ACT-SAT Concordance Tables

ACT Research & Policy ACT-SAT Concordance Tables. score point, the most appropriate SAT •score point within the range is provided. In this example, an...

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 ACT Research & Policy

RESEARCH NOTE

OCTOBER 2009

The concordance tables are only applicable to SAT scores obtained after January 2005 and before March 2016.

ACT-SAT Concordance Tables In 2005, the College Board added a required

Both tables are based on scores from

Writing test to the SAT and ACT added an

students who took both tests between

optional Writing test to the ACT. Before

September 2004 (for the ACT) or March

2005, the ACT and the College Board had

2005 (for the SAT) and June 2006. Students

periodically produced concordance tables to

in the sample represent the first high school

assist admissions officers who wanted to

graduating cohort since the introduction of

understand how students of comparable

the SAT with Writing and the optional Writing

ability would score on the two college

section on the ACT. The sample includes

entrance examinations. Given the changes

students who completed both tests and were

to both respective tests, the College Board

matched across ACT and SAT files. While

and ACT are now providing updated

the ACT and the SAT are different tests,

concordance tables that are appropriate to

these two tables are provided to help the

the current versions of the two tests.

education community better understand how students of comparable ability will score on

Students who take the SAT receive three

the two tests.

separate test scores: Critical Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Students who take

Notes to Consider

the ACT receive a Composite ACT score

A research report describing the sample,

and four subscores (Reading, English, Math

methodology and results will be published by

and Science). Students who take the ACT

ACT and the College Board in the coming

Plus Writing receive the ACT Composite with

months. Additional information and updates

the corresponding four subscores (Reading,

will be made available on the websites of

English, Math and Science) and also receive

ACT (www.act.org) and College Board

a Writing subscore and a Combined

(www.collegeboard.org). The following notes

English/Writing subscore.

and cautions should be considered before

Two separate concordance tables have been developed: •

Table 1 provides a concordance between the ACT Composite Score and the sum of SAT Critical Reading and Mathematics scores for 300,437 students.



Table 2 provides a concordance between the ACT Combined English/Writing Score and the SAT Writing Score for 190,148 students who completed the ACT Plus Writing.

www.act.org/research-policy

using the tables. •

Because the SAT score scale has more score points than the ACT, a single ACT Composite score concords to a range of SAT scores. In each of the tables, a range of SAT scores is concorded to a single ACT score. For example, in Table 1, the SAT (Critical Reading plus Mathematics) scores of 980 to 1010 are all concorded to an ACT Composite score of 21. For those users who want to concord an ACT score to a single SAT

 ACT Research & Policy ACT-SAT Concordance Tables

score point, the most appropriate SAT score point within the





Concordance tables are dependent upon the sample used

range is provided. In this example, an ACT Composite score

to establish the relationship between the two sets of scores.

of 21 is concorded to a single SAT score of 990.

The ACT-SAT tables are based on an entire cohort of

Many students do not take the ACT Plus Writing.

students who completed both tests, but this sample is not

Consequently, the sample used for Table 2 is more

representative of either all ACT or SAT test-takers. The

restricted than the sample for the other table. Students who

tables, therefore, may not be appropriate for use with scores

took the ACT Plus Writing appear to differ from the total

from students who take either ACT only or SAT only.

group of ACT test-takers in terms of ability and other

Overall, a student who receives a score on one test will not

relevant factors.

necessarily obtain the concorded score on the other test.

Table 1. Concordance between ACT Composite Score and Sum of SAT Critical Reading and Mathematics Scores

SAT CR+M (Score Range)

ACT Composite Score

SAT CR+M (Single Score)

1600 1540-1590 1490-1530 1440-1480 1400-1430 1360-1390 1330-1350 1290-1320 1250-1280 1210-1240 1170-1200 1130-1160 1090-1120 1050-1080 1020-1040 980-1010 940-970 900-930 860-890 820-850 770-810 720-760 670-710 620-660 560-610 510-550

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 11

1600 1560 1510 1460 1420 1380 1340 1300 1260 1220 1190 1150 1110 1070 1030 990 950 910 870 830 790 740 690 640 590 530

Table 2. Concordance between ACT Combined English/Writing Score and SAT Writing Score SAT Writing (Score Range)

ACT English/Writing Score

SAT Writing (Single Score)

800 800 770-790 730-760 710-720 690-700 660-680 640-650 620-630 610 590-600 570-580 550-560 530-540 510-520 480-500 470 450-460 430-440 410-420 390-400 380 360-370 340-350 320-330 300-310

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 11

800 800 770 740 720 690 670 650 630 610 590 570 550 530 510 490 470 450 430 420 400 380 360 340 330 310

Notes 1.

Derived using ACT sum.

2.

Tables are only applicable to SAT scores obtained after January 2005 and before March 2016.