SAT and ACT Equivalent Scores

Hi, y'all. I've taken both the SAT and ACT and I'm unsure which score to report on my university application. Is there a chart or something that shows SAT and ACT equivalent scores? And do colleges have a preference between the two?

You can find tables online that offer a comparison between SAT and ACT scores, providing you with a general idea of how your scores on each test correspond to each other. However, be cautioned that this isn’t an exact science. The two exams have different landmarks and distinguishing characteristics, which can lead to nuanced variations in the results. For instance, while the SAT emphasizes more heavily on reasoning and problem-solving skills, the ACT more directly tests on high-school curriculum and facts. It’s not a perfect apples-to-apples match, but it should give you a rough ballpark estimate.

As for a preference between ACT and SAT, colleges generally do not distinguish between the two. They accept both scores equally as part of their holistic admissions process. It may be worth consulting the specifics for each college you’re considering to ensure there’s no bias towards either exam. For example, Dartmouth, Harvard, Purdue, Brown, Yale, UT Austin, and Caltech require all applicants to submit an SAT or ACT score as of the 2024-2025 application cycle, while other schools, like Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, UPenn, Johns Hopkins, NYU, and UChicago, maintain test-optional policies. This means you can decide which score to send based on which is stronger.

Consider using the score that places you in a higher percentile rank of scored students. For instance, if your SAT score places you in the 85th percentile of test-takers and your ACT score places you in the 80th percentile, it would probably be advantageous to report your SAT score. In the end, which score you choose to report should be a reflection of your academic strengths and the aspects of your intellectual aptitude you want to highlight to admissions officers.