Amongst the other requirements like decent GPA, well-drafted LOR and SOP, the ACT and SAT play a significant role in determining a student’s acceptance to universities. Any student wishing to attend a university in the United States must pass the ACT or SAT exam. The ACT exam is not the same as the SAT exam, but do you know, you may opt for an ACT to SAT conversion?
In this blog, we take you through the similarities, differences and process of SAT to ACT conversion and vice versa.
Table Of Contents |
Similarities Between ACT and SAT Exam
Many of the subjects addressed by the SAT and ACT are similar. College admissions choices and merit-based scholarship awards both employ ACT and SAT results. The majority of colleges do not favor one test over another. Neither the SAT nor the ACT is more challenging than the other. Here are some aspects that make the two similar to each other:
- Both of them are multiple-choice-based exams.
- Both of them are taken by high school students.
- They are standardized exams for students to get admission into colleges.
- Most universities do not prefer one over the other.
- Both provide the colleges with an overview assessment of a student’s abilities.
- For an incorrect answer, there is no negative marking.
- Both of them cover the same topics under the Reading, English, and Mathematics sections.
- There are reading and writing questions based on passages.
- Both are open for registration a month before the exam.
The SAT and ACT are both standardized exams, but they assess a student's competence and preparation for university in quite different ways. The SAT and ACT have been competing for decades. Next up, we’ll be discussing what makes the ACT and SAT exams different from each other.
Suggested: ACT Exam Eligibility
Key Differences Between the ACT and SAT Exam?
The SAT and ACT both cover many of the same topics. Although the ACT exam is not identical to the SAT, both are necessary for entrance to an American university. Here are some key aspects of the exams that make them different from the other:
ACT Exam |
SAT Exam |
The ACT exam is divided into four sections, namely:
Then there is an optional Writing section. |
The SAT exam is divided into three sections, namely:
(There is no science section in SAT exam) |
The ACT examination lasts 2 hours and 55 minutes. However, if you take the optional writing exam, you will be given an additional 40 minutes on top of the 2 hours and 55 minutes, making the exam 3 hours and 35 minutes lengthy. |
The SAT exam is 3 hours long. |
The writing or the essay exam is optional. |
There is no essay or writing exam. |
There are 4 passages, in the reading section. |
There are 5 passages in the reading section. |
The scoring scale is between 400-1600. |
The scoring scale is between 1-36. |
The use of a calculator is allowed for all the questions in the mathematics section. |
The use of a calculator is not permitted for a few questions in the exam. |
There are 215 questions in total. |
There are 154 questions in total. |
The test is conducted four times a year. (March, May, October, and December) |
The test is conducted six times a year. (February, April, June, July, September, and October) |
Suggested: How to Calculate ACT Scores?
The ACT and SAT exams are analogous to university entrance exams and provide a uniform framework for analyzing each student's competence. To attend a university in the US, a student must pass the ACT or SAT exam.
Why do we Need ACT to SAT Conversion and SAT to ACT Conversion?
Instead of attempting to perform well on both exams, it's advisable to concentrate your efforts on either the SAT or ACT. The ACT to SAT conversion can be quite useful in determining which test you excel at. However, even if you only take one test, knowing how your score converts will help you better evaluate your results and your prospects of admission to multiple universities. You can discover to see which test you're naturally better at by undertaking a practice test for both the SAT and the ACT.
Suggested: Colleges Accepting low ACT Scores
How to Convert ACT scores into SAT?
The ACT to SAT score conversion or SAT to ACT score conversion might help you figure out which test you do best on.
Nowadays, lots of websites offer their services for you to convert your scores. You just need to put your score in the empty bracket and they will convert your score for you. Be it SAT to ACT score conversion or ACT to SAT score conversion, is available right at your fingertips.
Or you can go about it the traditional way: by referring to a score conversion table, like the one mentioned in the next section.
Suggested: SAT Syllabus and Pattern
Score Conversion Table
You can convert your ACT scores to SAT scores or SAT scores to ACT scores using various tools. The underlying statistics on the SAT to ACT conversion chart will help you understand your score better.
SAT |
ACT |
SAT |
ACT |
SAT |
ACT |
1600 |
36 |
1250 |
26 |
900 |
17 |
1590 |
35 |
1240 |
26 |
890 |
16 |
1580 |
35 |
1230 |
25 |
880 |
16 |
1570 |
35 |
1220 |
25 |
870 |
16 |
1560 |
35 |
1210 |
25 |
860 |
16 |
1550 |
34 |
1200 |
25 |
850 |
15 |
1540 |
34 |
1190 |
24 |
840 |
15 |
1530 |
34 |
1180 |
24 |
830 |
15 |
1520 |
34 |
1170 |
24 |
820 |
15 |
1510 |
33 |
1160 |
24 |
810 |
15 |
1500 |
33 |
1150 |
23 |
800 |
14 |
1490 |
33 |
1140 |
23 |
790 |
14 |
1480 |
32 |
1130 |
23 |
780 |
14 |
1470 |
32 |
1120 |
22 |
770 |
14 |
1460 |
32 |
1110 |
22 |
760 |
14 |
1450 |
32 |
1100 |
22 |
750 |
13 |
144 |
31 |
1090 |
21 |
740 |
13 |
1430 |
31 |
1080 |
21 |
730 |
13 |
1420 |
31 |
1070 |
21 |
720 |
13 |
1410 |
30 |
1060 |
21 |
710 |
12 |
1400 |
30 |
1050 |
20 |
700 |
12 |
1390 |
30 |
1040 |
20 |
690 |
12 |
1380 |
29 |
1030 |
20 |
680 |
12 |
1370 |
29 |
1020 |
20 |
670 |
12 |
1360 |
29 |
1010 |
19 |
660 |
12 |
1350 |
29 |
1000 |
19 |
650 |
12 |
1340 |
28 |
990 |
19 |
640 |
12 |
1330 |
28 |
980 |
19 |
630 |
12 |
1320 |
28 |
970 |
18 |
620 |
11 |
1310 |
28 |
960 |
18 |
610 |
11 |
1300 |
27 |
950 |
18 |
600 |
11 |
1290 |
27 |
940 |
18 |
590 |
11 |
1280 |
27 |
930 |
17 |
580 |
11 |
1270 |
26 |
920 |
17 |
570 |
11 |
1260 |
26 |
910 |
17 |
560 |
11 |
Suggested: Tips for ACT Preparation
If a university's admissions policy dictates that both tests are accepted, you can be confident that the school does not prefer one over the other. A practice run of both examinations is the ideal method to discover which test will closely mirror your academic potential. To do well on either test, one must begin studying as soon as possible to get the requisite knowledge to boost confidence. For any advice or help, contact our Yocket counselors right now!