ACT TEST PREPARATION�SCIENCE

• How the test is structured
• TIPS and STRATEGIES
• Resources

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How the test is structured

• Science comes LAST!!

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• 40 questions/35 minutes =

Less than a minute/question

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• 3 formats used for test questions
• Data Representation(15q’s)- graphs & tables
• To measure your ability to read and interpret
• Research Summary(18q’s)- description of an or several experiments
• Experimental design and interpretation of results
• Conflicting Viewpoints(7q’s)- mutually inconsistent viewpoints
• Comparing viewpoints (misconceptions/prior knowledge)

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How the test is structured

• Your test questions will be on the topics of biology, chemistry, earth/space science, & physics.
• The questions will fall into 3 main groups:
• UNDERSTANDING
• Identify & evaluate scientific concepts, data in graphs,

figures, or tables.

• Translate data into alternative forms
• ANALYZING
• Process info. to draw conclusions or form hypotheses
• Evaluate experimental design or compare/contrast viewpoints
• Specify alternative ways of testing hypotheses or viewpoints
• GENERALIZING
• Extend information to a broader context
• Generate models consistent with given information
• Develop new procedures and predict outcomes

TIPS and STRATEGIES �

• Time is everything- 35 min/40 q’s
• No penalty for wrong answers- answer all questions!!!
• Technical reading skills are more important than a strong science background
• There will be lots of extra information and science jargon that is not necessary- figure out what it is and ignore it.
• If you have a good science background you can ZAP answer choices by immediately crossing out the answers you know are wrong.
• Many questions require you to read all 4 answer choices before answering

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STRATEGY- Read only when you need!

• Most students are best at reading graphs and charts- spend a larger amount of time on those questions (15q’s- 3 passages)
• You should be able to answer some of the questions here without even reading the passage.

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• Experiments-(18q’s-3 passages) may be where you want to spend most of your time
• Start by reading the questions and referring back to the experiment it is asking you about. Do not read all experiments first. Only read one when you have to.

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• Conflicting Viewpoints-(7 q’s-1 passage) do not let your background misconceptions get in the way.
• Read one viewpoint and answer the questions that pertain to it first, then read the other to compare or contrast.

• Every problem has only 1 correct answer
• Write all over your testing book by crossing out wrong answers
• When all 4 choices need to be considered, quickly ZAP an choice that intuitively seems wrong.
• Be aware of TIME!!
• Many q’s contain negative twists:
• Contradictions
• Nots
• Would weaken
• Least
• Circle the negative in the question- place a +/-, Y/N, yes/no next to each choice to reduce confusion

Data Representation

• The relationship between applied force and the resulting acceleration…

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If data has been collected for a 5^th

Data point in Trial 1, what would

the velocity have been?

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1. .80 m/s
2. 1.00 m/s
3. 1.20 m/s
4. 1.40 m/s

Generalize-

extend and predict

Did you need to read the passage? NO

Research Summary

Based on the results of experiment 1, if an engineer needs a wire most resistant to stretching when it is placed under tension and heat, which of the following wires should she choose?

F. aluminum

G. Brass

H. Iron

J. Nickel

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Understanding

identify components

of an experimental

design

Conflicting Viewpoints

Based on Student 1’s explanation, if the gases from burning wood lose heat while rising up a chimney, which of the following quantities pertaining to the gases simultaneously increases?

1. Density of the gases
2. Temperature of the gases
3. Average speed of the gas molecules
4. Average distance between adjacent gas molecules

Analyze

drawing conclusions

Additional Resources