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Is a 33 on the ACT better or a 1480 on the SAT?

anemirzaanemirza 6 replies9 threads Junior Member
in College Admissions
I will be submitting both but I’m curious.
17 replies
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Replies to: Is a 33 on the ACT better or a 1480 on the SAT?

  • vonlostvonlost 19287 replies15858 threads Super Moderator
    Look at the Common Data Set for the schools. You'll see data for both, for the last entering freshman class.
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  • ProfessorPlum168ProfessorPlum168 4184 replies92 threads Senior Member
    edited July 2019
    A 33 is about the same as a 1480, but if you look at the 2018 concordance tables, a 33 goes from 1450-1480, with 1460 being the SAT score used if a single scoring point comparison is needed.
    edited July 2019
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  • Groundwork2022Groundwork2022 3497 replies80 threads Senior Member
    A 33 ACT is equal to 1490 to 1510 on the SAT.
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  • anemirzaanemirza 6 replies9 threads Junior Member
    Some people say a 33 is a 1450-1480 though. Others say 1490-1510. Which one is right??
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  • vonlostvonlost 19287 replies15858 threads Super Moderator
    It can depend on the school, whether they value more of what you've learned, or more of how you think.
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  • happy1happy1 24152 replies2424 threads Super Moderator
    edited July 2019
    1) You should google SAT/ACT concordance tables on your own. Here is one.
    https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/guide-2018-act-sat-concordance.pdf

    2) The other thing that may be useful to look at is the breakout of the scores on different sections of the tests. For example if you are applying as a STEM major and did poorly on the science and math parts of the ACT but well on the math part of the SAT then the SAT may be show your skills in a preferable light (especially when the total scores are so close).
    edited July 2019
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  • ProfessorPlum168ProfessorPlum168 4184 replies92 threads Senior Member
    the old concordance was 1490-1510. The new one is the one I used and the table that was linked, 1450-1480. That's why I specifically specified the date of the concordance.
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  • SybyllaSybylla 5065 replies60 threads Senior Member
    Can you search the percentiles for your test date or at least test year? See which test score puts you in a higher percentile?
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  • socaldad2002socaldad2002 2477 replies34 threads Senior Member
    If I had to choose, the 33 ACT is slightly better at 99th percentile vs. 97th percentile for 1480 SAT.
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  • SybyllaSybylla 5065 replies60 threads Senior Member
    edited July 2019
    Is the 33 99th for this year? I haven't seen it being 99th for a while. Can you link to that relevant dated source? That would help OP.
    edited July 2019
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  • vonlostvonlost 19287 replies15858 threads Super Moderator
    edited July 2019
    One example: NYU's 2018-19 CDS says the 75th percentile values are 34 and 1510, good agreement with ^.
    edited July 2019
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  • socaldad2002socaldad2002 2477 replies34 threads Senior Member
    Re: 99th percentile, according to prepscholar. Assumed it was up to date?
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  • Erin's DadErin's Dad 34136 replies4919 threads Super Moderator
    https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/MultipleChoiceStemComposite2017-18.pdf
    Unfortunately ACT is a year behind on publishing the percentiles by score.
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  • SJ2727SJ2727 2719 replies14 threads Senior Member
    edited July 2019
    @socaldad2002 when D19 was looking at applications last year and we compared prepscholar to college websites, it was generally a year and sometimes two out of date! It’s probably fine for a quick overview and rough idea of levels of competitiveness, but not for real drilling into the numbers. I do seem to recall its concordance table was out of date too.
    edited July 2019
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  • RichInPittRichInPitt 2433 replies39 threads Senior Member
    Percentile at a school from a CDS isn’t a good source - nothing says schools need to accept student with equivalent standardized test scores - it’s only one components of an application.

    College Board and ACT worked together and published the concordance linked to above. It’s what schools use to equate scores across tests.

    A 33 corresponds to a 1460 as a single SAT score. If it was a 33.25, rounded to a 33, then it’s pretty much equal to a 1480.
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  • RichInPittRichInPitt 2433 replies39 threads Senior Member
    I’ve found way too many errors on Prepscholar vs data easily accessible on a schools web site. I’ve contacted them many times and they don’t seem very interested in correcting data.
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  • ucbalumnusucbalumnus 83791 replies743 threads Senior Member
    In general, use the concordance tables published by CB and ACT.

    However, there may be specific schools which have their own (effective) concordance table, which may vary slightly. The CSUs in California appear to be such schools.
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