Have you ever read a dense science passage on the ACT or SAT, and at the end, asked yourself, what the heck was that? If so, you’re not alone. Many students feel overwhelmed—not because they don’t understand science, but because they’re not used to reading science.
Standardized tests don’t just assess your knowledge—they test your ability to process information quickly and accurately, especially in unfamiliar formats. And when it comes to science passages, that unfamiliarity is often the biggest barrier.
The Real Problem: You’re Not Used to Reading Science
Let’s be clear: neither the ACT nor the SAT tests your science knowledge directly. (Well, the ACT does a tiny bit.) Instead, they test your ability to read and interpret scientific information—data tables, experiment summaries, and research-based discussions. For most students, this kind of reading is unfamiliar territory. You’re used to textbooks or class notes, not journal abstracts or technical explanations.
This is especially true for SAT science passages, which appear in the Reading section. They often mimic real scientific articles, pulling language and structure from academic journals. They can feel dry, overly technical, and full of unfamiliar terms.
The key to getting better? Practice reading science.
Why Reading More Science Texts Works
Science is its own language. The more you’re exposed to it, the more your brain starts to pick up on the patterns: how arguments are structured, how data is interpreted, how experiments are described. As you read more science-dense texts, your brain stops reacting with “I don’t get this,” and starts responding with “I’ve seen this kind of thing before.”
Over time, this makes you:
- Faster at identifying main ideas
- More confident interpreting charts and experiments
- Better at filtering out unnecessary jargon
- More accurate in answering detail-based and inference questions
Think of it as training your mental muscle for the types of passages the ACT and SAT will throw at you.
Great (and Free!) Sources for Science Reading Practice
Here are some high-quality, free resources where you can read real science content that mimics test-style passages:
🔬 Science News for Students
https://www.snexplores.org/ Written specifically for teens, this site breaks down current scientific research in accessible, engaging language—perfect for getting used to reading about real-world experiments.
🧬 Quanta Magazine
https://www.quantamagazine.org/ Quanta covers physics, biology, math, and computer science. The writing is higher-level but thoughtfully explained. Reading a few articles a week will sharpen your analytical skills.
🌍 National Geographic Science Section
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science Beautifully written science journalism. While not always as technical as test passages, it helps build content knowledge and curiosity—both great for test day stamina.
🧪 The Conversation – Science Section
https://theconversation.com/us/topics/science-6 Articles written by scientists and academics, aimed at a general audience. You’ll see the kinds of studies and summaries that pop up on the SAT and ACT.
Tips for Using These Articles to Prep
- Skim first, then read deeply Practice identifying the purpose of each paragraph and the overall goal of the article—just like you would on the test.
- Make your own questions As you read, challenge yourself: What’s the main idea here? What’s the author’s opinion? What’s the evidence for that claim? Are there independent and dependent variables?
- Summarize the experiment If an article includes a study, summarize the hypothesis, method, and conclusion in your own words. That’s test gold.
- Time yourself Eventually, try reading and summarizing articles under time pressure. Your goal: read fast, retain key ideas.
Bottom Line
If you want to get better at the science passages on the ACT or SAT, you don’t need to memorize formulas—you need to become fluent in science language. That means reading more science, more often, in formats that challenge your comprehension and build your stamina.
Make it a habit. Just 10–15 minutes a day of focused science reading can dramatically improve your test-day performance.
