The Science SectionAn Overview

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40 MC questions in 35 minutes

Not a test of your Scientific Knowledge

A Reasoning Test

The Basics

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Data Representation (2-3 passages)

Research Summary (3-4 passages)

Conflicting Viewpoints (1-2 passages)

Three Types of Passages

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General Strategies

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ALWAYS GUESS! Don’t leave any answers blank.The process of elimination can be especially useful in this section.

Test Tips

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Process of Elimination Basics

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Process of Elimination: A Step Up

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Underline KEY WORDS as you read passages AND questions. Words like increase, decrease are usually very important.

Finding What’s Important

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Watch Out!

Watch out for questions that include the following words: all, none, always, never

Don’t fixate on a stubborn question–while it’s always tempting to try to crack that one stumper, it’s not worth it after a certain point.

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Watch Out!

Answers that look the same / have slight differences

Yes/No +Justification 10

Order

Take a moment to order the passages by difficulty. Figure out which ones you will do first.

Personal Order of Difficulty

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Science Section Specifics

Data Representation

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Specifics

Start out with intuitive passages(These are typically Data

Representation)

They have:TrendsPatternsEasy-to-analyze Relationships 13

Typically the most straightforward passages (as well as the quickest)

Can you look at a graph/table/chart, figure out what it’s trying to tell you, and draw a conclusion?

Dealing with Data

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Analyzing Graphs

Determine what relationships variables have with each other. Direct? Inverse? No relationship?

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Causation vs. Correlation

The most important statistical concept you will ever experience.

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Multiple GraphsBe careful when dealing with many graphs on one set of axes!

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Multiple Graphs

Don’t be intimidated, but make sure you are looking at the right line!

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Another Multi-Graph Example

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Graphs can be Intimidating

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Check the units on graph axes, especially time intervals.

Given a table, make sure you’re looking at the right line! Things can get cluttered!

Be Careful!

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Draw arrows to indicate trends!

*Princeton Review

Regarding Data Tables

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Is this object moving?

Rates! Position vs. Velocity

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More Rates!

Could this object be moving?

How is this object behaving?

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Think as if it were a Position vs. Time graph! Where is this reaction fastest?

A Brief Look at Chemistry

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Is this object speeding up or slowing down?Remember: acceleration is how fast velocity is changing!

A Look Back at Acceleration

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Science Section Specifics

Research Summary

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Typically longer than the simpler data representation sections

Descriptions of multiple experiments along with graphs/tables/charts

Second Order of Difficulty

Research Summary

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Know what’s going on–underline the purpose!

Make Notes–this will be a useful tool when going back to the experiments.

The Essentials

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Look at the right experiment!!

Watch out for units.

Be Careful!

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More Be Careful!

Complex scientific terms may appear. Don’t be intimidated by them–they will always be defined.

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Remember that if they bother to mention something in the experiment description, it’s usually relevant to one of the variables tested.

WHY are they doing this? Questions about Purpose

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The Red Herring

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Science Section Specifics

Conflicting Viewpoints (the Fighting Scientists)

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Two or more viewpoints on a scientific issue presented in paragraph form.

Similarities and Differences

Generally considered the hardest problem type–the key is in the method.

The Arguing Scientists Problem

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Keeping Track

Underline key assertions!

Make some brief notes beside each argument to capture the gist

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Read one viewpoint at a time, and address individual questions

Then answer questions for both. Do broader questions last, once you have an idea of the subjects and arguments.

One Step at a Time

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In Summary

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What to do with these Strategies?

The best thing to do is to apply them practically through practice questions.

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Going Forward

The state-sponsored ACT is about two weeks away.

Get a review book from the CRC or EPHS/EP Library.

Science textbooks won’t help very much.40

Practice Tests

Real Testing Conditions

Don’t wait until the last minute!

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Mistakes

Know WHY certain mistakes happen.

Specific improvements

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Final Thoughts

If you’re not a science person…

A high scorer is not necessarily the one with the most background knowledge.

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Good Testing Habits

Relax the day before the test–don’t overwork yourself.

Get enough sleep the night of the test–and the night before, and the night before.

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An Uncommon Trick

Practice Guided Imagery a few moments before the test or the same morning.

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Mr. Holm’s Session!

Next week’s prep session will be in the PAC, led by Mr. Holm

A comprehensive review on the Essay section

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We Hope This Helps.

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