ACT Science Compilation of Background Knowledge

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
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<p>Ok, I thought it would be a good idea to post any topics/concepts that have been needed (as background knowledge) to answer a question correctly on any past official ACT Science section (including the Red Book and other Practice Tests). Though ACT claims you need "no background knowledge", we all know this to not be entirely true. This will be a good way to know just what might show up as knowledge you simply need to know to answer a question. Please also list the test where that particular piece of knowledge was required. </p>

<p>Here's a few that I remember off the top of my head:
-Stages of Mitosis (June 08 ACT)
-Viscosity (June 08 ACT)</p>

<p>Post any more you guys know of! I will add more to the list later.</p>

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<p>I just took the test you took haha. </p>

<p>Basics of photosynthesis (Identifying C6H12O6 as a sugar) … one of the tests</p>

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<p>Woops, double post</p>

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<p>June 2010, you needed to know that the colon was in the digestive system and something about how oxidizing releases O2.</p>

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<p>Updated:
-Stages of Mitosis (June 08 ACT)
-Viscosity (June 08 ACT)
-Total Mechanical Energy at Various Points (June 08 ACT)
-Opposite Charges Attract (June 08 ACT)
-Colon is in Digestive System (June 10 ACT)
-Oxidation (June 10 ACT)</p>

<p>@RAlec- Tell me specifically which test that info was required in. Thanks.</p>

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<p>Bump, anyone else?</p>

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<p>The viscosity threw me off. Who knew that the lower the number, the higher the viscosity! Lol. Well that test had a good curve at least</p>

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<p>^IMO, that was still one of the worst Science sections ever made. At least 5 questions required background knowledge. I usually get at least 33 on Science and I got a 29 on that section.</p>

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<p>My problem with that section was in the physics cart and loop diagram. I thought that the loop was a ball rolling down the rampp lol</p>

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<p>This is a great thread… I need all the help i can get in science. Also you need to know about kinetic/mechanical energy</p>

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<p>Yeah, in the 2009 Preparing for the ACT booklet, you had to know that sugar is C6H12O6. You also had to know the chloroplasts perform photosynthesis- knowing your cell parts would help.</p>

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<p>Quote:Though ACT claims you need “no background knowledge”</p>

<p>Your’re wrong there Lightsource. The Red Book clearly sated that some questions do require background knowledge and the test assumes that students are taking their science classes. Fortunately though, these questions will usually be stuff you probably will know (hopefully anyways).</p>

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<p>^What I meant was that most people taking the ACT assume that they don’t need to know any background knowledge.</p>

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<p>I remember that old June 2008 science section - a pesky thing. It ended up being my highest score on that section, and overall too, surprisingly enough to me because I thought it was harder than most ACTs I had taken.</p>

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<p>You guys know that these topics won’t ever appear again, right? At least, in the next 2-3 years.</p>

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<p>^What’s your support for that statement?</p>

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<p>I’m saying that I don’t need any reason for collecting these topics.</p>

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<p>^No one is forcing you to use it. For the people that need it, this list will he here.</p>

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<p>I admire what you’re doing LightSource, but webass does have a point. The ACT probably won’t be testing these concepts again. However, your list gives a good idea on the difficulty and range of the knowledge-based science questions. Good work!</p>

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<p>My tutor gave me really old tests from like 2003-2006 and there was stuff about which planet is closest to the sun and what kind of animal a lizard is. That’s all i remember.</p>