ACT: Research Summaries and Conflicting Viewpoints

ACT Science Format

40 questions, 35 minutes. Seven passages:

• 3 Data Representation (graphs/tables)
• 3 Research Summaries (experiments)
• 1 Conflicting Viewpoints (opposing theories)

Research Summaries

What to Look For

1. Purpose: What question is the experiment answering?
2. Variables: Independent (changed), dependent (measured), controlled (constant)
3. Procedure: What steps were followed?
4. Results: What patterns appear in the data?

Common Question Types

• If the experiment were repeated with a change, what would happen?
• What is the relationship between X and Y?
• Which variable was controlled?

Conflicting Viewpoints

Strategy

1. Read the introduction (shared facts)
2. Read each viewpoint and note its KEY CLAIM
3. Identify where they AGREE and DISAGREE
4. Answer questions about each viewpoint separately first

Data Interpretation Tips

Reading Graphs

• Always check axis labels and units
• Look for trends: increasing, decreasing, constant

Reading Tables

• Find the pattern as one variable changes
• Compare rows/columns systematically

ACT Tip: The ACT Science section tests reading and interpretation more than science knowledge.