<p>Tbh the people who say they scored 34+ while not reading anything besides the graphs are probably liars. You cannot possibly understand the experiments/data without reading the intro. If you somehow do, it’s just lucky that you were familiar with a particular area. </p>
<p>From my experience with the test, I think you have to read the passages really quickly and then start answering the questions. It’s the hardest section imo.</p>
<p>@Bubinski</p>
<p>I do not think so…
It’s possible to understand graph without reading intro( although it’s highly recommended).But it’s impossible for people who are not adequate graph readers.</p>
<p>I think I am a tad qualified in this because by some stroke of luck I received a 36 on this subtest. Not to gloat, but I feel that I can help you out a little bit :)</p>
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<p>I always viewed conflicting view points as simply an extension of the reading section. I would try to tackle them in the exact same way. However, I think what throws a lot of people off is that they in fact, as the name suggests, conflict with one another. One might get intimidated because they feel like they have to make a choice between A or B without any real knowledge of the scientific concepts being discussed. </p>
<p>One thing that helped me to minimize this is to simply read passage one and then go down to the questions and fill out only the questions that relate to passage one alone. Meaning, if it asks, “How did scientist 1 account for the extension of dinosaurs” I would answer that question right after passage 1 without reading passage 2. This way you keep things as fresh as possible. So after I finished all of the “passage 1 only” questions I would read passage 2 and answer all of the “passage 2 only” questions. Finally I would answer the questions that referenced both passages.</p>
<p>Reading questions first has never helped me. If you are really struggling and test time is near, I would suggest skipping that section and then coming back to it after you have answered all of the questions on the diagrams, which you say that you are stronger at. At least then you answer all of the higher probability questions…</p>
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Simple don’t try to connect those concepts to what you know. Simply take the concept of “hydrolyzation” (whatever that is), for example, as a word that they are talking about, if that makes sense. The actual science that is going on in the test is more or less irrelevant from my point of view. The test is called “Science Reasoning” for a reason. Simply take it as a word that they are discussing. Almost, if not all, questions on this test can be answered with the info given inside for the tests themselves.</p>
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This happened to me on every test I took. The way to get around it is to simply take what they say at face value, if they say a meteorite killed the dinos and caused metamorphic algae to spawn, then metamorphic algae spawned… What that exactly means is irrelevant to the test.</p>
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half of these tests is finding out what works for you. Reading questions first didn’t help me either, so don’t force yourself to do it.</p>
<p>Also, I did not order my test books back, so I can not validate any of the information on the grading metric.</p>
<p>@bublinski, reading the passage kills time, for most passages if you understand what they are measuring in the graphs you shouldnt have any problems. Had no idea what was happening in one of the passages and got a 35.</p>
<p>@tambrico2 I think it’s rather I get very nervous about reading all the science text within a certain amount of time, instead of not understanding science passage at all. But that’s a good point. Reading lots of science articles (with a timer on) would help me getting rid of the fear. Fear always block me from actually understanding the passage, I think. Thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>@Bubinski I get almost everything right except for the conflicting viewpoints, and what I do is reading questions first (and read direction when the question requires further reasoning)… But it doesn’t work for conflicting view point, of course lol. </p>
<p>@Subcomfreak Thanks for the really detailed answer. I actually managed to get much better science score on PR yesterday, and I think what I did there was what you said: take what you read as what it is, instead of thinking too hard. I didn’t realize, though, that’s what I did until I saw your answer. And congrats for 36 on science!</p>
<p>I always read scientist 1 viewpoint, then answer the questions that pertain to scientist 1 only (and knock out answer choices on questions like “scientist 1 and 2 differ in their opinion on ____ because scientist 1 believes that _____ while scientist thinks ____”)
Then I go back and read scientist 2, and answer the remaining questions. </p>
<p>This helps me a lot because I have issues remembering which scientist said what when I read under time constraints. </p>
<p>Every other strategy I use was stated already.</p>
<p>My honest belief is that you just have a knack for it or you don’t. I personally don’t have the knack. The science is an atrocious section for me, but I somehow managed to get a 28 on it. I know a 28 isn’t great, but considering it is my weakest section, I’m running with it. (I’m horrible in science in school as well).</p>
<p>I did over a million (I mean it lol) practice tests of just the science and never could get into the 30+ range. Fortunately, I pulled 34 35 35 in the other 3 sections so still ended up with a 33 composite. If you are good in the other sections it may not matter as much as you think, depending on what your target score is. IMO the other 3 sections are much easier to get your score up in, as they can actually be studied or just improved with pace adjustments, so perhaps start there.</p>
<p>So in short, what’s my hindsight wisdom? Put your efforts into perfecting the other sections lol the science is just hopeless for some of us ;)</p>
<p>@baileyj57 Thanks for the tip. I gotta try that</p>
<p>@cakebatter Ah, it’s just conflicting view point to let the whole section go… I get 4 wrongs for science, and that’s all conflicting view point… Gotta catch this and not let the composite score to go down…</p>
<p>Doing for scientist one first also helps you get more questions done if you are pressed on time.</p>