<p>Just got my ACT score from the September test. 31 composite: 34 in english, 31 in math, 34 in reading, 25 in science. Taking the test again in October and want to improve my science score since it totally screwed me over. What's the best way to improve it?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Only 1-4 questions per test on the science section require knowledge not given to you in the text. These are basic questions like what is cyctoplasm or how does electricity move thru metal or what is water made of.</p></li>
<li><p>Every answer (except those above) can be answered with ZERO scientific knowledge, although it does help.</p></li>
<li><p>Roughly 30 of the 40 questions refer to graphs. All you have to do is read the question, match to the graph, and get your answer.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The science section consists of 7 passages. 3 five questioners, 3 six questioners, and 1 seven questioner. 5ers are the easy one. You should almost never need to read anything but the graphs. 6ers are a little bit more difficult being roughly 70% graphs. 7ers are 0% graphs and all reading comprehension.</p>
<p>Now that you know the break down, simply count the questions for each passage before starting. If it has 5 questions do not look at the passage. If it has 6, only read the passage if the questions calls for it. Read the entire 7 question passage focusing on the first and last sentences of each scientist viewpoint.</p>
<p>When taking the test, complete the passages in this order: 5ers, 6ers, 7er. If this means skipping around, DO IT! This is very important. It lets start on the easy questions letting you rush through those. Next you can go relatively quickly on the 6ers. Lastly, you can take your time and read the conflicting viewpoints passage (7er) fully. With some practice, you should be able to finish the test with 5 minutes to spare to review questions you were unsure of.</p>
<p>While taking the test, if you do not quickly know the answer to a 5er or 6er, mark the question and go on.</p>
<p>The ACT Black Book is excellent. It teaches strategy as well as the required knowledge for the english and math sections. Definitely get it.</p>
<p>Analyze scores and questions missed for trends in your strengths and weaknesses. This step is difficult and time consuming. However, if you truly want to increase your scores, you MUST do this. There’s recently been studies showing just how much self analyzing can improve you.
For an example, I’ll use my scores. After I had taken 5 practice tests, both real and fake, I did the following:
a. Totaled all my missed questions
b. Added the numbers together per section.
c. Catorgorized missed questions.
I sorted using titles like these: For English: Passage Analysis, Sentance Sorting/adding, Comma Rules
For math: Sin/cos/tan, graphs, etc.
Reading: Passage analysis, details in passage, inference
Science: Details in passage, details in graph, science knowledge
I also added a “dumb mistakes” catagory to all sections
After doing this, I was able to view my weaknesses on a practical level. I found that of all missed english questions, 27% were passage analysis mistakes and 27% were dumb mistakes. These were the biggest percents.
For math, I found that at 46%, my biggest errors were dumb mistakes.
For reading, I found my biggests mistakes were again passage analysis
For science, it was dumb mistakes.</p>
<p>Now that I knew my weaknesses, i could fix them. For dumb mistakes in English, I made myself slow down. For the passage analysis questions, I followed these guidelines: The sentance added must completely fit with the preceding sentance and the one after it. I was able to effectively fix my mistakes.</p>
<p>Here’s another good guide <a href=“Jeandevaches' Guide to the ACT - ACT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/act-preparation/1071765-jeandevaches-guide-to-the-act.html</a></p>
<p>Hope all this helps!</p>
<p>I got a 29 on science 
I’m not taking it again though. </p>
<p>I am gonna make a thread, I went from a 25-36(in science) in like 12 days.</p>
<p>I just took it my first time and without prep I got a 34. That said, I did get a 25 on writing so I guess we all have strengths and weaknesses. One thing that really helped me was a general knowledge of science subjects. Knowing stuff like Moles (chem), time vs position graphs (physics), and basic functions in biology. All these things are discernible from the texts given but are huge time sinks. Do practice problems and really pick up on the basic material in them. Obviously you won’t have to know the diffusion rate of helium into argon gas but knowing how pressure is affected by temperature and moles would do wonders.</p>