The ACT science section tests your ability to use scientific reasoning more than just knowledge of specific science disciplines like biology or physics. The test passages present scientific topics but don't require specialized or advanced knowledge in any particular scientific field to do well on this part of the exam.
“The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2019–29 employment projections show that occupations in the STEM field are expected to grow 8.0 percent by 2029, compared with 3.7 percent for all occupations.” 2
The science section is designed to give you the opportunity to show colleges you know how to apply systematic reasoning, how to determine which information is important, and that you know how to use basic scientific resources like data, charts, and tables — no matter what the topic is. That’s because making progress and finding success in STEM fields is less about the answers you already know, and more about using scientific reasoning to uncover the right questions to ask next.
“Median wage and salary earnings are higher for those working in STEM than in non-STEM occupations, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or disability status.” 1
If you want to stand out for competitive STEM majors, the ACT test is the only college admissions exam that offers you a STEM score that puts a spotlight on your chops for math and scientific reasoning.
Check out our tips below to help you boost your ACT science section score!