If you’re looking for the best list of AP® Environmental Science tips, you’ve come to the right place. You have signed up for a challenging class because you are a highly motivated student preparing for college/university life. So, how can you give yourself the best chances at a great score? Outlined below are several APES study tips that can help you build a comprehensive study plan to prepare. 

The AP® Environmental Science exam is a rigorous examination of your understanding of an increasingly complex science. Even if the statistics seem intimidating, you have the power to be in the top 30%, earning a score of 4 or 5, if you commit to preparation! It will take hard work, effort, confidence, and time, but nothing worthwhile in life is ever easy. 

Are you ready to embark on this AP® journey? Then grab your notebook, tablet, pencil or stylus and let’s get planning! Below are 39 AP® Environmental Science study tips to help you perform at your best on your APES test.

 

How To Study for AP® Environmental Science: 7 Tips for 4s and 5s

1. Track your thinking

Learning is a very complex and individualized experience. A simple tool for making your AP® Environmental Exam preparation purposeful is a journal. Something as uncomplicated as a spiral notebook will allow you to track your thinking as it changes. There are a lot of different ways to organize a study journal:  from an interactive science notebook; a bullet journal; or a digital app. 

Choose from the options that best align with your learning style. Create sections of your journal that represent each of those methods and document the topics and concepts you review in each study session. This will help you to prepare by organizing your thinking and identifying what is most challenging, providing meaningful repetition in your modality of learning.

2. Create an AP® Environmental Science practice schedule

Whether it is basketball, violin or cross country, you have a season and a training schedule. The AP® Environmental Exam is no different. Create a schedule that you can manage with fidelity amongst all your obligations. Work backwards from the testing date, starting in September gives you approximately nine months to prepare. 

For a highly motivated student often the most challenging piece of the AP® Environmental Exam is managing the time and stress. Thirty minutes a day six days a week or an hour three times a week. Again, pick a schedule that works for you: consistency and repetition build competence and confidence. Building competence will help manage the stress and anxiety as you move towards the exam date.  Also, plan for a monthly APES practice test session of two hours and forty minutes. Practice sitting for the exam is important as well. 

Look at the AP® Environmental Exam as an investment, you are working to earn college credit as well as preparing for university and postgraduate examinations. You can start by using Albert’s online resources for practice questions and detailed explanations. 

With a commitment to an APES practice schedule, you will find yourself chomping at the bit to take the AP® Environmental exam in May. You will look forward to demonstrating your thinking and problem solving ability.

3. Understand the structure of the exam

An important thing to know before you start studying for the AP® Environmental Science exam is the format. The exam is just under three hours long and consists of two sections:

Section I: Multiple Choice	Section II: Free-Response
90 minutes   80 Questions	70 minutes   3 Questions

Starting in 2021, the free response section of the AP® Environmental Science exam will include three questions. The first question will ask students to design an investigation. The second will ask the student to analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution. The third, will again ask students to analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution, this time using data analysis (i.e. using a calculator). Also worth noting,  the multiple-choice section is  60% of your score, while the free-response section is worth 40%.

5. Get supplemental AP® Environmental Science review resources

You have your course textbook and materials, Albert AP® Environmental practice questions, and a paper and pencil review book. There are a variety of review books out there, so choosing one may not be easy. Here is an article to help you figure out the best APES review books.

6. Check out TED Talks

Along the same lines as watching the news, TED Talks are an excellent way to digest information. If there is content you either have no interest in or find challenging, TED talks have a way of both sparking interest and building greater conceptual understanding. There are a wide variety of environmental TED Talks, ranging from pollution to food waste, and from biodiversity to natural resources.

7. Make flashcards

There’s a reason flashcards are a common study technique – they work! Seeing as AP® Environmental Science focuses so much on vocabulary words, flashcards are essential. To make effective flashcards, on the front, hand write the term and a diagram or drawing. On the backside, include the differentiation and term’s significance. 

It’s not enough to simply put the term and its definition. You have to make sure you understand how the term connects to other terms and what it means in context. For a good, comprehensive list of words you need to know for the APES exam, use this review sheet. It would be beneficial to make flashcards on each one of these terms.

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AP® Environmental Science Multiple-Choice: 6 Tips

1. Focus on specific themes

The AP® Environmental Science exam follows a pattern when it comes to multiple-choice questions. Instead of just a random selection of questions across topics, the exam adheres to a percentage of questions for each theme of the course. It’s helpful to know these so you can plan your studying accordingly.

Topic	Percentage of Questions
Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems	6-8%
Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity	6-8%
Unit 3: Populations	10%–15%
Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources	10%–15%
Unit 5: Land and Water Use	10%–15%
Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption	10%–15%
Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution	7%–10%
Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution	7%–10%
Unit 9: Global Change	15%–20%

As you can see, pollution and global change make up the bulk of the potential testing content with all other topics having generally the same amount of coverage.

2. Focus on pollution

When in doubt, study pollution. According to the College Board, 25% to 35% of all multiple-choice questions are related to pollution (impact on the environment, economic impact, pollution types, sustainability, etc.). This in addition to global change could potentially be 40% of  your multiple choice section. Pollution and global change can be tracked by following environmental science social media accounts.  

Social media is another opportunity to incorporate environmental science topics into your daily study routines. You can begin your study sessions by checking in with your social media feeds like National Geographic on Facebook, follow Guardian Environment on Twitter, or keep up with environmental science boards on Pinterest and record a few topics you notice or possibly some questions you might have. Or, you could end your study session with a quick review of your environmental science social media feed.  Either way, a five minute glance at current topics will help you cognitively focus on your study content and give important context to help you develop your understanding.

3. Familiarize yourself with the types of multiple-choice questions

On the APES exam, there are three categories of multiple-choice questions focused on various, “science practices”, (found on page 225 of the AP® Environmental Science Course and Exam Description). These three categories are quantitative data (tables and charts), qualitative data (models, maps, and representations), and text-based questions. 

Three to four sets of questions are quantitative data analysis focusing on concepts, mathematical processes, environmental solutions, and scientific experiments.  The second type of question focuses on models, maps, and various scientific representations. The primary practices are visual representations, concept explanations, scientific experiments, and environmental solutions. Finally, there are two sets that are text-based questions. The science practices being assessed here are text analysis, concept explanation, mathematical routines, and environmental routines. The increasing specificity of APES multiple choice questions will make it easier to prepare for. 

For more AP® Environmental Science practice multiple-choice questions, visit our main site here.

4. Answer every single question

There is no penalty for wrong answers on the APES exam! This means you should answer each question, no matter what. If you find yourself running out of time, quickly look over your exam to make sure you’ve answered everything. If not, be sure to bubble in an answer, even if it’s just a guess!

5. Practice regularly

There are lots of resources that include practice AP® Environmental Science multiple-choice questions. Take advantage of them! Many AP® Environmental Science review books come with full-length multiple-choice sections you can take, complete with detailed explanations of the answers. 

Start by practicing the different types of multiple choice sections: quantitative data;  qualitative data; and, text based. Identify the type of multiple choice question you struggle with, and practice that specific category until you gain more confidence. 

You can use  Albert for your practice as well as any additional references you invested in per tip #5.  There’s a reason “practice makes perfect” is a common phrase!

Work to build up your multiple-choice stamina as well; as a reminder, the MCQ section is ninety minutes long — this means you need to build your stamina as well as your pacing. With eighty questions to answer in ninety minutes, you’ll have about 67 seconds per question.

6. Stick to the course outline

The College Board has a list of the topics covered in the APES exam, which they call the Topic Outline. This is a great resource to use if you have no idea what to study, because it tells you the general topics you absolutely must know. 

For example, on the topic of Pollution, the exam will cover: pollution types, impacts of the environment and human health, and economic impacts. When in doubt, look at the Topic Outline.

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AP® Environmental Science Free Response: 13 Tips

1. Know the types of free response questions

The free response section of the AP® Environmental Science exam contains three questions of three different types:

• One question aimed at designing an investigation
• Another question analyzing an environmental problem and proposing a solution
• A final question analyzing an environmental problem and proposing a solution with calculations. 

In the past, each question was graded on a 10-point scale.

2. Know how to make a graph

If a free-response question asks you to make a graph, there are a few key things you should do to get full credit for your answer. In 2017, APES test takers were asked to use data provided on the African elephant population and to graph it on a provided grid. To answer this type of question, you should immediately label the x- and y-axis. Then, determine if you’re going to make a bar graph or a line graph. 

A general rule of thumb is if the information contains two sets of numbers, make a line graph (this helps with demonstrating comparison over time of two data sets), and if the information includes one set of numbers and one set of words, make a bar graph. There are times when either one can work. You then need to come up with a consistent scale for your graph, plot a smooth curve, make sure your data points aren’t misaligned, and title the graph.

3. Understand the meaning of the task verbs used in the free response questions

The AP® Environmental Science Exam uses specific task verbs. Understanding the meaning of those helps you give specific clear responses. Below are a list of verbs used on the exam and AP® Environmental Science College Boards definition. 

• Calculate: When you see this, you’ll need to complete mathematical steps to reach a final answer. This could include things like algebraic expressions, substituting numbers, and correct labeling of units. Showing your work is absolutely necessary with these questions. 
• Describe: With these sorts of questions you’ll need to characterize a specific topic. 
• Explain: Here, you’ll need to give the how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs. Aside from just stating this, you’ll need to support your claim with evidence and reasoning. 
  • When explaining “how”, you will generally analyze the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation or outcome.
  • When explaining “why”, you’ll need to get at the underlying motivations or reasons for the relationship, process, pattern, position, or outcome. 
• Identify: These questions ask you to share what you know on the topic; there is no need to elaborate like with an explain question. 
• Justify: These questions require you to qualify, support or defend a claim and/or provide reasoning as to how the evidence you’re sharing supports or validates that claim. 
• Make a claim: State a position based on evidence or knowledge.
• Propose a solution: Give a solution to a problem based on the evidence or knowledge you know.

4. Include all the parts in a lab design question

Some FRQs will include a laboratory design question. In one AP® Environmental Science exam, a FRQ included a lab design question asking whether pesticides were toxic to minnows. In this type of question, you need to design an experiment that could actually be conducted. To earn full points for lab design questions, you need to include five key components:

Abstract:

Begin with an opening statement that summarizes everything that the grader will be reading. This type of roadmap with guide the grader in looking for specific aspects of your response that answer the question as well as guide your writing so that it is organized and understandable

Hypothesis:

Make sure your hypothesis is testable and doesn’t include phrases like “I think…” When in doubt, use “if, then” format, although this is not required. In the case of pesticides and minnows, you would need to predict a relationship between the two, making sure you’re being as specific as possible. A correct response would be:

“Higher concentrations of the new pesticides will result in higher mortalities in a given population of minnows.”

Methods to test hypothesis: You need to be as specific and detailed as possible when coming up with methods to test your hypothesis. Act as if you are designing an experiment that you could do right now if you had the supplies. In the case of the minnows and pesticide, an example method would be:

“Four separate freshwater tanks will each contain 20 minnows. Tank 1 is the control and contains no pesticide. Tank 2 will have a .05% concentration of pesticide, Tank 3 will have a .1% concentration of pesticide and Tank 4 will have a .2% concentration of pesticide. After each day of exposure, the number of dead minnows will be counted and recorded. Exposure should last for 30 days.”

As you can see, this student included specific details (amount of pesticide concentration), a procedure that can be followed, an adequate amount of experimental groups, and a measured duration for the experiment.

Control:

State exactly what the control is in your experiment. You can simply state it in your method as the student did above (“Tank 1 is the control and contains no pesticide”), or add it as a separate part to your response.

Dependent variable:

Explicitly state the dependent variable in your response. Something simple like “The dependent variable is the number of dead minnows,” will get you full points.

Scientific publications are a great model for becoming familiar with this type of writing. You can google scholarly articles in environmental science or check out your nearby college library.

5. Show all of your steps in mathematical problems

If a FRQ asks you to “calculate” something, you know that it’s a math-based problem. You may be given a graph or a table of information to base your answer off of. Pay attention to the formulas and data given to you, and be sure to use it. 

For these types of questions, you need to correctly set up the calculation (1 point) and arrive at a correct answer (1 point). The steps to getting your answer are just as important as the answer; so make sure you show all of your steps, even if you think they’re implied. Use scientific notation if possible, units, and write your final answer with a label. You may find it helpful to box your answers.

6. Attempt to solve each part of the question

Just like with the multiple-choice section, it’s important you attempt to solve every part of the question! Almost every APES free-response question is divided into several different parts such as a, b, c, and d, often with i, ii, iii, etc. Even if you answer part (a) incorrectly, you can still receive credit for a correct answer to part (b).

7. Avoid vague phrases and metaphors

Certain terms, such as the ones listed below, may sound specific to you as you’re writing them, but they usually carry no meaning and are very ambiguous. Describe science with accurate scientific language. AP® Environmental test graders are instructed to not give credit to metaphors and analogies. 

Avoid these phrases when writing your FRQs:

• “bad for the environment”
• “cause environmental degradation”
• “ecofriendly”
• “global solution”
• “greener”
• “harm the environment”
• “harmful chemicals” (without being specific)
• “human footprint”
• “human impact”
• “make it illegal”
• “mother nature”
• “save the planet”
• “stop global warming”
• “sustainable” (without additional details)

Let’s walk through an example. Say you wrote, “Acid deposition hurts forests” as your answer. 

The problem with this is that it gives no examples and the word “hurts forests” is too vague. How does it hurt forests? A better response would be, “Acid deposition can hurt forests in several ways. One way is by reducing the topsoil’s ability to retain vital nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium which are needed by trees.” 

This response includes specific details and is the kind of response you should shoot for. Thanks to Mr. R. from Shaker High School for the list and the example.

8. Think about the 3 E’s

• Environment
• Ecological
• Economic

Determine what the question is asking about. Responses to environmental or ecological questions should include plants, animals, and ecosystems – not humans. Responses to economic questions should involve money, costs, etc.

9. Brush up on simple Algebra

You cannot use a calculator on the APES exam and although the exam isn’t AP® Calculus, you still need to be familiar and comfortable with certain math concepts, such as dealing with percentages, rounding, fractions, and scientific notation. 

Albert is your friend here with our Algebra practice questions. Adding a little math review to one of your weekly review sessions will go a long way to help both your reasoning skills and your ability to show use of data and numbers to explain by providing quantitative data. .

10. Explain technical terms

You can’t get away with simply dropping in vocabulary words without explaining them. You have to show that you have a complete understanding of the terms you use in your responses. For example, you can’t just write: “bioaccumulation increases the likelihood of biomagnification.” What do these words mean? Have you included specific examples?

11. Focus on the how and why of environmental processes

While it may be beneficial to know quantities and measurements, the AP® readers don’t expect you to know them. Instead, make sure you know how environmental processes happen, why they happen, and the significance of them. Make sure you know specific examples of environmental processes.

12. Organize and label your responses clearly

Since APES free-response questions usually have so many parts, organization is essential to having a great response. You have to remember that real people will be reading and grading your response, so make sure your answer is neat and easy to follow. Label your answers according to the part you’re answering, such as (a), (b), (c), etc. This not only helps the graders, but also helps you keep track of your responses and make sure you’re not missing anything.

13. Answer in complete sentences

You will not receive credit if you respond with bulleted lists or 1-word answers. You also shouldn’t draw a diagram as your response unless the question explicitly states that you should. Always write in complete sentences.

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Study Tips by AP® Environmental Science Teachers

General AP® Environmental Science Study Tips:

1. Rewrite your notes from class or your textbook

After class, rewrite or type-up your notes. Underline vocabulary words and new concepts. Annotate your notes with definitions for these terms. Make flashcards based on your notes from class. Thanks to Mrs. K. from Savannah Arts Academy for the tip!

2. Watch “Home” by Yann Arthus-Bertrand from the GoodPlanetFoundation on YouTube

This video covers many topics you need to know for the AP® Environmental Science exam. Thanks to Ms. R. at Tallwood High School for the tip!

3. Appreciate the outdoors

To help understand the importance of taking AP® Environmental Science, spend two or more hours camping, hiking, canoeing/kayaking, visiting a state or national park, or volunteering for an environmental group or learning center. Take pictures of nature and write about your experience. Thanks to Ms. Melanie L. at Perry High School for the tip!

4. Read environmental science books beyond your textbook

The Crash Course: The Unsustainable Future Of Our Economy, Energy, And Environment. This eye-opening book covers topics like food supply, population, and energy and puts things into perspective. If you’re struggling to make connections between the economy, energy, and the environment, this book is for you! Thanks to Mr. Nick H. at Easton Area High School for the tip!

5. Simplify and organize your notes

Organize your notes in a logical sequence. Simplify your notes by using graphic organizers, tables (issues, pros/cons, examples, etc.), terms, and figures. Thanks to Mr. K. from Camden Hills Regional High School for the tip!

6. Participate fully in class lab activities

It is AP® Environmental Science not AP® Environmental Studies. Labs are a great way to learn important concepts in depth – something that can be hard to do through textbooks. Lab activities help develop your critical thinking skills and can help cement ideas in your mind for the exam. Thanks to Mr. G. from Kimball Union Academy for the tip!

AP® Environmental Science Free Response Tips:

7. Outline your answer

Think ahead before you begin to write. Create an outline on a separate sheet of paper or on the green packet of the AP® exam. This helps to avoid confusion and disorganization and decreases the chances of rambling. Thanks to Mrs. P. from Grayslake North High School for the tip!

8. Do not be fragmentary in your explanations and include obvious details

Everything should fit together logically into a complete answer. Make sure you tie all the “pieces” of your answer together. No detail is too small for the FRQ! Include obvious details, such as “light is necessary for photosynthesis.” Thanks to Dr. S. from Northridge Academy High School and Dr. D. from John Burroughs School for the tips!

9. Avoid “enviro-speak” 

For example, some students use words like “pollution,” generally. You should always specify the type of pollution. This tip relates back to what we already went over earlier with tip #7 in the APES FRQ tips section. Thanks to Ms. B. from East Carolina University for the tip!

10. Score sample FRQs with your classmates

Try scoring one of your classmate’s free-response answers. Use rubrics and scoring guidelines from the College Board website to help you. This can give you a good insight into the AP® reader’s perspective and show you just how much clarity, thoroughness, and neatness counts. Thanks to Mr. S. from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School for the tip!

11. Look for the common thread

On the AP® Environmental Science exam, a free-response question might ask you to analyze how several topics from different parts of the course support a specific theme. Look for the common thread and answer each part of the question with respect to how that topic supports the theme. This type of question will allow you a choice of several topics, so choose the one you’re most comfortable with. Thanks to Mr. S. from Washington Township Public School District for the tip!

Are you a teacher or student? Do you have an awesome tip? Let us know!

Wrapping Things Up: The Ultimate List of AP® Environmental Science Tips

As you can tell by now, AP® Environmental Science is no joke. Despite this, it has the power to be a really fun, engaging and exciting class. After taking this class, you’ll be able to better connect concepts together and understand the significance of key terms. 

Here are a few key takeaways from this list of APES study tips:

• When it comes to general AP® Environmental Science prep, it’s important you outline a clear study schedule so you can begin building up your test-taking stamina to the actual exam.
• When it comes to the APES multiple-choice section, it’s crucial you focus on topics related to pollution and pace well throughout to answer every question. You have about 67 seconds per question in this section.
• In approaching the AP® Environmental Science free-response section, you’ll need to ensure you’re not speaking in broad generalities and that you’re explaining all technical terms. Points do not get awarded without comprehensive responses. 

There you have it! The best list of AP® Environmental Science tips and tricks for scoring a 4 or 5. If you found this post helpful, feel free to share it with a friend or colleague, and bookmark it for a later date.