How evaluation of models practice works
Each page in this series holds one topic from the ACT Science test. The list on the left shows every question in the pool; the number tile turns green once you have checked a question, and a saved question is easy to find again with the Bookmarked filter.
- Pick a question. Use the list, the search box or the difficulty filter, or just press Next question to go in order.
- Answer it. One question at a time from a scientific passage with data, an experiment or competing explanations.
- Check your answer. Your result shows every choice marked, your pick, the correct option and a short explanation of why.
- Try it again or move on. A question you got wrong is worth a second attempt after you have read the explanation.
Prefer a short set with a score at the end? Build a evaluation of models set of 5, 10 or 20 questions, timed or untimed.
What evaluation of models covers on the ACT
On the ACT Science test, Evaluation of Models questions map to Evaluating Scientific Arguments and Models with Evidence. Our practice results show raw accuracy for this category so you can identify a skill to revisit. Official ACT reports use their own scoring method.
How to approach evaluation of models
State each model or viewpoint in a short phrase. Then find the observation that supports, weakens or distinguishes them; a model can explain one result yet fail on another.
Before you move on: Choose the claim that follows from the supplied evidence, not from outside science facts.
The 50 questions here cover 19 skills, including:
- Identify a viewpoint
- Agreement between viewpoints
- Which viewpoint a result supports
- Assumption of a viewpoint
- Prediction from a viewpoint
- Which viewpoint a result weakens
- Which hypothesis a result weakens
- Whether data support a hypothesis
- How a model explains an observation
- Prediction from a hypothesis
- Evidence for a viewpoint
- Strengthening a viewpoint
This pool has 16 questions labelled easy, 17 medium and 17 hard by our team. These are practice labels, not official ACT difficulty ratings. Filter when you want to warm up or stretch. All 50 questions are available to practice.
Tips for evaluation of models questions
- Read the question first, then find the one table, graph or paragraph it points to. Most questions use a single source.
- Trace values with your finger or a straight edge to avoid misreading a row or an axis.
- Watch the direction of a trend: as one variable goes up, does the other rise, fall or stay flat?
- For conflicting viewpoints, decide what each scientist claims before you answer any question about them.