Should I take the ACT even though I have already gotten a 1540 (1550 superscore) on the SAT? I am fairly confident that I can get a 36 as I find the ACT so much easier (rip shouldve taken it to begin with). Would a 36 vs a 1540 really make a difference in applying to schools in the T20 range. I think some schools use a letter grade system when reviewing your application (UChicago?). Would a 1540 fall under the “A” category for schools that use similar systems?
My view is that 1550 is about the cutoff for where the incremental benefit of higher scores is approaching zero. You’ll be in the “top scores” group, and folks with 1560-1600 and 36 will be treated practically identically, even at the very top schools. (The cutoff is obviously lower outside the very top).
So no, efforts should go into other aspects of your application.
If there is absolutely nothing else you can do to improve your application (SAT Subjects, community college course grades, extracurriculars), then go for it. I would say the best schools view, say, a 1590 or 36 better than a low-1500s score, but only if there is nothing else to nitpick.
Since there’s usually something else, in the end, that’s more important, I would say go focus on that instead.