Need more information about our online school?
Please leave your contact details and we will get in touch soon
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Need more information about our online school?
Please leave your contact details and we will get in touch soon
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Old SAT vs. New SAT Score Conversion Chart

Old SAT vs. New SAT Score Conversion Chart
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Old SAT vs. New SAT Score Conversion Chart

If you’ve taken the SAT before 2024 or are comparing older practice results with the new Digital SAT, you have to understand the score differences. The format and scoring system have all shifted—so a score that once meant “above average” may now mean something very different. Here’s what you need to know about the old and new SAT scoring scales.

Try one day of school for FREE
Try for free!

What Is the Difference Between the Old and New SAT?

Here’s how the two versions stack up:

Element Old SAT (Paper) New SAT (Digital)
Total Test Time ~3 hours 2 hours and 14 minutes
Format Pencil & paper Digital (Bluebook™ app)
Section Design Fixed-length Section-adaptive (modules)
Math Calculator Policy One no-calculator section Calculator allowed throughout
Reading/Writing Approach Long passages Short passages, 1 question each
Question Types Mixed grammar and reading Paired by skill, more focused
Score Scale 400-1600 400-1600

Old SAT Percentiles vs. New SAT Percentiles

Percentiles can completely change how you view your SAT score. Here’s what that context looks like across versions:

Total SAT Score Old SAT Percentile (Estimated) New SAT Percentile (Digital, 2024)
1600 99+ 99+
1500 ~98 98
1400 ~94 93
1300 ~87 84
1200 ~77 72
1100 ~63 59
1000 ~47 44
900 ~31 28
800 ~18 15
Have Academic Questions?
Book your Pesonalized Consultation Today and Get Academic Guildance for you Child’s Succes
Book now!

What Is Considered a Good Score on the New SAT?

A “good” SAT score depends on where you want to go—and how strong the rest of your application is. But with the switch to the digital SAT, many students are asking: Do the old score benchmarks still apply? The short answer: yes and no. The score range is still 400-1600, but how you reach your number—and how it compares to others—has shifted.

Let’s break it down like this:

SAT Score Percentile (Digital SAT) How Colleges Typically View It?
1500-1600 98th-99th+ Ivy League / Top 10% Schools
1400-1490 93rd-97th Competitive (e.g. Boston U, NYU)
1300-1390 84th-92nd Solid (e.g. UMass Amherst, Baylor)
1200-1290 72nd-83rd Acceptable (e.g. Arizona State, Kansas)
1100-1190 59th-71st Regional / Test-Optional Friendly
Below 1000 Below 44th Unlikely to stand out without strong GPA, essays, or ECs

Where Can You Find the Official Score Conversion Chart?

The official conversion and concordance tools are published directly by the College Board:

  • Digital SAT to Paper SAT Concordance Table (PDF)
  • Interactive Concordance Tool

Legacy Online School also provides custom conversion tools during digital SAT tutoring to help students align their practice goals with real score expectations.

What Changed in the SAT Format and Why It Matters?

Legacy Online School helps students build the confidence and skills they need to succeed on the SAT® and ACT®. All lessons are delivered live online, with real-time support and feedback from qualified instructors who are fully invested in your progress. If you’re serious about improving your score, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

It’s now adaptive and modular. That means the test adjusts its difficulty based on how you do in the first part of each section. It also means that every student no longer takes the same exact set of questions.

Instead of long multi-question passages in reading and writing, students now see one short passage followed by one question. This change was based on feedback from thousands of test takers who felt overwhelmed by traditional reading sections.

You can use a calculator throughout the entire math section, which lets College Board include more real-world applications and layered problem-solving. Instead of testing memorization or arithmetic speed, it now rewards students who understand how to break down a problem logically.

Why does it all matter? Because the SAT is still a critical piece of many college admissions decisions. And if you’re using old prep methods, you’re prepping for the wrong test. Schools like Yale are reinstating test requirements. They don’t care if you took the SAT on paper or a tablet—but they do care whether you mastered the format you were given.

How to Convert Your Old SAT Score to the New SAT?

Use the concordance chart from the College Board. Here’s an example:

Paper SAT Score Approx. Digital SAT Equivalent
1400 1410-1430
1300 1290-1310
1200 1180-1200
1100 1070-1100

“My advice would be to use the official score conversion tables to convert your score”

Reddit

Try one day of school for FREE
Try for free!

Top Tips from Our Expert

 

  • Practice in Bluebook—it’s the only format that mimics the real thing
  • Study with friends to solve problems together and make it more fun
  • Practice at least 25 minutes a day

Alyssa Mendoza, AP Coordinator and College Prep Specialist

Sources: College Board, Reddit

Related posts:

1 Month SAT Study Plan: Your Guide to Study for the SAT 1 Month SAT Study Plan: Your Guide to Study for the SAT
1 Month SAT Study Plan: Your Guide to Study for the SAT
1300 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile? 1300 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
1300 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
1080 SAT Score: Good? GPA, Colleges You Can Get Into (2025) 1080 SAT Score: Good? GPA, Colleges You Can Get Into (2025)
1080 SAT Score: Good? GPA, Colleges You Can Get Into (2025)
1260 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile? 1260 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
1260 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
1320 SAT Score: Colleges You Can Get Into & Admission Tips 1320 SAT Score: Colleges You Can Get Into & Admission Tips
1320 SAT Score: Colleges You Can Get Into & Admission Tips
1370 SAT Score Percentile: College Admissions and What To Know 1370 SAT Score Percentile: College Admissions and What To Know
1370 SAT Score Percentile: College Admissions and What To Know
Try one day of school for FREE
Try for free!

Related posts:

 1 Month SAT Study Plan: Your Guide to Study for the SAT 1 Month SAT Study Plan: Your Guide to Study for the SAT
1 Month SAT Study Plan: Your Guide to Study for the SAT
 1300 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile? 1300 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
1300 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
 1080 SAT Score: Good? GPA, Colleges You Can Get Into (2025) 1080 SAT Score: Good? GPA, Colleges You Can Get Into (2025)
1080 SAT Score: Good? GPA, Colleges You Can Get Into (2025)
 1260 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile? 1260 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
1260 SAT Score: Is This a Good SAT Score & Percentile?
 1320 SAT Score: Colleges You Can Get Into & Admission Tips 1320 SAT Score: Colleges You Can Get Into & Admission Tips
1320 SAT Score: Colleges You Can Get Into & Admission Tips
 1370 SAT Score Percentile: College Admissions and What To Know 1370 SAT Score Percentile: College Admissions and What To Know
1370 SAT Score Percentile: College Admissions and What To Know

FAQ

Q: What is the primary difference between the old SAT and the new SAT?
A: The biggest shift came in 2016, when the SAT was overhauled. The old SAT had a top score of 2400 and included a mandatory essay. The new SAT brought the scale back to 1600, made the essay optional, and aligned questions more closely with what students actually learn in high school. It also removed penalties for wrong answers, making the test feel more straightforward and student-friendly.
Q: How can I convert my old SAT scores to the new SAT scores?
A: You can use the College Board's official concordance tables to convert your scores. These charts match your old SAT (2400 scale) scores to the equivalent scores on the new SAT (1600 scale). For example, a combined score of 1800 on the old SAT might convert to around 1300 on the new scale, depending on section breakdowns. The concordance is statistical—not perfect, but the best tool available for colleges and students alike.
Q: What is the equivalent of a 2400 score on the old SAT in the new SAT?
A: A perfect 2400 on the old SAT roughly translates to a perfect 1600 on the new SAT. That said, the tests measure slightly different skills, so equivalency is based on percentiles, not identical content. A 2400 used to place you in the 99th percentile, and so does a 1600 on the new SAT.
Q: How does the math section differ in the new SAT vs the old SAT?
A: On the new SAT, math is split into two parts: one that allows a calculator and one that doesn’t. It also places more emphasis on algebra, problem-solving, and real-world applications—like interpreting charts and analyzing data. The old SAT had more obscure geometry and trick questions. The new version feels more focused on college readiness and what you actually study in class.
Q: If I scored 700 on the old SAT, what would that be on the new SAT?
A: That depends on which section you're referring to. If it’s a 700 in math or critical reading, the concordance would place that section at around a 650-670 on the new SAT, depending on test date and subscores. Use the official College Board conversion tables for an exact match, especially if you're reporting scores to colleges.
Q: What is the significance of a score of 1610 on the new SAT?
A: A 1610 out of 1600? That’s not possible—1600 is the maximum. If you meant 1610 on the old SAT (out of 2400), that’s around the 70th percentile and would translate to roughly a 1170-1200 on the new SAT scale. This score would be considered above average but not highly competitive for top-tier colleges.
Q: How does the scoring percentile work for the old and new SAT?
A: Percentiles indicate how well you performed compared to other test-takers. For example, a 90th percentile score means you scored better than 90% of students. While the SAT format has changed, percentiles remain the standard for comparing performance. Colleges often rely on percentiles, especially when comparing scores across different versions of the test.
Q: Are there official resources available to help with the SAT to old SAT conversion?
A: Yes—College Board has published detailed concordance tables that allow you to convert section scores and total scores between the old and new SAT. These tables are trusted by colleges and admissions officers and are available as PDFs or interactive tools directly on College Board’s website.
Q: Can I find a detailed score chart for old SAT and new SAT conversions?
A: Absolutely. The College Board’s official SAT concordance tables provide comprehensive charts for every score range. You can download them from their official site or use tools like the College Board’s Score Converter. These are especially helpful if you’re applying to colleges that still accept older scores or if you’re comparing your results with friends or classmates.
avatar

About author

Co-Founder & Adviser
Ask a question

Vasilii Kiselev is a leading expert in online and virtual education and serves as a co-founder and advisor at Legacy Online School. He directs the development of dynamic, interactive, and accessible virtual learning environments, with a focus that spans K-12 education and homeschooling alternatives.

His approach integrates advanced technology to deliver high-quality, flexible learning experiences. Vasilii views Legacy Online School as a platform for empowering students and equipping them with essential digital skills for the future. His work has been featured on platforms such as eLearning Industry and Forbes Councils.