Getting to know the ACT/PSAE
Introduction
Why is it important to Prep for the ACT?? To give you confidence
Knowing what types of questions to expect Knowing how many questions No surprises!! Reduce your anxiety!!
To give you strategies for success Tips and tricks To help you be more prepared To know the pacing To give you a “plan of attack”
To help you answer more questions correctly To improve your overall entrance score to a college
What is the Science Reasoning Test? 35 minute, 40 multiple choice question test
Highest score available is 200 points
How are the questions broken down? Of the 40 questions
38% or about 15 questions are data representation 45% or about 18 questions are research summaries 17% or about 7 questions are conflicting viewpoints
Why take the Science Reasoning Test? Helps to examine your ability to read and understand
scientific information
It is NOT about how many science facts you know!
It IS about measuring your reasoning and problem solving skills.
Does not require Math, you do not need a calculator.
Areas tested: Science inquiry Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Space science Relationships among science, technology, and society
Bloom’s Taxonomy Normally, questions you are asked every day
look at the lower levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Knowledge, comprehension, etc.
The ACT prepares questions that ask you to do things more associated with higher level thinking Apply, analyze, evaluate, etc.
What does your score mean….
What does your score mean? The highest score you can get on the Science portion is a
40/40 question correct which would translate to a 36 (perfect score) on the ACT.
Number of Questions Correct Science ACT Score
40/40 3636/40 3131/40 2626/40 2322/40 2119/40 1918/40 18
State Schools ACT Requirements University of Illinois (U of I)
ACT score of 27+ Illinois State University (ISU)
ACT score of 22-26 Northern Illinois University (NIU)
ACT score of 19-24 Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
ACT score of 19-23 Western Illinois University (WIU)
ACT score of 21+ Southern Illinois University (SIU)
ACT score of 18-24
Other Universities Ivy League Schools
(Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, University of Pa, Cornell, Princeton)
ACT Score of 29-36 “Big Ten” Schools
Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, U of I, Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana University, Wisconsin Madison, Nebraska, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue
ACT Scores of 25-33 University of Chicago
ACT Score of 28-33 Bradley
ACT Score of 22-28
Take an ACT test prep course: At OHS in January At Wabaunsee Community College An online prep course
Take the ACT test more than once: Take it at school in April with the junior class. Register (online) to take it again at an ACT test
site. October, November, December, February in Aurora or
WCC
Your score will generally improve a second time.
General Strategies
General Strategies Eat a good breakfast Attend WAKE YOU BRAIN Start with the type of questions you are “best”
at Mark up the test
Draw arrows Underline Words
Don’t leave any questions blank! Watch your pacing
Let’s Look At the Types ofACT Passages!
There are 3 Types of ‘Science Passages’
Data Representation Passages Graphs and Tables Used to measure skills such as
Graph reading Interpretation of scatterplots Interpretation of information presented in tables
Conflicting Viewpoints Passages Presents several hypotheses or viewpoints that are
inconsistent with one another Used to measure skills such as
Understanding, analysis, and comparison of alternate viewpoints or hypotheses
Research Summaries Descriptions of one or more related experiments Used to measure skills such as
Interpretation of experimental results
Presentation of Information in the Passages
Information from Science Journals or Textbooks such as: Charts Diagrams Figures Graphs Illustrations Tables
Data Representation Passages Present scientific information in the form of
graphs, tables, and figures
You may be asked to: Support a conclusion that can be supported by
the data Determine the relationship between two
variables Select an explanation for the given experimental
results Determine if a conclusion is consistent with the
given information Apply given data to a new situation Determine what the slope of a line on a graph
represents
Data Representation Strategies1) Do not read the paragraphs or look at the diagrams!2) Do read the charts and graphs3) Analyze the charts and graphs.
Ask Yourself…. What are they measuring? What are the labels? What do the axes represent? Are there trends? How do the tables and charts relate?
4) The harder the diagram, chart or tables look, the easier the questions!
5) Plan for 4 minutes per passage
6) If you have to read the passage….look for italic words.
Research Summary Passages Consist of descriptions of how specific experiments
were carried out and/or summaries of experimental results
You may be required to: Identify the different designs in an experiment Predict the outcome of an experiment based on results Predict the outcome of an experiment if the design is
changed Identify the hypothesis Select a hypothesis supported by the experiments results Determine the conclusion given certain results Select an experiment that could be conducted in order to
test a different hypothesis
Research Summary Strategies1. Do NOT read the paragraphs or look at
diagrams2. Head to questions first3. Plan for 5 minutes per passage4. Analyze the charts and graphs.
Ask Yourself…. What are they measuring? What are the labels? What do the axes represent? Are there trends? How do the tables and charts relate?
5. If you have to read the passages Skim passage and ignore irrelevant paragraphs
6. Mark up the test Draw arrows on tables and graphs to show trends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4YIGV1tD8Q
Conflicting Viewpoints Passages Present differing hypotheses, theories, or viewpoints
of two or three scientists.
You may be asked to: Determine each scientists position Select evidence that supports the viewpoints of both
scientists Determine the similarities and differences of the
viewpoints of the scientists. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of the
viewpoints Identify how new information would affect either viewpoint Predict evidence that would support a scientist’s
viewpoint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L7NqY5hdxU
Conflicting Viewpoint Strategies1. READ the passages!!!2. Give the scientists names.3. Answer Questions
First: Read theory 1 and answer theory 1 questions. Then: Read theory 2 and answer theory questions. Finally: answer the questions that relate to both
theories.
4. Plan for 6 minutes per passage5. Mark up the passages
Look for the scientist’s opinion (FIRST SENTENCE) Note cause/effect relationship (UNDERLINE) Identify what is different (UNDERLINE) Look for the following words:
Believe AgreeSupport
Refute
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