ACT Science · Study Guide
Research Summaries
Learn to analyze experiment-based science passages, which describe experimental setups, variables, controls, and results.
About 40 minutes to master
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What you'll learn
- Identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and controlled variables in an experiment
- Understand the purpose of a control group
- Compare results across multiple experiments within a passage
- Predict results for new experimental conditions based on observed trends
Key concepts
Research Summary passages describe one or more experiments, including their design, procedures, and results. The independent variable is what the scientist changes; the dependent variable is what is measured; controlled variables are kept constant. A control group receives no treatment and serves as a baseline. When a passage describes multiple experiments, the ACT often asks how they differ. Typically, each experiment changes one variable while holding others constant. You may also be asked to predict outcomes for conditions not tested, which requires extrapolating from the data trends.
Pro tips
- Before answering questions, list the variable changed and the variable measured for each experiment.
- If a question asks 'which experiment…,' compare the experimental designs side by side.
- For prediction questions, find the trend in the data and extend it logically. Do not guess.
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