Tag: act test tips

ACT Series: How to Prepare for the Science Section of the ACT Test

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The ACT is important to high school students in Missouri and across the U.S. for several reasons. It is an important factor considered in college admissions and the way scholarships are awarded. It can help students become eligible for the A+ Scholarship. While the level of importance can differ among students based on their plans, it is a tough challenge for everyone their first time. Students take timed tests in multiple subjects, answering questions that can confuse them or make them second guess themselves.

This is the final article of a four-part series on the ACT, describing each of the subject tests and how to prepare for them. We will finish with science.

The basics of the science test

Like the reading portion, the science portion of the test involves reading passages and answering questions about that information. The passages are from academic journals or reports and students will need to provide data from that information. Students have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions.

How do I prepare for the test?

The ACT publishes a test breakdown which describes how much of the test is focused on one topic. In each topic, it is further broken down into certain areas of focus. For science, a majority of this test will focus on either data representation or research summaries. This means it will either ask you for a specific piece of data or to analyze what the passage focused on.

To help students prepare, the ACT also provides old versions of the test online and in print. Ask your counselor if they have copies of old booklets so you can take practice tests and time yourself.

How is the test graded?

The ACT has released its scoring rubric so you know ahead of time what to expect. This is very helpful for students who are aiming for a specific score.

What is your biggest tip for this test?

Study the small details. On graphs, look at the x and y axis and what they are measuring. For tables, look at what information is given and see if you can find a pattern. The test is used to determine if you can answer questions with the details you have been given, not what you already know.

Final thoughts

A common misconception about the science test is it is quizzing you on how much you know. While a general level of knowledge is needed, it is testing your ability to read and understand scientific information. Basically, what you are able to pick up from the information that is given to you in graph or text form. Remember, calculators are not allowed on this portion despite numerical data being involved. You should come to a conclusion, not a calculation. The quicker you can pick up patterns the better you will do.

Read the other parts of the ACT Series

ACT Series: How to Prepare for the Reading Section of the ACT Test

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The ACT is important to high school students in Missouri and across the U.S. for several reasons. It is an important factor that is considered in college admissions and how scholarships are awarded. It can help students become eligible for the A+ Scholarship and in some parts of the state it is a requirement to graduate. While the level of importance can differ among students, based on their plans, it is a tough challenge for everyone their first time. Students take timed tests in multiple subjects, answering questions that can confuse them or make them second guess themselves.

To help students prepare for the ACT test, Journey to College has prepared a four-part series of articles discussing each area of the test. This is the third article of the series on the ACT, describing each of the subject tests and how to prepare for them. The reading portion of the test is the subject of this article.

The basics of the reading test

In the reading portion of the test, students read several passages and answer questions about that information. It challenges students to retain information quickly, think critically about the text, and infer additional information based on what they read. Students have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions.

How do I prepare for the test?

a young man laying on a yellow couch reading a book.The ACT publishes a test breakdown, which describes how much of the test is focused on one topic. In each topic, it is further broken down into certain types of questioning. A majority of the reading test will question you about key details from the text, including picking up context clues and coming to conclusions based on the information given.

To help students prepare for the test, the ACT also provides old versions of the test online and in print. Ask your counselor if they have copies of old booklets so you can take practice tests and time yourself.

How is the test graded?

The ACT has released its scoring rubric so you can know ahead of time what to expect. This is very helpful for students who are aiming for a specific score.

What is your biggest tip for this test?

Learn to skim the material. If you spend a minute on every question, you will run out of time before finishing the test. This doesn’t take into account how much time you will spend reading the section. Briefly going over the passage can still give you information about context and conclusions. If a question stumps you, refer back to the reading but do not reread the entire section.

Final thoughts

The reading section will give you the best chance to score high marks because all the information is provided. Some students have a natural affinity for reading quickly and might perform more naturally on this test. However, that doesn’t mean studying won’t help you improve. Learning to skim or looking at the questions first help you get basic information about the passage. Try to budget your time equally between passages so you are not rushing at the end.

 

Read the other parts of the ACT Series

ACT Series: How to Prepare for the Math Section of the ACT Test

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The ACT is important to high school students in Missouri and across the U.S. for several reasons. It is an important factor that is considered in college admissions and how scholarships are awarded. It can help students become eligible for the A+ Scholarship and in some parts of the state it is a requirement to graduate. While the level of importance can differ among students, based on their plans, it is a tough challenge for everyone their first time. Students take timed tests in multiple subjects, answering questions that can confuse them or make them second guess themselves.

This is the second article of a four-part series on the ACT test, from Journey to College, describing each of the subject tests and how to prepare for them. In this article, the math section of the test is the subject of discussion.  

The basics of the math test

Of all the subject tests, the math portion is the most straightforward. In an hour, you answer 60 problems. The questions get more difficult as you go, meaning the first question is the easiest and the last question is the most difficult. It mainly covers concepts from algebra and geometry. The last 20 questions pull from more advanced topics, such as trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus.

How do I prepare for the test?

The ACT publishes a test breakdown, which describes how much of the test is focused on one topic (modeling, preparing for higher math, etc.). In each topic, it is further broken down into certain types of questioning. For example, about 8-12 percent of the test will cover statistics and probability questions.

To help students prepare for the test, the ACT also provides old versions of the test online and in print. Ask your counselor if they have copies of old booklets so you can take practice tests and time yourself.

How is the test graded?

The ACT has released its scoring rubric so you can know ahead of time what to expect. This is very helpful for students who are aiming for a specific score, such as those aiming to earn the A+ Scholarship. Students who didn’t score proficient or advanced on their Algebra 1 end-of-course exam can substitute an ACT math score to qualify. Depending on your GPA, this score can change. The same is true for students trying to earn scholarships from a university, especially with the superscore option now available.

Final thoughts

The math section of the ACT is meant to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge in the subject. You either know the material or you don’t. And that is OK. Every student will bring a different level of expertise, as well as a different desire, whether you are aiming for top marks and the Bright Flight scholarship, or just trying to make a certain threshold for A+. Remember, preparation is key.

Read the other parts of the ACT Series