<p>The conversion chart reflects the averages of people who took both tests. So while some may do better on one test or the other, on average people will score on the two tests the way the chart shows.</p>
<p>I grew up in Iowa and so everyone took the ACT. But even way, way back when I was in school and lots of schools required either one test or the other, I took the SAT as did other people.</p>
<p>Sometimes you need to go beyond your school. Here now in SAT country, a number of schools don't give the ACT. But you can go up on the web site and sign up to take it at a place that does.</p>
<p>I saw some statistics once as to the percentage of students taking the less common test in different states. I wish I had kept the link; I'm too lazy to try to find it. But as I recall, it was usually twenty some percent that would take or also take the other test.</p>
<p>The idea of a red flag by taking the nondominant test doesn't make any sense. I certainly never heard an adcomm admit to such a thing. One I talked to once confidentially (he knew my daughter wasn't interested in his school at all so he had no reason not to level with me) said that at his school an administrative person puts the stats together for each candidate. If it is the nonstandard test (in this case, the ACT), this person looks at the conversion chart and converts. So the admissions committee doesn't even know what test was taken. He also told me that in talking to other admissions people at other schools, he never ran across anyone who says they prefer the SAT.</p>
<p>If you look at the Kaplan link I posted before, it indicates that adcomms privately say they prefer the ACT! I don't know myself, but it is food for thought.</p>