2. ACT Question Analysis and Strategies for Science

3. Before we start
Get a good night’s rest. Eat what you always eat for breakfast.
Use the test booklet for scratch paper. You can’t bring your own.
Remember any formulas. You will not get them on the test.
Turn word problems into equations or equations into word problems -- whichever is easiest for you!
You can use a calculator so bring one if you can.
Don’t be afraid! Self-doubt lowers scores.
Hard questions vs. easy questions
Must answer all easy questions first
Then go back and work on the hard ones.
Guess on any hard ones left if you run out of time
You have less than 1 minute per question
Move faster on easy questions
Guess on the rest if you run out of time

4. Quotes from seniors after they’ve taken the ACT, When asked the question, “What do you wish someone would have told you about the Science portion of the ACT?”
“I wish I someone would have told me its all about analyzing graphs. It’s less stressful knowing all the information is given to you. You just have to know how to interpret it.”
“I wish someone would have told me that it’s all story problems with a lot of graphs.”
“Read the charts/graphs/pictures carefully. If you understand them the answer will be easier to find.”

5. General Information 40 questions 35 minutes
7 passages of information (4-7 questions per passage)
0.875 minutes/question

6. Helpful Strategies! Prioritize Apply logic and common sense.
Spot trends in graphs given.
Don’t let Scientific Jargon (“sciency” language) intimidate you.
Read carefully.
Predict answers.

7. So your goal is to get 25-30 correct!!!
What Do the Scores Mean?
On the Science portion:
18-19 correct responses (out of 40) would earn an 18 (scaled score)
22-23 correct responses (out of 40) would earn a 20 (scaled score)
34-35 correct responses (out of 40) would earn a 27 (scaled score)
So your goal is to get correct!!!

8. Topics
Geology
Meteorology
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

9. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
There are three types of passages on the Science ACT:
Data Representation
Research Summaries
Conflicting viewpoints

10. Data Representation (38%)
Graphs
Tables
Other Schematic Forms

11. Data Representation
These passages present scientific information in the form of graphs, tables, and figures.
You may be asked to select conclusions, determine relationships between variables, or apply data.
15 out of 40 questions typically fall into this category.

12. Data Representation Skills
Determine how the value of one variable changes as the value of another variable changes in a simple data presentation.

13. Section for Data Representation
Passage Type II: Data Representation
When presented with data in a graph or chart, pay close attention to the scale, axes, units, and legend if given. Remember: The first thing to know about any graph or diagram is what the numbers represent.
Questions will often direct you to one particular data set among two or three. Be sure to only look at the data in question. Make it simple.
Questions will usually ask you to identify patterns in data, so look for trends such as upward slope, downward slope, direct/indirect relationships, etc.

14. Graphs Different types of graphs have specific uses.
In order to glean the information necessary it is important to discern the purpose of each type of graph.
Primary graph types include: x-y scatter (line), bar, and pie.

15. X-Y scatter graphs
Very useful when comparing two quantitative variables.
Often used to portray trends over time.
Make sure to read all axes and discern the meaning of the slope!

16. Bar graphs
Useful when comparing one quantitative variable to a qualitative one.

17. QUALITATIVE V. QUANTITATIVE DATA
There are two general types of data. Quantitative data is information about quantities; that is, information that can be measured and written down with numbers. Some examples of quantitative data are your height, your shoe size, and the length of your fingernails. Speaking of which, it might be time to call Guinness. You've got to be close to breaking the record.
Qualitative data is information about qualities; information that can't actually be measured. Some examples of qualitative data are the softness of your skin, the grace with which you run, and the color of your eyes. However, try telling Photoshop you can't measure color with numbers.
Here's a quick look at the difference between qualitative and quantitative data.
The age of your car. (Quantitative.)
The number of hairs on your knuckle. (Quantitative.)
The softness of a cat. (Qualitative.)
The color of the sky. (Qualitative.)  
The number of pennies in your pocket. (Quantitative.)
Remember, if we're measuring a quantity, we're making a statement about quantitative data. If we're describing qualities, we're making a statement about qualitative data. Keep your L's and N's together and it shouldn't be too tough to keep straight.

18. Pie Graphs
Used when displaying the parts of a whole.

19. Tables

20. Other Schematic Forms

22. Research Summaries (45%)
What is a research summary?
Findings of a research project.
How are two variables linked?

23. Passage Type 2: Research Summaries
These passages consist of descriptions of scientific experiments and how they were carried out, with a summary of results.
You may be asked to analyze the experimental design, predict outcomes, identify hypotheses, or determine conclusions.
18 out of 40 questions typically fall into this category.

24. Strategy for the Research Summaries
Passage Type 1: Research Summaries
When presented with an experiment or series of experiments, first identify the control group and experimental group, and all the variables. (independent, dependent, and controlled)
Questions will often direct you to one particular experiment in a series. Be sure to only look at the experiment in question. Make it simple.
If presented with data, be sure to read and understand all the labels on axes, columns, and rows. Remember: The it is important to know what any graph or diagram that the numbers represent.

25. Research Summaries Skills
Select a simple hypothesis, prediction, or conclusion that is supported by a data presentation or model.
Understand the methods and tools used in a simple experiment.
Understand a simple experimental design.
Identify a control in an experiment.

26. Essential components of a research project
Variable identification
Independent variable—the researcher changes purposefully.
Dependent variable—changes as a result.
Controlled variables—kept constant by researcher.

27. Conflicting viewpoints (17%)
Two different viewpoints, each with their own justification.
In order to answer correctly, you must know the justification of each!
Make sure to distinguish between the viewpoints of each scientist and the evidence each scientist has.

28. Passage Type 3: Conflicting Viewpoints
These passages present differing hypotheses, theories, or viewpoints of more than one scientist.
You may be asked to select evidence supporting particular positions, determine similarities/differences between positions, or determine strengths and weaknesses of positions.
7 out of 40 questions typically fall into this category.

29. Strategies for Conflicting Viewpoints
Passage Type III: Conflicting Viewpoints
When presented with two or more points of view on a topic, identify the main points of difference as well as the main similarities between the positions.

30. Examples
Passage Type 1: Research Summaries

31. Examples
Passage Type II: Data Representation

32. Examples
Passage Type II: Data Representation

33. General Strategies
Pay special attention to any information identified with an asterisk (*) or in italics.

34. General Strategies Finally…
You will have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions divided between about seven passages. The passages do not get more difficult, but the questions within a group generally get harder towards the end of the group. So, if you are shooting to answer half the questions on the test correctly (probably resulting in a score of 19), you should pay particular attention to the first half of the questions within a group.

46. ACT Question Analysis and Strategies for Math

47. Before we start Hard questions vs. easy questions
Get a good night’s rest. Eat what you always eat for breakfast.
Use the test booklet for scratch paper. You can’t bring your own.
Remember your formulas. You will not get them on the test.
Turn word problems into equations or equations into word problems -- whichever is easiest for you!
You can use a calculator.
Don’t be afraid! Self-doubt lowers scores.
Hard questions vs. easy questions
Must answer all easy questions
Go back and guess on hard ones if you run out of time
One minute per question
Faster on easy questions
Skip questions that take too much time
Guess if you run out of time

48. 60 questions in 60 minutes Content Percent of Test Number of Questions
Pre-Algebra
23% 14
Elementary Algebra
17% 10
Intermediate Algebra
15% 9
Coordinate Geometry
Plane Geometry
Trigonometry 7% 4
TOTAL
100% 60
Scores reported:
Total Mathematics Test score based on all 60 questions.
Pre-Alegebra/Elementary Algebra Subscore
Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry Subscore
Plane Geometry/Trigonometry Subscore
Source: The Real ACT Prep Guide. ACT. 2nd Ed.

49. Pre-Algebra Operations using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
PEMDAS
2x3= ?
4/2 x 6/2= ?
1/5 x .5 = ?
4/.5 = ?
Numbers raised to powers and square roots. 22
41/2
Simple linear equations with one variable.
3x+7=16. Solve for X.
Simple probability and counting the number of ways something can happen.
On a six sided die, what are the chances of rolling a five?

50. Pre-Algebra Ratio, proportion, and percent. Absolute value.
3 is what percent of 6? What is 50% of 6?
Absolute value.
What is the absolute value of -3?
|-3| = ?
Ordering numbers from least to greatest.
Reading information from charts and graphs.
Simple stats
Mean: add all terms together and divide by number of terms.
Median: order terms from lowest to highest. Eliminate high and low terms till you’ve reached the middle. If two terms are left, take the mean.
Mode: most frequent term.

51. Elementary Algebra
Substituting the value of a variable in an expression.
Add like terms. Separate different terms.
2x+2x+7y=15.
Y=2. Solve for X.
Performing basic operations on polynomials and factoring polynomials.
FOIL
(x-3)(x+7) = ?
x2+8x+12=0. Solve for X.
Factor x
Solving linear inequalities with one variable.
X+7<12. What do we know about x?
X+6>19 and x-8<6. What do we know about x?

52. Intermediate Algebra Quadratic Formula
When you can’t factor a polynomial cleanly. You can always use the quadratic formula
In x2+7x+15=0, what is a, b, and c?

53. Intermediate algebra \
Source:

54. Intermediate Algebra Multiplying Matrices
Scalar multiplication
A number times everything inside the matrix.
Source:

55. Coordinate Geometry
Graphs of lines, curves, points, polynomials, circles in an (x,y) plane.
Relationship between equations and graphs, slope, parallel and perpendicular lines, distance, midpoints, transformations, and conics.
It’s coordinate, so draw it on the graph!

56. Coordinate Geometry Lines
A line goes through points A(2, 3) and B(4, 5). You should be able to find the following:
Parallel lines have the same slope. Perpendicular lines have inverted (Negative inverse) slopes.
Source:

57. Plane Geometry
Relations and properties of shapes (triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and circles), angles, parallel lines, and perpendicular lines.
What happens when you move or change these shapes?
Translations, rotations, reflections
Proofs
Justification, logic.
Three-dimensional geometry
Measurements: perimeter, area, and volume.

58. Plane Geometry Circles
Source:

59. Plane geometry
Lines in a plane
What do we know about a and b in both of these cases?
Source:

60. Plane Geometry
Other shape areas and perimeters.
If an angle is greater than 90, it is obtuse.
If an angle is less than 90, it is acute.
If an angle is 90, it is a right angle.
TRIANGLE: SUM OF ALL ANGLES = 180
SQUARE AND RECTANGLE: SUM OF ALL ANGLES = 360
Source:

61. Plane Geometry Right Triangles
How do you find the length of a side in a right triangle? Pythagorean Theorem.
Other Triangles: Equilateral (all three sides are equal), Isosceles (two equal sides), and Similar (corresponding angles are equal and sides are in proportion).
Source:

62. Trigonometry Trigonometric functions for right triangles:
SINE
COSINE
TANGENT
Source:
Source:

63. Trigonometry
Source:

64. Trigonometry
Source:

65. Exit True or False?
The Science portion of the ACT will require me to remember every piece of information I have learned in science class the last 3 years.
The Math portion of the ACT consists of 45 questions to complete in 30 minutes.