Boost your ACT Science score with our free practice questions designed to mirror the actual test. These carefully curated problems span all major content areas tested on the ACT, including data interpretation, experimental analysis, and conflicting viewpoints.
New questions are added every day, so you can practice consistently and stay sharp for test day.
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ACT Science practice questions are split into three categories:
Interpreting Graphs: Practice reading and analyzing various types of graphs, charts, and tables.
Identifying Trends: Work on recognizing patterns and relationships in scientific data.
Extrapolation: Master predicting values beyond the given data range.
Experimental Design: Practice understanding hypotheses, variables, and controls in experiments.
Interpreting Results: Work on analyzing experimental outcomes and drawing conclusions.
Comparing Experiments: Master identifying differences between related studies.
Comparing Theories: Practice analyzing different scientific explanations for the same phenomenon.
Identifying Disagreements: Work on finding points of conflict between different viewpoints.
Evaluating Evidence: Master determining which evidence supports which theory.
To get the most out of ACT Science practice questions, we recommend the following strategies (they have been shown to help improve your score twice as fast!):
Take a full-length practice test to identify your strengths and weaknesses. This helps you focus your study time on areas that need improvement.
Work through ACT Science problems by content area. Master one topic before moving to the next.
Always practice under timed conditions. Aim for about 52 seconds per question to build the pacing skills you'll need on test day.
Don't just check if you got the answer right. Read the explanations to understand the reasoning and learn new strategies.
Keep a record of your scores and note which types of ACT Science questions give you trouble. Focus extra practice on these areas.
Understanding the ACT Science test format is crucial for effective practice and test day success. The ACT has announced significant changes to the Science section starting in 2025, so it's important to know which version you'll be taking:
| Feature | Current Format | Enhanced Format (Starting April 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Required or Optional? | Required (included as 1 of 4 sections) | Optional (student choice to take it or skip) |
| Total Questions | 40 multiple-choice questions | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Time Allotted | 35 minutes (about 52 seconds per question) | 40 minutes (about 60 seconds per question) |
| Passage Types | Data Representation, Research Summaries, Conflicting Viewpoints | Same passage types (no content change) |
Each correct answer on the ACT Science section earns you 1 raw point. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so always guess if you're unsure.
Your raw score is converted to a scaled score from 1-36. The national average is around 20-21, while competitive scores are typically 25+.
Here are some key facts about ACT Science scoring:
No penalty for wrong answers – always guess
All questions are worth equal points
Science contributes 1/4 to your composite score (optional on enhanced test)
ACT offers superscoring across multiple test dates
For comprehensive information about the ACT Science section, including detailed explanations of question types, scoring, and test format, check out our complete guides:
ACT Science: All You Need to Know - Complete guide to the ACT Science section with detailed breakdowns of all passage types and question categories.
ACT Score Range Guide - Understand how ACT Science scores translate to college admissions and what scores you need for your target schools.
Enhanced ACT vs Traditional ACT 2025 - Learn about the upcoming changes to the ACT format and how they affect the Science section (including the fact that Science becomes optional).