1. ACT Science Prep
Tips and Tricks

2. What questions do you have about the science portion of ACT?
What do you already know (skills, types of questions, etc) about science portion of ACT?
Reflect on your current graphing/reading skills. What do you need to do to become more efficient at these skills?

3. 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

4. ACT Science Test Layout
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.
Data Representation (38%). This format presents graphic and tabular material similar to that found in science journals and texts. The questions associated with this format measure skills such as graph reading, interpretation of scatterplots, and interpretation of information presented in tables, diagrams, and figures.
Research Summaries (45%). This format provides descriptions of one or more related experiments. The questions focus on the design of experiments and the interpretation of experimental results.
Conflicting Viewpoints (17%). This format presents expressions of several hypotheses or views that, being based on differing premises or on incomplete data, are inconsistent with one another. The questions focus on the understanding, analysis, and comparison of alternative viewpoints or hypotheses.
ACT Science Test Layout

5. Tips for Success 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

6. Tips for Success 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

7. ACT Science Test Layout
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

8. 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

9. In order to read most graphs and tables, you have to do four things:
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

10. When reading data, you should be on the lookout for the three characteristic patterns or trends:
extremes (maximums and minimums)
critical points (or points of change)
direct or inverse variation (or proportionality)
Graphs and Table Tips

12. 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.

13. 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 shortest

14. What type of graph is this?
What are the variables?
What do each of the four lines represent?

15. Practice Data Representation
Complete the ACT practice section.
You may write on this paper.
Practice Data Representation

16. Questions for research summary passages typically ask you about the following
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

17. Research Summary Practice
Complete the ACT practice section.
You may write on this paper.
Research Summary Practice

18. Conflicting Views Typically ask you following
Scientific ideas or assumptions discussed in the passages
The similarities or differences among the viewpoints
Whether certain results or facts are consistent with one of the viewpoints
Which diagram best illustrates one of the viewpoints
Conflicting Views

19. Don't waste time trying to figure out which scientist is "right
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

20. Conflicting Views Practice
Complete the ACT practice section.
You may write on this paper.
Conflicting Views Practice

21. Overall steps 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

22. Overall Steps 2. Read the question and all the answers
be sure you are clear about what the question is asking
Overall Steps

23. 3. Eliminate obviously incorrect answers
Overall Steps

24. 4. Choose the answer that is most correct
Overall Steps

25. Sources Questions/Practice From Amsco’s preparing for the ACT
Robert D. Postman
Sources