Question about the ACT and SAT equivalency

Hey everyone, I'm new to this whole testing ordeal and I've just finished the ACT. Though I've never taken the SAT, I was wondering how do ACT scores compare to SAT scores? Is there a scale or something to cross-reference the two scores?

Indeed, there is a concordance table that provides an equivalency between ACT and SAT scores, which was created jointly by the College Board and the ACT organization in 2018. While there isn't a direct 1-to-1 conversion (due to differences in the structure of the exams and the content they cover), you can get an approximate SAT equivalent for an ACT score.

Let's consider an example: if a student received a composite score of 30 on the ACT, this equates roughly to a range of 1360-1380 on the SAT. Similarly, a perfect 36 ACT score corresponds with an SAT score of 1570-1600.

However, keep in mind that it's difficult to extrapolate performance from one test to another due to the different focuses and structure. For instance, the SAT emphasizes math to a greater degree (as half of the total score) and has no dedicated Science section unlike the ACT. Thus, depending on your individual strengths, you might perform differently on each test.

Lastly, remember that while both ACT and SAT scores are important, they're only one aspect of your entire college application. The majority of colleges take a holistic approach to applications and will look at factors like your grade point average (GPA), course rigor, essays, recommendation letters, and extracurriculars in addition to standardized test scores.