How interpretation of data 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 interpretation of data set of 5, 10 or 20 questions, timed or untimed.
What interpretation of data covers on the ACT
On the ACT Science test, Interpretation of Data questions map to Interpretation of Data. 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 interpretation of data
Use the question to identify the relevant data display. Follow one row or trend at a time, and distinguish a measured value from an explanation of why it happened.
Before you move on: Confirm the scale and direction of each axis; a trend can reverse when variables or units change.
The 50 questions here cover 39 skills, including:
- Read a table value
- Trend across a table row
- Compare ranges
- Locate a value in a table
- Read a graph value
- Compare data sets
- Simple calculation from a graph
- Locate a value on a graph
- Identify a trend
- Pattern in a table
- Read a bar graph
- Compare values to a threshold
This pool has 17 questions labelled easy, 17 medium and 16 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 interpretation of data 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.