getting to know the act science test
DESCRIPTION
Getting to Know the ACT Science Test. 40 Questions 35 Minutes , timed test The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills over recall or science content ,interpretation , reading ability and logical thinking. Data Representation (38% of items). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Getting to Know the ACT Science Test
• 40 Questions• 35 Minutes , timed test• The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills
over recall or science content ,interpretation , reading ability and logical thinking
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Data Representation (38% of items)
• This format presents graphic and tabular material similar to that found in science journals and texts. The questions associated with this format measure skills such as graph reading , interpretation of scatterplots , and interpretation of information presented in tables , diagrams and complex figures.
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Research Summaries (45% of items)• This format provides descriptions of one or
more related experiments. The questions focus on the design of experiments and the interpretation of experimental results.
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Conflicting Viewpoints (17% of items)
• This format presents expressions of several hypothesis or views that , being based on differing premises or on incomplete data , are inconsistent with one another. The questions focus on the understanding , analysis and comparison of alternative viewpoints or hypotheses.
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College Readiness Standards-Science
• Interpretation of Data • Scientific Investigation• Evaluation of Models , Inferences and
Experimental Results• See handout for more details
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Review College Readiness Science Standards
• Handout• What do you see ?
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Time Management , 35 minutes• 1 passage, conflicting viewpoint , 7 questions ,
6 minutes• 2 passages , research summary , 6 questions, 5
minutes each passage , students to time practice tests
• 4 passages , data rep., 5 questions each , 4 minutes each passage
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Data Representation Passages , Test-Taking Strategies
• Highlight keywords , use the diagrams , answer the question
• Find the Keywords , highlight them if needed• What do you know ?• Keywords tell us three things: The name of the
diagram ,the data point or trend , the title of the column or axis
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Keyword Clues• Directly proportional: 2 trends that increase
or decrease together , Air pollution is directly proportional to the # of cars…
• Inversely proportional : 2 trends ,one increases as the other decreases , The # of mice is inversely proportional to the # of snakes…
• Ratio , compares one data point to another, The ratio of female to male tortoises is 3:2…
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Keyword Clues
• Consistent , implies that the trend follows the same pattern shown in the figure, Is the information below consistent with the findings of Scientist 1?
• Most likely , indicates that you will be predicting a value beyond the range of the graph , If the algae doubled , the amount of Oxygen would most likely…
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Keyword Clues
• Expect, indicates that you will be predicting a value beyond the range of the graph , If the temperature dropped 20 C, the frogs would be expected to…
• Respectively , indicates that items are listed in the order they are described, The 1st and 2nd fossils were 5 & 2 million years old , respectively…
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Use the Diagrams
• Use the keywords to select the correct heading from the correct diagram
• Find the data point or summarize the trends
• If the information is not in the table , read the text above the table
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Answer the Question
• Match the information from the diagram to one of the answer choices
• Check that the text you have underlined and your analysis of the diagram supports your answer
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Tables and Figures• Use same strategies as with Data Rep.
questions
• Are you Trendy , look for Trends in the data , look for order.
• The ACT often will not list data in increasing or decreasing order , but the answer is there
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Unfamiliar Data Formats on the ACT
• Read any type of graph by using the axes and labels to follow the same steps for simpler figures
• Review Scatter Plots : they show each data point separately . Sometimes trends are found in clusters ,or they may approximate lines
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Data Formats• Vertical Line Graphs , sometimes line graphs
that represent depth are presented vertically. These line graphs are just like the line graphs you have seen before.
• Shaded tables , may or may not contain numerical data , the important data to collect is whether or not the box is shaded
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Data Formats
• Working with Multiple Axes
• Line Graphs with Multiple Scales, line graphs may have units labeled on two y-axes or two x-axes , use the key to determine which trend to look at , then use the axes to determine which scales to use
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Multiple Sets of Data
• Tables may also mix many types of information , read the table from the outside in , helps students understand the grouping of different rows within the table
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Data Representation Examples , Activities
• Flip Charts , examples
• Station 6 , example , shark data
• Salem’s Secret , case study
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Making Predictions , Using Patterns• Some ACT questions will ask you to predict
data based upon a trend. This may involve extending the trend beyond the highest or lowest data point , or predicting a new point between two other points , if there are no lines in the area of the graph for which you are predicting , use the edge of a sheet of paper to draw a straight line to connect the points & extend them beyond the edges of the graph.
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Research Summaries , Understanding Experiments
• The ACT may ask a few questions about the procedure of an experiment , in general these questions will ask you to predict what will happen when experimental conditions are changed
• Analyzing the Experiment: Independent , Dependent Variable , the Control
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Independent Variable : is what the experimenter wants to know more about, ACT may refer to this as the “ factor that is varied”
Dependent Variable: is what is measured , ACT may refer to this as the “ factor that is not directly controlled”
Control : is the trail or group that is normal , it is used to calibrate the equipment or show that the indep. var. had an effect , ACT may ask why it is present in the experiment.
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Comparing New Experiments• A scientist must always look for new evidence.
Part of the scientific method involves using the results of one experiment to design a new experiment or examining how the results of a new experiment influence existing theories
• ACT may ask you to identify which areas have not been covered by an experiment , sometimes the answer is there is not enough information to answer the question.
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Thinking Like a Scientist : Activity
• Seeking Solutions , 3 Scenarios• Read and brainstorm explanations and use
the explanations to form several possible hypotheses , then develop one or more experiments to test your hypotheses.
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Experimental Design Questions• Usually Big Idea questions that may include:• Explain how changing the design would
change the results• Explain how changing one part of the design
would change another part of the design• Explain why parts of a design were performed• Id the figure that illustrates the Exp. Design• Id problems that could cause errors in results• Id new exp. that would give better info.
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Complex Figure Questions, Reading Graphs
• Reading Graphs• The Bar and Scatter Plots in the question
usually do not have scales marked on their axes , the general shape of the data is very important
• Determine which values are greater or lesser and how much greater or lesser each data point is in comparison to others
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Using Information from Two Figures
• The ACT asks questions in which data from one table or figure must be used to get information from another table or figure , to address these questions , treat each table as a separate problem
• Determine the correct data point , trend or table from the 1st table and apply to the 2nd
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Solving Equations• Most ACT exams have 1 or 2 questions with
equations• Simple addition , subtraction , multiplication
& division , no calculator use on exam• Write the equation , read the text around the
equation , write down what each variable stands for
• Find the value of each variable , plug it in , determine which answer matches results
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Conflicting Viewpoints Questions• Different scientist often arrive at different
conclusions when presented with the same set of observations
• Students must understand that different interpretations exist , they must develop strategies to compare/contrast conflicting viewpoints
• Conflicting view points passages present 2 different explanations for the same evidence
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Viewpoint Strategies• Students will be asked to clarify each person’s
viewpoint , give information that will support or disprove a viewpoint , comparing ideas of the two other people
• Summarize the passage & scan key words• Answer the easier questions first• Answer questions about multiple viewpoints .
Students are likely to miss these , takes longer to digest , time wasted ?
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Mapping the Genetic Code Activity , Article
• Read the N & O article• Respond to the questions , discuss with your
table group• Reactions ?
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General Exam Taking Tips • Do not over analyze• There is only one right answer , it’s there• Practice Test with a stop watch• One correct answer equals one point• No points for finishing early• Guess smart , eliminate some answers• Be trendy , notice trends in the data
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ACT Information
This document includes information about each section on the ACT and a full length practice test.
http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/preparing.pdf
They have a question of the day on the site below.
http://www.actstudent.org/qotd/
Has sample test questions and anchor papers.
http://www.actstudent.org/writing/sample/index.html
Descriptions of sections of the ACT
http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/descriptions/index.html