ACT SCIENCE REASONING TEST PREPOPENING QUESTIONS

Day 1: Overview

The ACT Science Test 40 questions 35 minutes Seven passages or sets of scientific

information

Types of Passages 3 Data Representation passages

(graphs, tables, etc.) 3 Research Summaries passages

(descriptions of several related experiments)

1 Conflicting Viewpoints passage (expressions of several related hypotheses or views that are inconsistent with one another)

1. The ACT Science Reasoning Test consists of _______ passages and _______ questions.

2. You will have ______ minutes to complete the test.

3. The three types of passages are _____________, _______________, and ____________.

Day 2: Types of Passages

The 3 Data Representation passages are each followed by 5 questions, making up 38% of the test. 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.

1. The Data Representation passages are each followed by _____questions, making up ____% of the test.

2. What do the Data Representation passages present?

3. What do the questions associated with the Data Representation passages measure?

Day 3: Types of Passages

The 3 Research Summaries passages are each followed by 6 questions, making up 45% of the test. This format provides descriptions of one or

more related experiments. The questions focus on the design of

experiments and the interpretation of experimental results.

1. The Research Summaries passages are each followed by _____questions, making up ____% of the test.

2. What do the Research Summaries passages present?

3. What do the questions associated with Research Summaries focus on?

Day 4: Types of Passages

The Conflicting Viewpoints passage is followed by 7 questions, making up 17% of the test. 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 upon the understanding, analysis, and comparison of alternative viewpoints or hypotheses.

1. The Conflicting Viewpoints passage is followed by _____questions, making up ____% of the test.

2. What does the Conflicting Viewpoints passage present?

3. What do the questions associated with the Conflicting Viewpoints passage focus on?

Day 5: Types of Questions

Data Representation and Research Summaries passages: 4 main types of questions 1. Read the Chart 2. Use the Chart 3. Handle Graphs 4. Take the Next Step

1. Read the Chart These questions ask you simply to identify

information given on the chart; straightforward questions; equivalent to specific detail questions on the reading test.

2. Use the Chart Slightly more complicated, these questions

require you to use the information given in the chart to determine other, unstated information. (such as to make an informed guess as to what would happen if one of the variables in an experiment changed)

1. What are the four main types of questions asked in the Data Representation and Research Summaries passages?

2. What do “read the chart” questions ask you to do?

3. What do “use the chart” questions require you to do?

Day 6: Types of Questions

Remember that Data Representation and Research Summaries passages present 4 types of questions: Read the chart, Use the chart, Handle Graphs, and Take the next step.

3. Handle Graphs For these questions, you will either have to translate the

information in the charts into words or translate words or numbers into a chart.

4. Take the Next Step These questions ask you what the next step should be for research

experiments. Generally, this type of question will provide you with a goal for an experiment and the current scenario. You must decide the next step that should be taken to achieve that goal. These are “big picture” questions that ask you to look at the research or experiment as a whole.

1. For the “handle graphs” questions, you will either have to translate information from the charts into _________ or translate words or numbers into a __________.

2. “Take the next step” questions ask you what the next step should be in a _________ _________, and may be thought of as ______ ________ questions that make you look at the research or experiment as a whole.

Day 7: Types of Questions

Conflicting Viewpoints passages: 3 main types of questions **resemble questions on a reading test passage** 1. Detail questions 2. Inference questions 3. Comparison questions

1. Detail questions Asks you to identify specific information

from the arguments presented 2. Inference questions

Ask you to draw out implied information from the arguments

3. Comparison questions Ask you to find and analyze similarities and

differences between the arguments.

1. The questions with a Conflicting Viewpoints passage resemble questions on a ________ test passage.

2. Detail questions ask you to identify ________ _________ from the arguments presented.

3. Inference questions ask you to draw out ____________ information from the arguments.

4. Comparison questions ask you to find and analyze _______ and _______ between the arguments.

Day 8: General Strategies for the ACT Science Reasoning Test

Read the passage first for general understanding Look at charts to see which variables or

factors are represented If an experiment, know what the

experiment tests and what the goal of the experiment is.

Don’t examine specific aspects of the data, such as how one variable changes against another; leave that sort of analysis for when you answer specific questions.

Do not labor over every sentence and piece of data in the passage- you will run out of time!

Ask yourself these questions: What is being tested? Why is it being tested? What are the variables? What are the factors that stay the same?

Make quick notes in the margin or on scratch paper Such as if an experiment measures acidity, jot down

“acidity” in the margin next to the experiment; if the same experiment varies the concentration of a solution, you can jot down something like “change conc.”

Underline sentences and circle key information in the passages (the variables for example)

General strategies 1. Read the passage first for __________ __________.

A. Look at which ______ are represented on chartsB. know what experiments _____ and what the

___ is.C. Don’t examine ________ _________ of the data.

D. Don’t labor over every __________. E. Ask yourself : What is/ why is it being ______?

What are the _____? What factors stay the _____? F. Make quick _____ in the margin/on scratch

paperG. Underline or circle _____ information in the

passage

Day 9: General Strategies for the ACT Science Reasoning Test

Answer the questions by playing a matching game 1. Read the question and, if necessary, restate it in

your own words so you understand what it is asking. 2. Refer back to the passage. 3. Formulate an answer in your own words, without

looking at the answer choices 4. Match your answer to the choices provided.

Base your answers only on the passage Answers should be based only on the contents of

the passage, not on external knowledge.

Look past the scientific jargon Remember all the information you need is

in the passage, so don’t get caught up in the scientific language, even if it sounds complicated

Pace yourself Remember you only have 35 minutes to

read 7 passages and answer 40 questions. About 2 minutes per passage and 30

seconds per question.

General strategies 1. Answer the questions by playing a ______ ______.

A. Read and _____the question in your own words. B. Refer back to the _____. C. Formulate an answer without looking at the _____

______. D. _____ your answer to the choices provided.

2. Base your answers only on the ______, not on external knowledge.

3. Look past the scientific ______. 4. Pace yourself: about ____ minutes per passage

and ___seconds per question.