The dreaded science section.

<p>Ok, maybe this section is not dreaded. Actually, it is one one of my favorites on the test since the answers are right in front of you. However, the timing here seems (to me) especially demanding. I have been taking 5-7min more than permitted on practice exams. Does anyone have a certain strategy that has helped in the past to finish the science section in time? A friend recommended skipping the reading altogether, but has proved to be very inconvenient. Perhaps, I should skip the last two questions from each set and come back if there is time?</p>

<p>*skipping the reading altogether and only studying the graphs/tables.</p>

<p>Most of the reading is just background information, you could skip it if you know the topic.</p>

<p>DO NOT DO THE READING...GRAPHS, GRAPHS, GRAPHS!</p>

<p>that's all you need. Some questions though (like 1 in every passage), ask you about a minor detail from the passage reading, which you can just skim and find the answer to...</p>

<p>whoa...hold on...I would do the reading if I were you. I would identify what's being tested and the materials used. Then interpret the charts/graphs. Is there a decrease or increase in the results? Look at the trends. What is the independant/dependant variable? Do those questions first with the graphs and charts, and save the fighting scientists last. For the fighting scientists, identify what the both agree on and what they disagree on. Find out why their opinions differ. Good luck! I love science, and this was my hardest section on the act's!</p>

<p>thank you for the tip shobhit2006. You suggested a new strategy that may save me time, and I will certainly try it.</p>

<p>okay the ACTs are on saturday...any fast tips to getting a score up? its weird...i usually get a 30 on the science section on the real tests, but with all of the practice tests in the books, my score has been dropping. is that normal? are the science sections in the books harder? what do you think?</p>

<p>wow..you're freaking out about getting a 30? </p>

<p>Keep practicing on the real tests and you're golden. The closest practice tests to the real deal IMO is either Kaplan's or PR's.</p>

<p>no, you misinterpreted what i said. im not one of THOSE CC kids that are like "omg 34, i wont get in ANYWHERE!" or "can i get into ____ University with a 2390 and a 4.0? what are my chances?" or "is there anyway i can raise my 35 to a 36 in one week?"</p>

<p>its just that in the practice tests, ive been scoring lower than 30. like significantly lower. ive gone through the 3 tests in the Cliffs Notes book, the 1 test in the ACT cram book, the 3 tests in the Petersons guide, 1 random practice test from Kaplan, and 1 test that i downloaded off of the internet. and i always got lower than my usual score.</p>

<p>I'm so glad you're not one of <em>them</em>! I would just use the Real Act's made by none other-ACT Inc and use the PR book. There are quite a few books where they make the subject harder than what it really is. I never took the PR tests but I've heard that it's good (I can't say that because I took the Kaplan Classroom course so I used only Kaplan's tests). But if all else fails...practice on the real deal.</p>