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?

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.

Comparing SAT and ACT Scores

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

FAV

OR

AC

T

JUD

GM

ENT

CA

LL

FAV

OR

SA

T

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

<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

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

>1590

>1560

>1550

>1510

>1480

>1440

>1410

>1380

>1340

>1300

>1270

>1230

>1190

>1150

>1120

>1090

>1050

>1010

>970

>930

>890

>840

>800

>740

IF YOUR SAT SCORE IS:

FAVOR SAT

FAVOR ACT

JUDGMENT CALL

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 3635700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

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/

Copyright © 2016 Compass Education Group | compassprep.com

COMPASSPREP.COM

New

SAT

Sco

re

ACT Score

E D U C A T I O N G R O U P

New SAT

1600159015801570156015501540153015201510150014901480147014601450144014301420141014001390138013701360135013401330132013101300129012801270126012501240123012201210

ACTOld SAT

23902370235023302300228022602230221021902170215021302110

20902080206020402020200019901970195019301920190018801870185018401820181017901780176017501730171017001680

36353535353434343433333332323232313131303030292929292828282827272726262626252525

New SAT

120011901180117011601150114011301120111011001090108010701060105010401030102010101000990980970960950940930920910900890880870860850840830820810

ACTOld SAT

25242424242323232222222121212120202020191919191818181817171717161616161515151515

New SAT

800790780770760750740730720710700690680670660650640630620610600590580570560550540530520510500490480470460450440430420410400

ACTOld SAT

1060104010301010990980960950930910900880870860850840830820810800790780770760750740730730720710700690680670660650640630620610600

14141414141313131312121212121212121211111111111111----------------

16701650164016201610159015701560154015301510149014801460145014301420140013901370136013401330131013001280127012501240122012101200118011701150114011201110

10901070

New SAT

16001570154015001470143014001360132012901260122011801140111010701030990950910870830780740680590

ACT Old SAT

23902330226021702110204019901920185018101760170016401570153014601400134012801220117011101030960870780

3635343332313029282726252423222120191817161514131211

For lower scores, there is not enough datato produce a valid concordance between new SAT and ACT scores.

Concordances based on College Board’s concordance tables, released May 9, 2016, and Compass’ analysis.

CONCORDANCE: SAT to ACT CONCORDANCE: ACT to SAT

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