Types of Questions
This type of question is fairly straightforward and simply requires you to read and interpret the information presented
A. Data Representation
B. Research Summaries
C. Conflicting Viewpoints
Data Representation
How many questions are on ACT Science?
40
True/False: Read the whole passage in full and try to absorb as much information as possible.
False. Use locators to determine the answer.
Passage IV
20. According to Tables 1 and 2, as the mass of successive sucrose samples increased, the change in the water temperature produced when the sample was burned most likely:
F. increased only.
G. decreased only.
H. increased, then decreased.
J. remained the same.
F is the best answer.
Passage V
25. According to Figure 1, as the temperature of liquid water decreases from 10°C to 0°C, the density:
A. increases only.
B. decreases only.
C. decreases, then increases.
D. increases, then decreases.
D is the best answer.
This type of question presents a series of different experiments on the same topic. They may ask about the design of the experiment and how a hypothesis is tested, confirmed, or refuted.
A. Data Representation
B. Research Summaries
C. Conflicting Viewpoints
Research Summary
How much time do you have to complete ACT Science?
35 minutes
You will probably need a calculator to answer some of the questions in ACT Science (even though you won't have access to one)
False. Any information you need is on the page or in the passage. Use simple math (round, estimate, and approximate).
Passage IV
21.Which of the following graphs best illustrates the relationship between the heat released by the foods listed in Table 1 and the change in water temperature?
B is the best answer.
Passage V
26. A student claimed that “If the masses of 1 cm3 of any solid and 1 cm3 of any liquid are compared, the mass of the solid will be greater.” Do the data in Table 1 support his claim?
F. No; lead has a higher density than any of the liquids listed.
G. No; mercury has a higher density than any of the solids listed.
H. Yes; lead has a higher density than any of the liquids listed.
J. Yes; mercury has a higher density than any of the solids listed.
G is the best answer.
These types of questions are typically seen as the easiest on ACT Science
A. Data Representation
B. Research Summaries
C. Conflicting Viewpoints
Data Representation
ACT Science is made up of how many passages? (range)
6-7 passages
True/False: You do not need to know much Science knowledge to do well on this test. 90-95 percent of the questions are not based on content knowledge.
True! only 5-10 percent of ACT Science questions require you to know science knowledge that isn't written on the page. (For example, you may need to know what volume is, or the periodic symbol for iron.)
Passage IV
22. Based on the data in Table 2, one can conclude that when the mass of sucrose is decreased by one-half, the amount of heat released when it is burned in a bomb calorimeter will:
F. increase by one-half.
G. decrease by one-half.
H. increase by one-fourth.
J. decrease by one-fourth.
G is the best answer.
Passage V
27. Which of the following hypotheses about the relation- ship between the temperature and the density of a solid is best supported by the data in Figure 2? As the temperature of a solid increases, the density of the solid:
A. increases only.
B. decreases only.
C. increases, then decreases.
D. decreases, then increases.
B is the best answer.
These types of questions are typically seen as the most difficult in ACT Science
A. Data Representation
B. Research Summaries
C. Conflicting Viewpoints
Conflicting Viewpoints
Name 3 of the 4 categories of Science tested on the ACT.
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth/Space Science
True/False: If you're having a difficult time getting to all of the passages, you may consider skipping 1 or 2 of them all together.
True. Skipping one or two passages could give you a little extra time to spend on the other passages. Don't forget to still make guesses on skipped questions!
Passage IV
23. Which of the following lists the foods from Tables 1 and 2 in increasing order of the amount of heat released per gram of food?
A. Potato, egg, bread, sucrose, cheese
B. Sucrose, cheese, bread, egg, potato
C. Bread, cheese, egg, potato, sucrose
D. Sucrose, potato, egg, bread, cheese
A is the best answer.
Passage V
28. Equal amounts of ethyl ether, mercury, and water (density = 0.9971 g/cm3) at 25°C are poured into a single beaker. Three distinct layers of liquid form in the beaker. Based on the data in Table 1, which of the following diagrams represents the order, from top to bottom, of the liquids in the beaker?
F. Ethyl ether, Water, Mercury
G. Ethyl ether, Mercury, Water
H. Mercury, Water, Ethyl ether
J. Water, Ethyl ether, Mercury
F is the best answer.
These questions/passages give several competing hypotheses. You will be asked to understand the hypotheses, both on their own and in relation to each other.
A. Data Representation
B. Research Summaries
C. Conflicting Viewpoints
Conflicting Viewpoints
Which question type shows up the MOST on the Science ACT?
A. Data Representation
B. Research Summaries
C. Conflicting Viewpoints
Research Summary questions make up 45%-55% of ACT Science test. (about 18-22 questions)
True/False: You should find the Conflicting Viewpoints passage FIRST and complete it at the very beginning of the testing time.
False! Conflicting Viewpoints passages and questions are more difficult and can be time consuming. You should skip the Conflicting Viewpoints passage and save it for last so that you have enough time to answer the easier questions.
Passage IV
24. Based on the information in Tables 1 and 2, the heat released from the burning of 5.0 g of potato in a bomb calorimeter would be closest to which of the following?
F. 5 kJ
G. 10 kJ
H. 15 kJ
J. 20 kJ
H is the best answer.
Passage V
29. According to Figure 1, 100 g of water at 4°C would exactly fill a container having which of the following volumes?
A. 1 cm3
B. 10 cm3
C. 100 cm3
D. 1,000 cm3
C is the best answer.