ACT Science Prep
Tips and Tricks
1. What questions do you have about the science portion
of ACT?
2. What do you already know (skills, types of questions,
etc) about science portion of ACT?
3. Reflect on your current graphing/reading skills. What
do you need to do to become more efficient at these
skills?
• biology, chemistry, physics, and the Earth/space sciences
(for example, geology, astronomy, and meteorology)
• Advanced knowledge in these subjects is not required, but
background knowledge acquired in general,
• introductory science courses is needed to answer some of
the questions.
• The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills over recall
of scientific content, skill in mathematics, or reading
ability.
ACT content
• 40-question, 35-minute
test
• 50 seconds per question!
• 7 passages
• (5-7 questions on each passage)
• measures the skills
required in the natural
sciences: interpretation,
analysis, evaluation,
reasoning, and problem
solving.
ACT Science Test Layout
1. Above all, timing is the key
• 5 minutes per passage, no more than 50 seconds per question
• If time is a problem, focus on the questions that require analyzing data from
just a single table or graph
2. Read less, much less
• If the passage has diagrams and figures, go straight to questions that refer to
them, skipping the reading entirely at first.
3. Skim until you get the gist
• search the questions for clues that will send you to the right sections in the
reading
• Once you find a word from the question in the passage, be sure to read around
it for context to avoid trick answer choices that distort the meaning.
Tips for Success
http://www.examiner.com/article/top-tips-for-the-act-science-test
4. Graphs: first ascertain what is being measured
• Note each axis
• Get a general idea of the trend (going up, down, leveling off)
before answering questions.
5. Beware changed or mixed units!
6. Tables: quickly scan them and draw an arrow noting
the direction of any trends
• with the arrow pointing towards the higher numbers
• This observation is very likely enough to answer one or two
questions and get rolling on that passage.
Tips for Success
• data representation (38%) (graphs, tables, and other schematic
forms)
• research summaries (45%) (descriptions of one or more
related experiments)
• conflicting viewpoints (17%) (expressions of several related
hypotheses or views that are inconsistent with one another)
ACT Science Test Layout
• Include diagrams, graphs, tables, charts, figures, or
illustrations
• Examples: bar graph, line graph, labeled skeleton, a graph
with relationship between two variables
• YOU MUST BE ABLE TO:
• Read data, interpret data or explain the science that underlies
the represented data
Data Representation
• In order to read most graphs and tables, you have to do four
things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
determine what's being represented
determine what the axes represent
take note of units of measurement
look for trends in the data
Graphs and Table Tips
When reading data, you should be on the
lookout for the three characteristic patterns or
trends:
1. extremes (maximums and minimums)
2. critical points (or points of change)
3. direct or inverse variation (or proportionality)
Graphs and Table Tips
What kind of relationship exists between the variables?
• Graph shows a relationship between the volume of a
gas and the temperature of a gas.
• As temperature increases, volume increases.
• As temperature decreases, volume decreases.
1. Describe what kind of relationship exist b/t the variables in the graph below?
2. Write a conclusion concerning your interpretation of graph.
• Shows relationship b/t the
time of day and the length
of a shadow
• The graph shows that there
is an inverse relationship
between the time of day
and length of the shadow
• As day progresses from
sunrise to noon, the length
of the shadow grows
smaller.
• When the sun shine from
the side at sunrise, the
shadow is longest.
• As the sun gets closer to
being directly overhead,
the shadow gets shorter
• When the sun is overhead
at noon, the shadow is
• What type of graph is
this?
• What are the
variables?
• What do each of the
four lines represent?
• Complete the ACT practice section.
• You may write on this paper.
Practice Data
Representation
• Questions for research summary passages typically ask you about
the following
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Appropriateness of the experimental design
The impact of modifications in the design
The scientific concepts reflected in the experiment.
The relationship between the experimental data and concepts
The meaning of the results or the implications for future research.
Research Summary
• Complete the ACT practice section.
• You may write on this paper.
Research Summary
Practice
Typically ask you following
1. Scientific ideas or assumptions discussed in the passages
2. The similarities or differences among the viewpoints
3. Whether certain results or facts are consistent with one of the
viewpoints
4. Which diagram best illustrates one of the viewpoints
Conflicting Views
• Don't waste time trying to figure out which scientist is "right."
Just worry about understanding their different viewpoints
• Don't panic if you don't understand both scientists' positions.
Many questions will hinge on just one of the arguments.
Conflicting Views
• Complete the ACT practice section.
• You may write on this paper.
Conflicting Views
Practice
1. Skim and identify the passage
• Don’t worry about the details
• Look at charts and diagrams just enough to get an idea of what
it is about
• What data is available??
Overall steps
2. Read the question and all the answers
• be sure you are clear about what the question is asking
Overall Steps
3. Eliminate obviously incorrect answers
Overall Steps
4. Choose the answer that is most correct
Overall Steps
• Questions/Practice From Amsco’s preparing for the ACT
• Robert D. Postman
Sources