There are two particular skills you need to cultivate in order to improve your ACT science score. Primarily, it’s your 1) reasoning skills and 2) analytical skills. You must master the identification of data presented in graphs, tables and maps and the logical interpretation of the questions. If you’re interested enough, you’ll find that most problems on the ACT Science test actually provide more information than is necessary for you to answer the test items correctly.

Contrary to what many students believe, your knowledge of science branches such as Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences, and Physics will not be directly tested on the Science section of the ACT. It’s not like you have to be well versed in all the scientific concepts that have been covered in your high school classes as well. What you should prioritize to improve your Science score are your abilities to reason accurately and solve certain problems using scientific methods.

Your scientific reading comprehension skills will be challenged on the test. You must be meticulous in analyzing and drawing conclusions from graphs, charts, tables, and experimental processes. But you don’t have to worry because the Science test passages contain all the information you need. Here are some tips to help you improve your score on the ACT Science test:

Helpful Tips to Increase Your ACT Science Score

• Familiarize yourself with the types of questions and passages found on the test. There are 3 types of passages that appear on the ACT Science test: 1) Conflicting Points of View (7 questions); 2) Research summaries (6 questions), and 3) Data representation (5 questions). These passages may be presented in a different order, but typically, test takers will encounter 3 five-question sections, along with 3 six-question sections, and a single 7-question section on the test.
• Keep calm when you take the test. Don’t worry so much if you haven’t reviewed every single science concept taught in your school. You don’t really have to memorize them on the ACT Science test. Remember mainly to hone your skills in interpreting and analyzing scientific problems, and you will do well.
• Learn proper time management. Keep in mind that you have to deal with 7 passages and 40 questions in the Science section in 35 minutes. The time element is therefore your biggest obstacle. It also means that you have to be quick in answering the questions if you want to finish the section on time. Be systematic and refrain from dwelling on a certain passage. Be quick in your reading by drawing out main points and analyzing figures. Take note of the difficult questions and leave them for now while you answer the easier ones. Come back to these tricky elements when you have time.
• Nurture your test-taking skills by taking practice tests. A reliable way to improve your ACT Science test score is to take real science tests and solve real science problems. Just like in the actual scenario of the ACT test, take your time when you take the ACT Science practice tests. At the end of this task, analyze your wrong answers and figure out why you were wrong.
• Enlist the help of a tutor, mentor, or your fellow exams. You can study on your own for the Science section of the ACT, but getting help from someone more authoritative in the subject or from your peers can make a big difference in improving your ACT Science score.