ACT Science: How to Improve Your Score

Similar to the SAT, the ACT features math, reading, and writing. However, the ACT is the only major standardized exam in the United States that features a designated science section. If you ever decide to take the ACT, you’ll want to learn the tips and tricks in this blog to help you get as close to a 36 as possible.   

Tips and Tricks for the ACT Science Section

How to Improve Your ACT Science Score

Try to Get All Questions Correct

It may seem like an impossible task, but the way the ACT science section is curved and graded requires students to get all questions correct to get a perfect 36. While it is difficult, it is doable with the proper studying techniques. Along these lines, it is also important to remember basic scientific facts and information such as how pH works and the parts of a cell.

Understand the Time Structure of the ACT Science Section

There are 35 minutes to read either 6 or 7 passages and answer 40 related questions, so a good trick is to allocate 5 minutes for each reading. If you finish early, make sure to check your work. It is always important to check the clock every few minutes to ensure you are on schedule. The timing for the ACT is tighter than the SAT, but using this strategy should still give you enough time to complete the ACT science section.

Understand How to Read the Graphs in the ACT Science Section

Some of the most common mistakes students make on the ACT science portion have to do with reading and understanding the graphs on the test. The biggest and most common mistake happens to be the easiest one to correct. Students should double-check they’re looking at the correct graph corresponding to the question they’re trying to answer. Students should mark what questions correspond to which graph to make it easier to answer the question. Another thing to know is that the axis and legend describing what each axis represents are very important for students to look at to determine how to answer each question. 

Understand Each Type of Passage

There are three types of passages, and one of them is data representation based on graphs. The data representation passages contain very little text and are mostly just about interpreting graphs. The next type of passage is research studies, which generally take more time than the data representation passages because there is more text to sift through. When reading these passages, students should think about the purpose of the study, the operations used, and the generalized outcomes. The last type of passage focuses on competing research, where the student is presented with two different scientific theories and must answer questions based on them. The most challenging part about this passage type is that it takes a lot of time, so a good strategy is to take time away from the first two passage types and relocate them to the competing research passages. 

Strategy is More Important than Prior Knowledge  

The ACT Science section requires the least amount of prior knowledge, and most of the secrets to getting a perfect 36 rely on getting the timing right. With that said, there are one or two questions that require basic scientific knowledge. Students cannot use a calculator in the science section, so there is no need to spend hours studying chemistry, physics, or biology.

Conclusion

It may seem counterintuitive, but the ACT section requiring students to answer all questions correctly to get a 36 may be the easiest to complete. Practice is more important than remembering knowledge and facts from a textbook when preparing for the Science section of the ACT. Should students correctly and carefully read graphs, ask the three main questions on scientific and competing research studies, and practice time management to the second, they are more likely to get a 36 than not.

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