ACT Question Analysis and Strategies for Science

1. ACT Question Analysis and Strategies for Science Presentation A

2. Section 1: ACT Scores

3. What Do the Scores Mean? • An ACT score is more than just a number. It is an indicator of thinking skills. Therefore, it is a measure of teaching and learning. • Students can and should be taught to score well on the exam. There is too much at stake to disregard the importance of the scores, both individually and collectively.

4. What Do the Scores Mean? • The score earned on the exam indicates 80% mastery of skills in that band. • 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)

5. Section 2: The Science Reasoning Test

6. The Science Reasoning Test • The Science Reasoning portion of the ACT consists of three different types of reading passages. • Research Summaries • Data Representation • Conflicting Viewpoints

7. Passage Type 1: 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.

8. Passage Type 1I: 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.

9. Passage Type III: 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.

10. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types

11. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • Passage Type 1: Research Summaries • When presented with an experiment or series of experiments, 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 first thing to know about any graph or diagram is what the numbers represent.

12. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • Passage Type 1: Research Summaries

13. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • 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. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • Passage Type II: Data Representation

15. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • Passage Type II: Data Representation

16. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • Passage Type II: Data Representation

17. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • Passage Type II: Data Representation

18. Section 3: Strategies for the Different Passage Types • 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.

19. General Strategies • It is most important to read the passage carefully at least once, being an active reader. Underline key words and annotate where necessary. Stay calm and don’t skim through the passage for answers.

20. General Strategies • All information is given to you in the passage. You should not need to rely on any prior knowledge to answer the questions. Do not imply any information that is not provided.

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

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

23. 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.

24. Section 4: Focus Skills

25. Data Representation Skill 1 • Select a single piece of data from a data presentation.

26. Data Representation Skill 2 • Compare or combine data from a data presentation.

27. Data Representation Skill 3 • Determine how the value of one variable changes as the value of another variable changes in a simple data presentation.

28. Research Summaries Skill 1 • Understand the methods and tools used in a simple experiment.

29. Research Summaries Skill 2 • Understand a simple experimental design.

30. Research Summaries Skill 3 • Identify a control in an experiment.

31. Evaluation Skill 1 • Select a simple hypothesis, prediction, or conclusion that is supported by a data presentation or model.