The Science section isn't about memorizing facts—it's about interpreting data, reading graphs, and understanding scientific reasoning. You'll encounter 40 questions in 35 minutes across topics like biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science, but the focus is on analyzing experiments and drawing conclusions from provided information. Many students find this section challenging because it requires speed and careful reading of visual data rather than deep science knowledge.

The SAT has historically been more popular in the Northeast, but the ACT is increasingly accepted and valued equally by colleges. The choice depends on your strengths: the SAT emphasizes reasoning and includes a Reading/Writing section, while the ACT is faster-paced with a separate Science section. Many Rochester students benefit from taking a practice test in each format to see which aligns better with their skills before committing to one test.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of consistent preparation, though this varies based on your starting score and target. If you're aiming for a significant improvement (like moving from 24 to 30), plan for 4-6 months of focused study. Starting in the spring of junior year or early fall of senior year gives you flexibility to retake if needed, since many Rochester students apply to colleges with rolling admissions.

Most students see improvements of 2-4 points with focused preparation, though gains depend on your starting score and effort level. Students starting at 20-23 often see larger jumps (4-6 points), while those already scoring 28+ typically see smaller gains as the test becomes more challenging at higher levels. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps identify your specific weak areas—whether that's pacing on the Science section or grammar rules on English—so improvement targets are more realistic.

The ACT requires about 1 minute per question on average, with the Science section being the tightest (52 seconds per question). Effective strategies include skipping difficult questions initially and returning to them, practicing with a timer to build speed, and learning which question types you can solve quickly versus those needing more time. Tutors working with Rochester students often focus on section-specific pacing plans since the English and Math sections allow more flexibility than Reading and Science.

Unlike the SAT, most colleges do NOT superscore the ACT—they consider your highest composite score from a single test date. This means retaking the full test is your strategy for improvement, not mixing and matching section scores. Many Rochester students take the ACT 2-3 times if targeting competitive schools, typically spacing attempts 2-3 months apart to allow for focused prep between tests.

Most colleges no longer require or recommend the ACT Writing section, so skipping it saves 40 minutes and reduces stress. Check your target schools' requirements, but for Rochester students applying to selective universities, the writing section rarely impacts admissions decisions. If you do take it, focus on your composite score first—the Writing subscore is typically less important than your main four sections.