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Science
(Sci)
Science
(Sci)
Passages with subject matter centered on science (biology, physics, chemistry, etc.)
Avg. 11.5 per section
22%
45%
22%
Avg. difficulty: 3.0
Key tactics
- This topic is most commonly associated with the Phenomenon-Hypothesis style. The classic structure os a Science passage will open with an established theory followed by a non-conforming phenomenon followed by attempts to formulate a new theory that encompasses the new phenomenon.
- Rather than letting the new terms and big words get to you, focus narrowly on the passage's structural elements which is most commonly
- Science passages very commonly break up the world into multiple categories, then assign several characteristics to those categories. Fully understanding what those characteristics are is less important that not mixing them up.
- For example, a passage may describe red algae and green algae, then say red algae hydroximizes by flintabulating alpha-lunditudimase, whereas green algae de-hydroximizes by uncontingulizing alpha-lunditudimase. Here's what to get from that:
- Two types of algae: red and green. Red: hydro YES by flinning the alpha. Green: hydro NO by unconning the alpha.
Alternate explanation
Analogy (LR)
Argument part
Bad authority
Causal chain
Causal mechanism
Causal reasoning
Circular reasoning
Conditional reasoning
Confusing sufficiency and necessity
Correlation
Diagram?
Directionally wrong
Eliminating options
Equivocation
Evaluate
Except (LR)
Failed alternate explanation
False dichotomy
Fighting the hypothetical
Fill in the blank
Flaw or descriptive weakening
Illusory inconsistency
Inference
Internal contradiction
Irrelevant corroboration
Kick it up
Lack of support v. false conclusion
Link assumption
Main conclusion or main point
Math
Mental state v. reality
Method of reasoning or descriptive
Miscellaneous (LR)
Misdirected response
Most strongly supported
Must be false
Must be true
Necessary assumption
Parallel flawed method of reasoning
Parallel method of reasoning
Part v. whole
Phenomenon-hypothesis (LR)
Plausibility
Point at issue: agree
Point at issue: disagree
Principle
PSA - find or complete the application
PSA - find the rule
Quantifier
Relative v. absolute
Resolve reconcile or explain
Rule-application
Sampling
Source attack
Strengthen
Sufficient assumption
Time
Unwarranted assumption
Value judgment
Weaken
Weighing factors
Analogy (RC)
Application
Art
Author’s attitude
Author’s perspective
Comparative
Critique or debate
Describe approach
Describe organization
Describe relationship
Except (RC)
Humanities
Implied
Law
Logical continuation
Main point
Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Miscellaneous (RC)
Other’s perspective
Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)
Principle or generalization
Problem-analysis
Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Purpose of paragraph
Purpose of passage
Science
Single position
Spotlight
Stated
Structure
WSE (RC)