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The Science Reasoning test on the ACT can be the scariest part of the whole test. In fact, many people who score in the 30s on the other three sections often score in the low to mid 20s on Science Reasoning.
One big factor when it comes to how you take the Science Reasoning section of the ACT is simply your approach. There is no shortcut to a better ACT score. But there are different ways of approaching this part of the test that will help you use your brain more efficiently, increasing your chance to score higher on the ACT.
Practice Taking Science Reasoning Portion Before You Take the Test
Confidence is half the battle so take as many practice tests as you can. Plus you'll get used to the kind of questions being asked. This is important between which is good, since they can seem awkward sometimes. This awkwardness can confuse you and/or deflate your confidence, both of which can lead to wrong answers.
The ACT favors speed, but if you don’t' feel like you're fast enough you can improve your speed with practice. Use your favorite timer and start getting used to the 35 minute time limit. After a few practice tests, you’ll begin to get the rhythm and flow of taking the test under a time limit. You’ll know how far you should be at the halfway mark.
Give Yourself Less Time to Take the Test
Try some practice sessions where you give yourself 25 minutes instead of 35 minutes to complete the Science Reasoning test. This will teach you to do it more quickly, and help you focus on which data pieces are important (and which are not). By shaving ten minutes off of your test time, you’ll give yourself a buffer for double-checking your answers.
Cross Out Your Problems
Cross out the information that you don't need on each problem. This will help you focus on only the essentials and avoid getting distracted. The last thing you need is a cluttered mind when it comes to the Science Reasoning part of your ACT!
For example, if you're working on a Research Summary about wheat that has 5 questions about strains 1 & 3 but none about 2, go ahead and cross out everything about #2. Otherwise, it will only get in the way.
Practice Your Math
Science is built on a foundation of math. The same is true of the Science Reasoning portion of the ACT test. But the math you'll need on for these problems isn't the same kind of that you'll need for the Math section of the ACT.
Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are useful on this part of the ACT. Fractions, decimals, and the ability to read and compare charts and graphs are helpful as well.
Don't let carelessness trip you up! Practice this stuff even though you learned how to do it long ago. Even the little things can help you raise your Science Reasoning score on the ACT.
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