The Way to Happy ACT Land • When taking the dreaded ACT there are two ways to think about it, the right way and the wrong way. Which Way to Go • The Wrong Way: - A negative attitude - Would a, should a, could a - Memorize the charts and graphs - Read word for word Science Reasoning » There are ways to do well on the science reasoning portion of the ACT even if science is not your strong suit! Don’t Get Stuck On Science • Ignore big scientific names like Agnatha. The information in the reading will tell you it’s a type of fish, that’s all you need to know. • Read difficult science passages the same way you’d read easy ones. Read for the structure of the passage, and don’t get stuck on the complicated science terms. Use Kaplan’s four-step method for data analysis when you have a table.  What’s represented in the table?  What do the rows and columns represent?  What are the units?  What are the patterns in the data? When Scientists Disagree • Decide what the scientists are trying to explain. • Circle each of their hypothesis’s and put them in your own words • Decide the strengths and weaknesses of each scientist’s viewpoints. How Experiments Work • Experiments have three components: – 1) Purpose – 2) Method – 3) Results The Three Components • The purpose: Scientists perform experiments to test their theories about the cause-and-effect relationships a work in a system. • The method: One parameter of a system, the controlled variable, is varied while everything else is held constant and the system is observed • The results: Scientists formulate general conclusions based on the specific results of experiments. Deciphering data and perceiving Patterns Glance at the graphs,tables,and diagrams on your fist read through and determine what is represented. Don’t try to memorize the information in the graphs, tables, and Diagrams. Do not waste time with analyzing data before you’re sure you need it to answer the questions. Refer back to find specific information you need when you are answering the questions. Data Representation • Skip over complicated terms when reading the passage for the first time. • Scientific terms will be defined if you need them to answer questions. • If you don’t understand a passage, answer as many questions as you can with the information in the graphs, tables, and diagrams that accompany the passage Data Representation • Although ACT Science Reasoning passages cover difficult material, many of the questions can be answered with just a cursory understanding of the passage. • You don’t get more points for answering hard questions on the ACT, so do the passages and questions that are easier first and, then go back and work on the hard ones. Don’t let the graphs confuse you! 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr East West North • Don’t be confused but all the graphs and scientific terminology. • If you skip over the terms, or use common sense to substitute a word, you may find it easier and less confusing. Practice Quizzes! • If you have access to the ACT Trainer, worksheets, science books, or graphs you may want to study or look over those to see what the science test may contain. • Learning to read graphs may help you to answer the questions easily and more efficiently. Practice Quizzes Two! • You may also want to quiz yourself to see what areas you want to work on before you take the actual ACT. • Getting an ACT packet and taking the Science practice quiz, as well as the others, may help you in the long run to do a better job on the actual ACT. Tips on Improving Your Score. 1.) Don’t be fooled by terminology. 2.) Don’t let the data on the graphs confuse you. 3.) Make sure you look at 4.)Check the graphs for the proper graph for that patterns, such as increase particular question. or decrease in data.