Science Knowledge on the ACT Science Test
Summary
The ACT Science Test mostly measures data analysis and reasoning rather than deep science content knowledge, but a basic foundation in science still helps with several questions and improves comfort with the passages overall. Students aiming for top scores should review essential concepts, especially the scientific method and broad introductory science topics, instead of ignoring outside knowledge entirely.
- The ACT Science Test emphasizes skills such as reading charts and graphs and drawing inferences from data, so most questions do not require outside science knowledge.
- Basic science knowledge still matters because some questions expect you to recognize terms, processes, or concepts that are not defined in the passage.
- A guess-and-move-on approach can work for many students, but students targeting the highest scores benefit from strengthening their science fundamentals.
- Preparation should focus on reviewing the scientific method, refreshing basic textbook-level science topics, and staying engaged in current science classes through notes, outlines, and flashcards.
- Extra reading in science magazines or journals can build familiarity with scientific material, and even topics that are not directly tested can make passages easier to understand.
- Some knowledge questions are direct, such as identifying mitosis from a figure, while others are disguised within data interpretation and require background knowledge to connect melting point and boiling point to states of matter.
- To solve state-of-matter questions, compare the given temperature to each substance's melting and boiling points: below melting point means solid, between melting and boiling points means liquid, and above boiling point means gas.
Chapters
00:00
What the ACT Science Test Really Measures
01:00
When Basic Science Knowledge Becomes Important
01:48
How to Prepare for Science Knowledge Questions
03:29
Direct Science Knowledge Example: Identifying Mitosis
04:18
Applied Knowledge Example: Using Melting and Boiling Points
Q: Where can I see the science topics on the ACT?
We have a blog post that lists the science topics you can expect to see on the ACT. Click here to see that article, and then scroll down to the "ACT Science: Scientific Terms" section.