<p>The testing scale goes past 2400 if you consider the other available numbers (AP, IB, SAT-II, ACT) and results on exam competitions in math, science, languages, etc. I think that for those who clearly establish 2400 as the <em>lower estimate</em> of their testing ability on this hypothetical scale, the admission rate is substantially higher than 40 percent. Currently the 40:60 split includes people with 2400 SATs that might have been 2350’s had they taken it again, or whose other SAT are not maxing out the scale, or are getting 4’s on a couple of AP. The College Board reports a confidence interval for the SAT result, so neither they nor the university necessarily take a 2400 as being a clear indicator of maximum testing ability (aka intelligence). I don’t think there is as much variabilty in the grades; somebody who has gotten A’s through the first semester of senior year can certainly get more A’s through the end of the year.</p>
<p>I don’t believe that students with perfect grades (and therefore #1 class rank or tied for same) are being admitted at the same rate as 2400 SAT. </p>
<p>Given the ability to go all the way to, say, a 2500-equivalent given other tests, there is a lot more room to compensate for somewhat-low grades with tests, than to compensate for 93rd percentile tests with 99th percentile grades.</p>
<p>At any rate, saying that “GPA is what matters” or “class rank is the key” just has no basis in the data. Compared pound for pound, the test scores weigh a little more, and far more if you can get near the top of the scale.</p>