<p>I've taken the ACT twice this year, and each time my science section is much lower than all my other scores for other sections. I dont know why, but I can never finish the science section on time and always have to fill in the last 5 bubbles with random guesses.
How can I prepare for the science portion efficiently? Any advice/suggestions?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>No, you’re not dumb. Lots of people have trouble with the science section, but the best way to improve is just to take a lot of practice tests. It will help improve your speed and get you more used to reading the graphs and finding the answers faster. Also, do you read the passages? Except for in the opposing viewpoints section, do not even bother reading the passage. It is a unecessary waste of time and in most cases you can get the answers by just looking at the graphs.</p>
<p>No, everybody I know hates the science section with a passion (myself included). Science is usually my lowest score too.</p>
<p>Science was my highest score but it was on some fake practice test</p>
<p>don’t feel bad. I absolutely despise the science portion. I’m a math and science guy, but I ended up getting a 30 on Science. when i took ACT, science felt more like Reading than reading itself. i hated it.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry for the double post. I didn’t see the second part of your question.
Improve: PRACTICE! take a lot of practice, I think eventually you’ll get the grip. Also, I also like to do the compare hypothesis/scientist one first cuz it’s a good transition from Reading to Science. After that, I do the easier ones, like for me, i’ve never taken physics, so i get a bit intimidated even though I know I don’t need to know science to do well on the science portion. I would skip physics and come back at the end. Lastly, do the graph ones before you do the experiment passages. those are always a piece of cake.</p>
<p>My method differs from Azn, but whatever works for the individual 
I like to use the “5-5-5, 6-6-6, 7” system. There are 3 experiments with only 5 questions, 3 with 6 questions, and 1 experiment with 7 questions (typically the passage with contrasting theories). I do all the easy ones first (the 5’s and 6’s) so I can get as many correct as possible, and leave the 7-question experiment for last since most likely I’ll be short on time by then. I like to leave the longest one for last just because I know I’ll spend too much time on it and waste the time I could have spent answering the easy ones. </p>
<p>And don’t worry, I think a lot of people have science as their lowest score. Personally, I would love to see the people who write the science portion get a 36 on it in the time allotted. Practice practice practice :)</p>
<p>The Science section is basically designed to intimidate you. Just take enough practice tests so you can quickly translate the Klingon to English and you’ll probably see your score go up a few points (at least). </p>
<p>Like the other CC’ers have already suggested, skip or skim the introductory passages and jump to the questions except in the case of the arguing scientists section. Most of the questions at the beginning of each section deal with simple questions about the graphs, so the initial questions will actually prepare you for the later ones.</p>
<p>Remember that the Science test is basically a graph reading test with a bunch of jargon thrown in there. Don’t be intimidated by the abstract units and big words. </p>
<p>And a final word of encouragement: you’re not stupid if you can’t score well on the Science section. Rarely ever does it test actual science knowledge at all.</p>
<p>the science section is mainly paying attention to details. i would recommend working slowly in order to minimize mistakes. like the CR section of sat, dont look for the “correct” answer, eliminate all the wrongs answers.</p>