Comparing SAT and ACT Scores - New SAT Score - 2016 Concordances

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra

Score concordance material comparing the SAT and ACT using Compass analysis of available research and College Board/ACT concordances. It presents matching ranges for how SAT and ACT scores relate, highlights an overlap area described as the gray “Judgment Call” band, and provides guidance for choosing which test to favor. Instructions explain how to locate an ACT score in the table and then read the corresponding SAT column to decide whether to favor SAT, favor ACT, or make a judgment call.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Score comparison tool

How to use the ACT-to-SAT table

Favor SAT, favor ACT, or judgment call

Source of concordances

Comparing SAT and ACT Scores New SAT Score New concordance tables are out! But what do they mean? And how can scores help students determine whether the SAT or ACT should be favored? 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | FA | | | | R | S | A | T | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C | A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DG | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | JU | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A | | T | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C | opyri | ght © | 20 | 16 C | ompass | E | duca | tion | Group | | c | omp | assp | rep.c | om | VO FAVOR C ME 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 ACT Score Compass has analyzed available research and concordances to create a comparison tool in both chart (above) and table (right) forms. Although many students will ﬁnd that their SAT and ACT scores intersect somewhere in the gray “Judgment Call” band, some may discover that one test is actually better suited to to their skills. Instructions: In the table to the right, ﬁnd the row with your ACT score in the left column and then ﬁnd the column that contains your SAT score; determine whether you should favor the SAT or ACT or whether your scores are close enough that you should make a judgment call based on additional circumstances. Source: College Board and ACT concordances for SAT and ACT; Compass data analysis and research. ACT 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 IF YOUR SAT SCORE IS: <1550 <1520 <1490 <1450 <1420 <1390 <1350 <1310 <1280 <1240 <1200 <1160 <1130 <1100 <1060 <1020 <980 <940 <900 <860 <810 <770 <720 <680 <620 FAVOR ACT 1550–1600 1520–1590 1490–1560 1450–1550 1420–1510 1390–1480 1350–1440 1310–1410 1280–1380 1240–1340 1200–1300 1160–1270 1130–1230 1100–1190 1060–1150 1020–1120 980–1090 940–1050 900–1010 860–970 810–930 770–890 720–840 680–800 620–740 JUDGMENT CALL >1590 >1560 >1550 >1510 >1480 >1440 >1410 >1380 >1340 >1300 >1270 >1230 >1190 >1150 >1120 >1090 >1050 >1010 >970 >930 >890 >840 >800 >740 FAVOR SAT If you are comparing your performance on the PSAT to an actual or practice ACT, see: compassprep.com/using-psat-scores-to-compare-sat-and-act/ COMPASSPREP. COM CONCORDANCE: SAT to ACT New SAT 1600 1590 1580 1570 1560 1550 1540 1530 1520 1510 1500 1490 1480 1470 1460 1450 1440 1430 1420 1410 1400 1390 1380 1370 1360 1350 1340 1330 1320 1310 1300 1290 1280 1270 1260 1250 1240 1230 1220 1210 Old SAT 2390 2370

FAQs

How do you use the table to compare SAT and ACT scores?

Find your ACT score in the left column of the right-side table, then locate the SAT score column that contains the match. Use the resulting guidance to decide whether to favor SAT, favor ACT, or make a judgment call based on additional circumstances.

What is the “Judgment Call” band?

The gray “Judgment Call” band represents score intersections where SAT and ACT are close enough that students may need to decide using additional circumstances rather than a clear preference.

Where do the concordance ranges come from?

The tool is based on College Board and ACT concordances for SAT and ACT, along with Compass data analysis and research.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra