ACT Science: Section Overview
Everything you need to know about the structure, scoring, and strategy of the ACT Science section.
Structure
The ACT Science section is 40 multiple-choice questions in 35 minutes, distributed across six or seven passages of three formats: Data Representation, Research Summaries, and Conflicting Viewpoints.
Outside science knowledge is almost never required. The section is essentially a graph-and-table reading test in scientific clothing.
Top Strategy
For Data Representation passages, skip the introductory paragraph and go straight to the figure. Read the axes, then read the questions. Come back to the intro if you need it.
For Conflicting Viewpoints, skim the passage once for structure (what does each scientist believe?), then go to the questions and re-read for detail.
Pacing
About five minutes per passage. Take Conflicting Viewpoints last (or first if you are strong at it) — it is the only passage type that requires sustained reading rather than data lookup.
What to do next
Drill Data Representation first — it is the easiest format and the largest share of points.
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