Skip to Main Content

Pacing & Guessing Strategies for Science


Kat  Thomson
Lesson by Kat Thomson
Magoosh Expert

Summary
The content provides strategic advice for tackling the Science section of the ACT exam, focusing on pacing and guessing techniques to optimize test performance.
  • Prioritize quick-to-answer questions and save conflicting viewpoints passages, which are text-heavy and time-consuming, for last.
  • Use two timers to manage pacing: one for overall passage time (aim for 5 minutes per passage) and another for individual questions (aim for 50 seconds per question, not exceeding 75 seconds).
  • In cases of having to guess on questions, employ strategies such as choosing the 'too obvious' option or, for increase-decrease questions, selecting either 'increase only' or 'decrease only' based on statistical likelihood.
  • While guessing strategies can slightly improve odds, the best way to enhance scores is through thorough preparation, including lesson reviews and flashcard practice.
  • Understanding scientific concepts, despite common beliefs, can provide a significant advantage in the Science section.
Chapters
00:00
Pacing Strategies
01:02
Timing Guidelines
06:58
Improving Your Score

Related Blog Posts