ACT Science Test

The ACT Science Test assesses students' scientific reasoning skills through analysis of scientific information and data.

Advanced Topics

Evaluating Scientific Hypotheses

What Is a Hypothesis?

A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction that can be tested by experiments. On the ACT, you might need to evaluate whether a hypothesis fits the data.

How to Evaluate

  • Compare the hypothesis to the results.
  • Look for evidence supporting or contradicting it.
  • Decide if more testing is needed.

Connecting to Real Science

Scientists propose hypotheses all the time, from predicting disease outbreaks to exploring outer space. Critical evaluation helps science move forward.

Examples

  • Judging if a hypothesis about solar energy production matches the observed power output.

  • Determining if the evidence supports a claim about acid rain effects.

In a Nutshell

Assess whether scientific ideas match up with evidence.