Introduction vii
Chapter 1: An Overview of the ACT Science Test 1
Passage Types 1
Overall Test Structure and Content Coverage 2
Science Content Coverage 2
Reporting Categories 3
Test Timing and Time Management 4
Format of this guide 5
Chapter 2: Data Representation Passages 7
Passages on the ACT Science Test 7
What You Can Expect from a Data Representation Passage 9
Trying Your Hand at a Data Representation Passage 11
Summary 21
Chapter 3: Research Summaries Passages 23
What You Can Expect from a Research Summaries Passage 23
How You Should Approach a Research Summaries Passage 24
Trying Your Hand at a Research Summaries Passage 26
Sample Question Answers and Analysis 32
Summary 36
Chapter 4: Conflicting Viewpoints Passages 39
What You Can Expect from a Conflicting Viewpoints Passage 39
Trying Your Hand at a Conflicting Viewpoints Passage 41
Summary 50
Chapter 5: Reporting Category: Interpretation of Data 53
Understanding What a Reporting Category Is 53
Interpretation of Data 55
Summary 69
Chapter 6: Reporting Category: Evaluating Models and Scientific
Arguments with Evidence 71
Evaluating Models and Scientific Arguments with Evidence 72
Summary 84
Chapter 7: Reporting Category: Scientific Investigation 85
Scientific Investigation 86
Summary 93
Chapter 8: Science Basics 95
Understanding What Science Is on the ACT 95
Understanding What the Scientific Method and the Process of Science Are 96
Steps of the Scientific Method 97
Experimental Design 100
Summary 105
Chapter 9: Graphs and Charts on the ACT Science Test 107
Reading Graphs 107
Understanding Data Shown in Tables 111
Relationships Shown in Graphs and Data Sets 113
Summary 117
Chapter 10: Scientific Units and Measurements 119
Units in Science 119
The International System of Units (SI) 119
Units and Measures on the ACT Science Test 122
Summary 124
Chapter 11: Science Vocabulary 125
The Vocabulary of Science 125
General Scientific Terms 126
Subject-Specific Terminology 129
Chemistry Terminology 129
Concentration, pH, and Acid-Base Titrations 132
Biology Terminology 133
Physics Terminology 139
Properties of a Wave and the Electromagnetic Spectrum 140
Earth and Space Science Terminology 141
Summary 147
Chapter 12: Practice Questions 149
Chapter 13: Answers and Explanations 305
Answer Key 306
Explanatory Answers 308