), evaluate whether multi‑sitting submission helps.

Edge cases

• STEM‑leaning programs: where Math subscore emphasis is explicit, a strong SAT Math may communicate more directly.
• Certain state systems: historical distributions may lean ACT—verify on school sites and in College Data.

Key takeaways

• Use the latest concordance for directional comparison; use real diagnostics for feasibility.
• Choose the path that gets you into your target band within 6–8 weeks.
• Calculator + College Data + your time/resources constraints = fast, informed decisions.