Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

33
Getting to Know the ACT Science Test • 40 Questions • 35 Minutes , timed test • The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills over recall or science content ,interpretation , reading ability and logical thinking

description

Getting to Know the ACT Science Test. 40 Questions 35 Minutes , timed test The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills over recall or science content ,interpretation , reading ability and logical thinking. Data Representation (38% of items). - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Page 1: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

• 40 Questions• 35 Minutes , timed test• The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills

over recall or science content ,interpretation , reading ability and logical thinking

Page 2: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Data Representation (38% of items)

• This format presents graphic and tabular material similar to that found in science journals and texts. The questions associated with this format measure skills such as graph reading , interpretation of scatterplots , and interpretation of information presented in tables , diagrams and complex figures.

Page 3: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Research Summaries (45% of items)• This format provides descriptions of one or

more related experiments. The questions focus on the design of experiments and the interpretation of experimental results.

Page 4: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Conflicting Viewpoints (17% of items)

• This format presents expressions of several hypothesis or views that , being based on differing premises or on incomplete data , are inconsistent with one another. The questions focus on the understanding , analysis and comparison of alternative viewpoints or hypotheses.

Page 5: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

College Readiness Standards-Science

• Interpretation of Data • Scientific Investigation• Evaluation of Models , Inferences and

Experimental Results• See handout for more details

Page 6: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Review College Readiness Science Standards

• Handout• What do you see ?

Page 7: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Time Management , 35 minutes• 1 passage, conflicting viewpoint , 7 questions ,

6 minutes• 2 passages , research summary , 6 questions, 5

minutes each passage , students to time practice tests

• 4 passages , data rep., 5 questions each , 4 minutes each passage

Page 8: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Data Representation Passages , Test-Taking Strategies

• Highlight keywords , use the diagrams , answer the question

• Find the Keywords , highlight them if needed• What do you know ?• Keywords tell us three things: The name of the

diagram ,the data point or trend , the title of the column or axis

Page 9: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Keyword Clues• Directly proportional: 2 trends that increase

or decrease together , Air pollution is directly proportional to the # of cars…

• Inversely proportional : 2 trends ,one increases as the other decreases , The # of mice is inversely proportional to the # of snakes…

• Ratio , compares one data point to another, The ratio of female to male tortoises is 3:2…

Page 10: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Keyword Clues

• Consistent , implies that the trend follows the same pattern shown in the figure, Is the information below consistent with the findings of Scientist 1?

• Most likely , indicates that you will be predicting a value beyond the range of the graph , If the algae doubled , the amount of Oxygen would most likely…

Page 11: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Keyword Clues

• Expect, indicates that you will be predicting a value beyond the range of the graph , If the temperature dropped 20 C, the frogs would be expected to…

• Respectively , indicates that items are listed in the order they are described, The 1st and 2nd fossils were 5 & 2 million years old , respectively…

Page 12: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Use the Diagrams

• Use the keywords to select the correct heading from the correct diagram

• Find the data point or summarize the trends

• If the information is not in the table , read the text above the table

Page 13: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Answer the Question

• Match the information from the diagram to one of the answer choices

• Check that the text you have underlined and your analysis of the diagram supports your answer

Page 14: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Tables and Figures• Use same strategies as with Data Rep.

questions

• Are you Trendy , look for Trends in the data , look for order.

• The ACT often will not list data in increasing or decreasing order , but the answer is there

Page 15: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Unfamiliar Data Formats on the ACT

• Read any type of graph by using the axes and labels to follow the same steps for simpler figures

• Review Scatter Plots : they show each data point separately . Sometimes trends are found in clusters ,or they may approximate lines

Page 16: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Data Formats• Vertical Line Graphs , sometimes line graphs

that represent depth are presented vertically. These line graphs are just like the line graphs you have seen before.

• Shaded tables , may or may not contain numerical data , the important data to collect is whether or not the box is shaded

Page 17: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Data Formats

• Working with Multiple Axes

• Line Graphs with Multiple Scales, line graphs may have units labeled on two y-axes or two x-axes , use the key to determine which trend to look at , then use the axes to determine which scales to use

Page 18: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Multiple Sets of Data

• Tables may also mix many types of information , read the table from the outside in , helps students understand the grouping of different rows within the table

Page 19: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Data Representation Examples , Activities

• Flip Charts , examples

• Station 6 , example , shark data

• Salem’s Secret , case study

Page 20: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Making Predictions , Using Patterns• Some ACT questions will ask you to predict

data based upon a trend. This may involve extending the trend beyond the highest or lowest data point , or predicting a new point between two other points , if there are no lines in the area of the graph for which you are predicting , use the edge of a sheet of paper to draw a straight line to connect the points & extend them beyond the edges of the graph.

Page 21: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Research Summaries , Understanding Experiments

• The ACT may ask a few questions about the procedure of an experiment , in general these questions will ask you to predict what will happen when experimental conditions are changed

• Analyzing the Experiment: Independent , Dependent Variable , the Control

Page 22: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Independent Variable : is what the experimenter wants to know more about, ACT may refer to this as the “ factor that is varied”

Dependent Variable: is what is measured , ACT may refer to this as the “ factor that is not directly controlled”

Control : is the trail or group that is normal , it is used to calibrate the equipment or show that the indep. var. had an effect , ACT may ask why it is present in the experiment.

Page 23: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Comparing New Experiments• A scientist must always look for new evidence.

Part of the scientific method involves using the results of one experiment to design a new experiment or examining how the results of a new experiment influence existing theories

• ACT may ask you to identify which areas have not been covered by an experiment , sometimes the answer is there is not enough information to answer the question.

Page 24: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Thinking Like a Scientist : Activity

• Seeking Solutions , 3 Scenarios• Read and brainstorm explanations and use

the explanations to form several possible hypotheses , then develop one or more experiments to test your hypotheses.

Page 25: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Experimental Design Questions• Usually Big Idea questions that may include:• Explain how changing the design would

change the results• Explain how changing one part of the design

would change another part of the design• Explain why parts of a design were performed• Id the figure that illustrates the Exp. Design• Id problems that could cause errors in results• Id new exp. that would give better info.

Page 26: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Complex Figure Questions, Reading Graphs

• Reading Graphs• The Bar and Scatter Plots in the question

usually do not have scales marked on their axes , the general shape of the data is very important

• Determine which values are greater or lesser and how much greater or lesser each data point is in comparison to others

Page 27: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Using Information from Two Figures

• The ACT asks questions in which data from one table or figure must be used to get information from another table or figure , to address these questions , treat each table as a separate problem

• Determine the correct data point , trend or table from the 1st table and apply to the 2nd

Page 28: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Solving Equations• Most ACT exams have 1 or 2 questions with

equations• Simple addition , subtraction , multiplication

& division , no calculator use on exam• Write the equation , read the text around the

equation , write down what each variable stands for

• Find the value of each variable , plug it in , determine which answer matches results

Page 29: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Conflicting Viewpoints Questions• Different scientist often arrive at different

conclusions when presented with the same set of observations

• Students must understand that different interpretations exist , they must develop strategies to compare/contrast conflicting viewpoints

• Conflicting view points passages present 2 different explanations for the same evidence

Page 30: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Viewpoint Strategies• Students will be asked to clarify each person’s

viewpoint , give information that will support or disprove a viewpoint , comparing ideas of the two other people

• Summarize the passage & scan key words• Answer the easier questions first• Answer questions about multiple viewpoints .

Students are likely to miss these , takes longer to digest , time wasted ?

Page 31: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

Mapping the Genetic Code Activity , Article

• Read the N & O article• Respond to the questions , discuss with your

table group• Reactions ?

Page 32: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

General Exam Taking Tips • Do not over analyze• There is only one right answer , it’s there• Practice Test with a stop watch• One correct answer equals one point• No points for finishing early• Guess smart , eliminate some answers• Be trendy , notice trends in the data

Page 33: Getting to Know the ACT Science Test

ACT Information

This document includes information about each section on the ACT and a full length practice test.

http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/preparing.pdf

They have a question of the day on the site below.

http://www.actstudent.org/qotd/

Has sample test questions and anchor papers.

http://www.actstudent.org/writing/sample/index.html

Descriptions of sections of the ACT

http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/descriptions/index.html