ACT Aspire Science Test Prep
What do you need?
What do you need? A Brain & An Elementary Education
What do you NOT need?
What do you NOT need? To be a genius!
What does say about their own test? The ACT Aspire Science tests focus on the assessment of science practices using real-world scientific scenarios. At the earlier grades, topics generally focus on everyday student discovery rather than formal science. The content of the tests includes material from life sciences, chemistry and physical science, and Earth/space sciences. Advanced knowledge in these areas is not required... The ACT Aspire tests stress science practices over recall of scientific content, complex mathematics skills, and reading ability. To that end, the ACT Aspire Science tests assess science practices in three domains: Interpretation of Data; Scientific Investigation; and Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results. (http://actaspire.pearson.com/)
Let s look at an example Most problems have one paragraph of reading with some data or charts Then several questions based on that information
First The Background Information
Then.. The Questions Question 1 Based on Table 1, the mass of solid remaining for Margarine A was how much greater than the mass of solid remaining for Margarine D? A. 5g B. 11g C. 13g D. 24g Question 2 What was the minimum mass of lotion needed to perform Experiment 2? A. 50g B. 100g C. 150g D. 200g Question 3 Suppose that before the experiments, a student had predicted that the mass of water in one of the margarine samples would be less than the mass of water in each lotion sample. The results for which margarine sample were consistent with this prediction? A. Margarine A B. Margarine B C. Margarine C D. Margarine D
Let s Look at one question at a time Question 1 Based on Table 1, the mass of solid remaining for Margarine A was how much greater than the mass of solid remaining for Margarine D? A. 5g B. 11g C. 13g D. 24g
Question 1 Based on Table 1, the mass of solid remaining for Margarine A was how much greater than the mass of solid remaining for Margarine D? A. 5g B. 11g C. 13g D. 24g Ask yourself Do I need to know what Margarine is? Do I need to have done this experiment before? Do I need to have taken Chemistry class?
Question 1 Based on Table 1, the mass of solid remaining for Margarine A was how much greater than the mass of solid remaining for Margarine D? A. 5g B. 11g C. 13g D. 24g Ask yourself Do I need to know what Margarine is? Do I need to have done this experiment before? Do I need to have taken Chemistry class? No, No, No
Question 1 Based on Table 1, the mass of solid remaining for Margarine A was how much greater than the mass of solid remaining for Margarine D? A. 5g B. 11g C. 13g D. 24g What do I need to know? The mass of solid remaining for Margarine A The mass of solid remaining for Margarine D How to subtract (remember... Elementary Education!) Where do I find this information? In Table 1 (keep in mind the answer is practically given, you just need to find it!)
Question 1 Based on Table 1, the mass of solid remaining for Margarine A was how much greater than the mass of solid remaining for Margarine D? A. 5g B. 11g C. 13g D. 24g Find the information... 24g - 11g = 13g
Next Question. Question 2 What was the minimum mass of lotion needed to perform Experiment 2? A. 50g B. 100g C. 150g D. 200g
Question 2 What was the minimum mass of lotion needed to perform Experiment 2? A. 50g B. 100g C. 150g D. 200g Ask yourself Do I need to know what brand the lotion is? Do I need to have done this experiment before? Do I need to have taken Chemistry class?
Question 2 What was the minimum mass of lotion needed to perform Experiment 2? A. 50g B. 100g C. 150g D. 200g Ask yourself Do I need to know what brand the lotion is? Do I need to have done this experiment before? Do I need to have taken Chemistry class? No, No, No
Question 2 What was the minimum mass of lotion needed to perform Experiment 2? A. 50g B. 100g C. 150g D. 200g What do I need to know? How much lotion is used for each trial How many trials does the student do How to add or multiply (remember... Elementary Education!) Where do I find this information? In the reading (Even though a data table is given, you don t need any of the data to answer this question!)
Question 2 What was the minimum mass of lotion needed to perform Experiment 2? A. 50g B. 100g C. 150g D. 200g Find the information... 4 trails x 25g = 100g
Last Question Question 3 Suppose that before the experiments, a student had predicted that the mass of water in one of the margarine samples would be less than the mass of water in each lotion sample. The results for which margarine sample were consistent with this prediction? A. Margarine A B. Margarine B C. Margarine C D. Margarine D
Question 3 Suppose that before the experiments, a student had predicted that the mass of water in one of the margarine samples would be less than the mass of water in each lotion sample. The results for which margarine sample were consistent with this prediction? A. Margarine A B. Margarine B C. Margarine C D. Margarine D Ask yourself Do I need to do a complicated math problem? Do I need to have done this experiment before? Do I need to have taken Chemistry class?
Question 3 Suppose that before the experiments, a student had predicted that the mass of water in one of the margarine samples would be less than the mass of water in each lotion sample. The results for which margarine sample were consistent with this prediction? A. Margarine A B. Margarine B C. Margarine C D. Margarine D Ask yourself Do I need to do a complicated math problem? Do I need to have done this experiment before? Do I need to have taken Chemistry class? No, No, No
Question 3 Suppose that before the experiments, a student had predicted that the mass of water in one of the margarine samples would be less than the mass of water in each lotion sample. The results for which margarine sample were consistent with this prediction? A. Margarine A B. Margarine B C. Margarine C D. Margarine D What do I need to know? Lowest mass of water in a lotion sample Lowest mass of water in a Margarine sample Ability to compare two numbers Where do I find this information? In the two data tables
Question 3 Suppose that before the experiments, a student had predicted that the mass of water in one of the margarine samples would be less than the mass of water in each lotion sample. The results for which margarine sample were consistent with this prediction? A. Margarine A B. Margarine B C. Margarine C D. Margarine D What do I need to know? Lowest mass of water in a lotion sample Lowest mass of water in a Margarine sample Ability to compare two numbers Where do I find this information? In the two data tables
Key Things to Remember! The Answer is given somewhere in the reading or data, you just need to find it. Most questions require you to put together a couple pieces of information. **Many students do not realize that you can scroll up and down on some of the questions and therefore do not see all the information**