<p>Ohhkay… so How hard is ACT sciences? what does the ACT test in the science component… what should I know? And how advanced is the Math one… U prob discussed this before but I didn’t find my ans… any help?
Thanks!!</p>
<p>it’s more of a scientific reasoning test; it tests how well you can analyze data and experiments; also it tests speed on top of that</p>
<p>ohhhkay… so what shall i enter knowing?!</p>
<p>you dont really need to know anything about science but it will help you. The december act had physics on it and some chem.</p>
<p>The problem is that there is very limited time…son says dont waste time reading the paragraphs…most questions are answered by referring to charts…you should do a timed practice test</p>
<p>Definitely helps a ton to know your sciences and be good at science along with pure common sense. Like all parts of the ACT you have to move fast and finish the questions to get a good score, so again, knowing your science could let you zip through maybe 10-15 of the questions w/o referencing the passage.</p>
<p>I took the DEC ACT as my 1st ACT after getting a 195 on the PSAT (fed up with the riddles and tricks of the SAT) and scored a 31 composite – 35 on the science subsection. Just take it, I did not prep for it and did fine.</p>
<p>The science is not as hard as you mY think. You only really need to know the most basic concepts (such as what a control is in an experiment.) I’ve found that with a good percentage of the questions, you don’t even need to pay that close attention to the passages. As long as you can interpret a graph and be logical, you should be fine. </p>
<p>This was my strategy when I took the science test. I read through the passages quickly while underlining important terms and definitions. If the passage was too wordy, I just skimmed. Then I answered all the questions I could easily answer. Then I spent some time deliberating the harder ones and rereading over portions of the passage. Keep in mind that you can only spend five minutes on each passage. Finish the easy ones quickly so that you can spend more time on the hard ones. I just got a 34 on the December science test with this strategy.</p>
<p>As for the math, most of it is pretty simple, but there a couple trig and logarithm questions. If you get a test prep book, it will explain everything you need to know.</p>
<p>Good luck! I hope this helps. But seriously, don’t stress over the science.</p>
<p>Lol, I didn’t even read the passages. I read online that they are about 65% completely extraneous info, so I my though process was like a flow chart:</p>
<p>Read question —> Understand it? —> Answer it w/ previous knowledge? —> Find it in passage</p>
<p>That’s my impression of the passages too. They are like a trap. You could spend forever trying to decipher some of those passages, and if you do, you won’t even have time for the questions. The passages aren’t supposed to be a reading comprehension test. Up you only have to understand 5-10%. Lol</p>
<p>ohhkay… Thanks guys! It sounds a lot more different than the SAT’s than I thought… So what score is equivalent to a 2000+ on SAT… like ivy league material? also, how harder than the SAT’s is the Math component? I hear it’s way harder… 
And thanks a lot for sharing! 
Also, the Eng component I hear is Easier in ACT… (huh?!)</p>
<p>ANd someone said “the dec one had phys and some chem” (!!!)… so u basically don’t KNOW what is coming?! what will u be tested in? Just like SAT’s then? ohhkayy… now u know I REALLY never saw an ACT before …lol… cuz i haven’t… :)</p>
<p>An average score for most ivies is probably from 31-35 (composite). You will not know what you are tested on in science, but it really shouldn’t matter as long as you have good reasoning skills. Some people think the ACT math is harder. I think it is easier. It is more straightforward, but you have to work within the time constraints. The English is basically the same thing as the section on the SAT where you improve a passage. I forget what it’s called… If you are good at those, the ACT grammar will be super easy.</p>
<p>thanks a lot! any one else like to add their experience maybe? :)</p>
<p>Science in December was easier than usual… I got a composite 31 and a 35 on science… It all depends what subjects are covered, and what you’ve taken in HS…</p>
<p>It seems like the ACT English tests more grammar concepts.</p>
<p>It’s nice to have some basic science concepts down from your high school courses. But that being said, sometimes knowing too much makes you overthink the problems. I tend to work from the questions and then try to find the answers from the graphs. It its clear that the answer is somewhere in the passage, I skip the question. When I reach the end of the set of questions for a particular passage, then I read the passage to find answers. But you honestly don’t need to know any crazy science to take the ACT. Just understand trends and how to analyze graphs.</p>