ACT Review Science Reasoning

Approach to Test Readiness Know the STRATEGIES Know the TEST Know the CONTENT

Know the CONTENT There are passages on biology, physical sciences, chemistry, and physics. Don’t Panic Science Reasoning skills rather than recall of scientific facts Scientific Method

Know the TEST 35 minutes to answer 40 questions Questions are based on 7 passages: Data Representation Research Summaries Conflicting View Points (or Charts & Graphs) (or Experiments) (or Fighting Scientists)

Know the TEST 3 different types of questions: Understanding “Look it up” Read and Understand Presented Data Analysis “Why” Analyze Data Draw general conclusions Generalization “What if” Analyze Data Draw conclusion Predict Outcome

Know the STRATEGIES General Test Taking Tips Scan the passages (Use the margins for notes) Look at questions/ Identify Type/ Triage Process of Elimination Letter of the day Time management 2-3 minutes to read passages 35-41 seconds per question

Know the STRATEGIES – 3 Types Data Representation Skip Introduction Identify variables Independent Dependent Units?? Charts/graphs/tables Manipulated, changed purposely Always found on the x-axis of graph Measured, affected variable Always found on the y-axis of graph

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Bar graphs Easiest type to interpret What are the variables? How are they measured?

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Linear graphs Positive Linear or Direct Relationship Increase in X-axis leads to an increase in y-axis

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Linear graphs Negative Linear or Inverse Relationship Increase in X-axis leads to an decrease in y-axis

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Exponential graphs Changes in Y are exponential And become greater the more X increases

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Scatter Diagrams “Best Fit” Line Represents the average of all Data points

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Flat Lines No relationship between the variables 2 elements on graph have NO effect on each other

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Interpolate vs. Extrapolate To insert or introduce between other elements or parts. Extrapolate – To infer or estimate by extending or projecting known information.

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Charts/ Tables # of half-lives Remaining fraction 1 ½ 2 3 ¼ 1/8 4 1/16

Know the STRATEGIES Data Representation Illustrations

Know the STRATEGIES – 3 Types Research Summaries Scan Experiments/Charts Identify Objective –What is the purpose of the study? Usually found at the beginning or end of introduction Underline the objective/purpose Identify Method of Research- How? Independent & Dependent variables Controlled variables Take notes (Identify differences between experiments) Identify the results- What did they find out? Similarities/Differences Identify trends in data

Know the STRATEGIES – 3 Types Conflicting Viewpoints Read Questions First Hypothesis 1, Hypothesis 2, or both Read one side at a time Read the one with the most questions first Underline main point Read the other side Underline Main point Underline Disagreements with the first Underline Agreements with the first Answer Compare and Contrast questions last

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