<p>I've taken the SAT three times and scored very badly each time. I decided to take the ACT was one final attempt to polish up my applications. However, I'm not sure of a few things...</p>
<p>1) What calculator I can use. It says Ti-89s are prohibited? What calculator did you use? What calculator would you recommend?</p>
<p>2) The science concepts I need to understand. If someone could give a quick overview.</p>
<p>3) How it is scored. Are you penalized for wrong answers as in the SAT? If so, how much are you penalized? 1/4 of a point?</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I really need those questions answered, but feel free to give other advice!</p>
<p>1) I used a TI-83+, which is basically what nearly everyone I know uses for every standardized test. 83, 83+, or 84 are all fine.
2)There are -no- concepts you need to understand. ACT science tests your science reasoning ability. You will need to be able to read graphs and charts, understand experimental designs, interpret the data, identify variables or controls in experiments, predict experimental results, and draw conclusions or identify trends. All the answers to science questions come from information given to you in passages. Passage topics range through every scientific discipline, from genetics to quantum physics to earth science. The hardest thing about the ACT Science is definitely the time limit, so make sure you do practice in a timed environment.
3) You are NOT penalized for incorrect answers on the ACT. Answer every question, even if you have to guess.</p>
<p>So I don't have to know anything about science in order to do well on the science portion? So in that sense is it kind of like the SAT math where you don't really need to be good at math, just SAT math.</p>
<p>ehh not really
It's not SCIENCE
its more like Critical Reading if you really wanna compare it to the SATs
They give you ALL the info you need (in passages or charts and graphs), then u just have to answer the questions based on All of the information they give you!</p>
<p>uh a few questions you need outside knowledge, or outside knowledge could greatly improve your scores. For example, if you have no idea how like chemistry work, the chemistry passages may confuse the hell out of you. Also, on the ACT i took, you needed to know what gametes were to get that question right.</p>