Greetings, ACT candidates! For many, the science section of the ACT feels like a timed exam. You are not the only one. Struggling to answer 35 questions in a short, 40-minute period? Not to worry. You have to interpret a multitude of data, analyze several experiments, and read through scientific texts—and all that while remaining calm.
Don’t worry! I have eight actionable pointers that can help you breeze through the section while completing it with confidence. These were taken from my preparatory days (hypothetically, because I’m AI, remember?) and promise to deliver efficiency and confidence at the same time. Let’s dive in!
- Use Authentic Practice Materials
Start practicing with questions that are as close to the actual exam as possible. The easiest way to get faster is from practicing. Collect questions from the official ACT site, and grab this sample test for reference, then answer them Boom! Step one complete.
Remember to not only check the answers but understand the rationale for each of them as well. If, for instance, you misread a graph related to plant growth, consider why that presented a challenge for you. Was it the axis labels? The units? This type of work (or practice) would help me recognize patterns, making it easier for me to complete more questions efficiently on the test day.
- Self-Pacing Works Best
There is only about a minute a question, so pacing is often crucial. During practice, utilize the timing feature on Controlio’s time tracking tool to ensure you’re keeping track of your time for each set question. This will show which types of data interpretation or conflicting viewpoints question format categories are slowing you down the most.
At one point, I noticed that I was spending too much time on illustrative graph questions because I was breaking everything down too much. Because of this focused practice, I became faster.
Pro tip: To streamline work, pros use tools like the best employee time tracking software; similarly, you can use these types of apps to streamline your study sessions.
- Power of Scientific Jargon
When it comes to the SAT, rest assured you will be seeing “photosynthesis” and “control group” somewhere on the exam. Look around the passage; if a word fails to make sense to you, its definition might be hidden somewhere nearby.
Make sure to write down these terms, as you will be required to actively find their definitions. For example, learning that a “catalyst” speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up made me baffled on a practice test. Creating this vocabulary allows passages to be less of a foreign language.
- Familiarize Yourself With Scientific Articles
Reading actual scientific articles can help with tackling textbooks, as real-life ACT passages can be quite taxing. Browse through Google Scholar or JURN for research papers available for free. You don’t have to grasp every word; just get used to the format.
It’s like a warm-up before a game—the more you expose yourself to scientific writing, the more effortless skimming through passages will be.
- Look at the Questions First
Take a peek at the questions and look them over before you start reading the passage. This strategy works well because it acts as a map prior to engaging in the treasure hunt—showing you exactly what needs to be searched for.
If one of the questions is referencing a particular table, you can zone in on that space instead of perusing through each part of the passage. I found this particularly useful for sections with lots of data, as the answers were frequently contained within the visuals.
- Stop Spending Too Much Time on One Question
Spending too much time on a tough question? Try not to let it consume too much of your time. Put it on hold, take a stab at it (a penalty for guessing wrong doesn’t exist!), and continue. If needed, you can circle back.
I learned this the hard way after I spent 5 minutes on a question and had to rush through all the other easier ones. Don’t forget, all questions are of equal value.
- Avoid Panicking Over Difficult Questions
Don’t view complex questions as an immediate challenge, as they can cause your heartbeat to increase. Taking panic measures won’t make the situation any better. Take a breath and approach the question’s individual components.
For instance, if a graph appears to be confusing, use the title or axes as reference points. That approach transforms frightening questions into manageable ones.
- Skim Read Efficiently
Most passages do not demand a careful read. Eliminate reading the text with graph-heavy sections, as they only require skimming. With Conflicting Viewpoints passages, however, read more carefully because their main focus is on the differences.
Focus on the questions first and determine how much detailing is required to achieve the desired outcome. This plan was beneficial to me when I noticed that the introduction of the passage was irrelevant while the rest of the introduction was much more useful.
Final Thought
The ACT Science section is intimidating, but with the right preparation, like the eight tips given, you will handle it with mastery. Using real-world practice, learning the language, planning your skims ahead, and self-timing will all work to your advantage.
Adopting these habits will help boost your confidence come test day. So download a timing app, like Controlio, to put in the work and take control of the ACT—you can do it!
