The Best AP® Environmental Science Review Guide for 2024 | Albert Resources (2024)

Navigating the AP® Environmental Science exam is tough. That’s why we wrote this comprehensive 2024 AP® Environmental Science review guide.

In this post, we’ll go over critical questions you may have about the exam, how to study for AP® Environmental Science, and what review notes and practice resources to use as you begin preparing for your exam.

Are you ready? Let’s get started.

What’s the Format of AP® Environmental Science?

The AP® Environmental Science exam includes 80 multiple-choice questions and 3 free-response questions. The free-response questions (FRQ) include a question to design an investigation, analysis, and solution to environmental problem questions with and without calculations.

Source: College Board

How Long is the AP® Environmental Science Exam?

The AP® Environmental Science exam is 2 hours and 40 minutes long. Students will have 90 minutes to complete the multiple-choice section (80 questions) and 70 minutes to complete the free-response section (3 questions).

How Many Questions Does AP® Environmental Science Have?

AP® Environmental Science exam has a total of 83 questions. 80 multiple-choice questions with four answer choices, each equally weighed, and 3 Free Response Questions.

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What Topics are Covered on AP® Environmental Science?

Environmental Science is grounded in four big ideas: Energy Transfer (ENG), Interactions between Earth Systems (ERT), Interactions between different species and the environment (EIN), and Sustainability (STB). Every question on the exam will relate to these overarching themes. The four big ideas are woven through the 9 Units covered in AP® Environmental Science. Use this AP® Environmental Science study guide to review the topics covered, and practice with Albert’s multiple-choice questions.

Source: AP® College Board

Source: College Board

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What Do AP® Environmental Science Questions Look Like?

There are two types of questions on the AP® Environmental Science exam. There are 80 multiple-choice questions and 3 Free Response Questions (FRQs). Note, the AP® Environmental test has been completely revised since the Fall of 2019 and again for the 2021 exam. So while the College Board has not released any current AP® Environmental Science practice tests, we still have resources for you to get studying! Another resource is AP® Classroom, which hopefully you are utilizing in conjunction with your teacher.

AP® Environmental Science Multiple Choice Questions:

The multiple-choice questions have four choices and are either individual, single, or sets of questions that refer to the same diagram, data presentations, or text-based sources. Albert has a vast library of updated multiple-choice questions that mimic what they will look like on the AP® exam here.

For example, the question below and linked here is an excellent example of an item from Unit 1, where you will need to utilize a data presentation to answer the question. Always read the question first, then skim the graph, and read all the answer choices before spending a ton of time on the figure. Tackling the problem in this order will help you hone what you are looking for in the figure.

The second example from the AP® Environmental Science Course and Exam Description is an example of a set of questions, or multiple questions tied to one diagram.

AP® Environmental Science Free Response Questions:

There are three free-response questions on the AP® Environmental Science exam.

• Question 1 will ask students to design an investigation.
• Question 2 will ask students to analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution.
• Question 3 will ask students to analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution doing calculations.

Read on for examples of these! As with the multiple-choice exam, because the exam was redesigned, there aren’t any exact released exams available, but don’t worry! We’ve got resources for you below.

Question 1: Design an Investigation

Question 1 presents students with an authentic environmental scenario accompanied by either a model/visual representation of quantitative data and may assess your ability to:

• Describe and/or explain environmental concepts, processes, and models presented in written format.
• Analyze visual representations of data.
• Analyze research studies that test environmental principles
• Describe environmental problems and/or potential responses.

Because the AP® Environmental Exam was redesigned in Fall 2019, it’s hard to provide exact examples. However, the exam used to include an experimental design question, and that may be an excellent place to start studying. Keep in mind that the new version (starting in 2021) may look slightly different:

Example: 2012 Question 3

Scoring and Sample Responses: 2019 Question 2 Scoring Sheet

Question 2: Analyze an Environmental Problem and Propose a Solution

Question 2 presents students with an authentic environmental scenario accompanied by either a model/visual representation or quantitative data and may assess your ability to:

• Describe and/or explain environmental concepts, processes, and models presented in written format.
• Analyze visual representations of data.
• Propose and justify solutions to environmental problems.

Example: Course and Exam Description Sample FRQ

Scoring: FRQ 2 Scoring Sheet

Question 3: analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution doing calculations.

Question 3 is very similar to Question 2, but you will need to do some calculations. It will present you with an authentic environmental scenario and may assess your ability to:

• Describe or environmental concepts, processes, and models presented in written format
• Apply quantitative methods to address environmental concepts
• Propose and justify solutions to environmental problems

Example: Course and Exam Description Sample FRQ 2

Scoring: FRQ 3 Scoring Sheet

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What Can You Bring to the AP® Environmental Science?

These guidelines below will help you nail down what to bring to an in-person, paper version AP® Environmental Science Exam, and also what NOT to bring! We recommend packing your bag the night before so you can relax the morning of the exam.

DO bring these:

If you’re taking the paper AP® Environmental Science exam in-person at school, you should bring:

• No. 2 pencils and erasers
• Pens with black or dark blue ink
• Four-function (with square root), scientific, or graphing calculator (see full AP® Environmental Science Calculator Policy)
• A current government-issued or school-issued photo ID
• Your College Board SSD Accommodations Letter (if you are taking an exam with approved testing accommodations)
• A watch that does not have internet access and does not make noise

DO NOT bring these:

If you’re taking the paper AP® Environmental Science exam in-person at school, you should NOT bring:

• Food or drink, including bottled water
• Any electronic equipment or communication devices, including:
  • Phones, smartwatches, or wearable technology of any kind
  • Laptops or tablet computers
  • Bluetooth devices
  • Portable listening or recording devices such as MP3 players and iPods
  • Cameras or other photographic equipment
  • Devices that can access the internet
  • Separate timers of any type
  • Any other electronic or communication devices

Source: College Board

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How To Study for AP® Environmental Science: 7 Steps

1. Take a diagnostic test. (3 hours)

Time yourself to mimic the set up on test day, and jot down topics or sections that are challenging. This will help you create an AP® Environmental Science study guide.

2. Prioritize your studying. (1 – 2 hours)

The AP® Environmental science exam covers a broad swath of topics. You can study more efficiently by first grading your diagnostic test and narrowing down topics that you need to spend the most time on. Make sure to read the fine details in the free response scoring guidelines and err on the side of being a harsh and nitpicky grader.

After you have self-graded the test, grab a copy of the topics list, and check off topics that you aced. Highlight the topics and skills that were the most challenging for you, as those should be the ones you tackle first in your review sessions.

3. Make a study calendar and stick to it. (20 min)

Count out the number of days you have until the AP® Environmental Science Exam and block out some time each day for review. This will prevent you from trying to squeeze in a last-minute cram session that only stresses you out.

Try to review for at least 30 minutes a day to fully maximize the practice and content retention. Even better: find a friend who is also taking the AP® Environmental exam and plan your “study dates” together!

4. Brush up on tough concepts. (2 – 5 hours)

Review sections in your textbook or online Environmental Science study guides. This website, kwanga.net, from a teacher, is one of the most comprehensive resources on the web with class notes, extra resources, and links to study materials.

Take your prioritized AP® Environmental Science study guide from step #2 and go wild! If you prefer video’s Bozeman’s Science and Crash Course’s AP® Environmental Playlists are great resources.

5. Hone your skills with a lot of practice problems. (10 – 15 hours)

AP® Environmental Science exam practice centers on practice problems. The test is content-heavy and expects you to know a lot about well, a lot. Not to worry, with tools like Albert, you will also get detailed feedback on answers that are right or wrong, helping you sharpen your understanding of tricky concepts.

We have done the work for you in categorizing practice questions into specific units and topic categories. Click on the links below for practice resources:

• Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems
• Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity
• Unit 3: Populations
• Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources
• Unit 5: Land and Water Use
• Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption
• Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution
• Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution Practice Questions
• Unit 9: Global Change Practice Questions

6. Take at least one more timed full exam. (3 hours)

Put your studying to the test! Take at least one or more full-length exams. This time, pay careful attention to time management and the strategies you’re using to answer the questions. For each multiple-choice question, you have 1 minute and 12 seconds, and for each short answer question, you have approximately 23 minutes. Practice makes perfect, and you want to make sure your pacing doesn’t get in the way of earning a 5!

Grade your practice and reflect on what worked and what didn’t work. Here are some guiding questions to help you get started!

• What topics do you need to go back and refresh on?
• Are you spending too much time interpreting diagrams or data presentations?
• Do you have a good system for marking incomplete questions (or guesses) that you can come back to at the end?

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you make a plan for test day so that you feel confident and fully prepared.

7. The day before the exam…relax! (5 hours)

You can cycle through steps #4-6 as many times as you’d like during your study sessions, but save the last day for rest and self-care. Spend time with friends, exercise, walk on the beach, eat your favorite (healthy) food, do some light review with flashcards, and, most importantly, get a full night’s rest! You can even plan a fun post-exam celebration— space out with romcoms or ice cream—to hype you up for the other side of the test.

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AP® Environmental Science Review: 15 Must Know Study Tips

5 AP® Environmental Study Tips to Do at Home

Here are tips that will help you get the most out of your AP® Environmental Science exam practice.

1. Practice, practice, practice.

“Practice makes perfect” is a well-known phrase for a reason! At home, take every opportunity you can to practice answering multiple choice and free response questions. This will help you figure out your strengths and weaknesses and identify any misconceptions you might have. The Course and Exam Description from the College Board offers an AP® Environmental Science practice test at the end that is a great place to start. You can also utilize Albert’s practice problems, old College Board FRQs, or even a review book.

2. Make and study flashcards.

The AP® Environmental Science exam is vocabulary heavy, and there are lots of terms you will need to know. Flashcards will be your friend, Here are some AP® Environmental Science Flashcard tips:

• There are tons of pre-made lists out there. Try picking one and crossing off vocab as you go throughout the year and making extra cards for anything you didn’t make on your own. This list of terms is a good place to start. Or see the additional resources at the bottom of this post for other resources that have even more vocabulary!
• Mathematical Units (like J and m/s) are important in the free-response questions. Every time you come across a unit make a flashcard, it’ll help keep it fresh in your mind for exam day. This page has a good list of units used.
• Prone to losing paper? Quizlet is a great electronic flashcard resource. Here is an example Quizlet set for AP® Environmental Science practice.

3. Take homework and class activities seriously.

The AP® Environmental Science exam is concept-heavy. You will need to be able to provide examples from class to support your answers in the free response questions and choose the correct multiple choice answers. When working through assignments, really work to figure out what the big concept is, and if you’re struggling to figure out how the assignment fits in, ask your teacher! They’ll probably be excited to help you understand.

4. Read the environmental news.

This may seem like a strange one. BUT, the AP® Environmental Science exam has a TON of diagrams, data presentations, and text. If you spend time exposing yourself to and thinking about new articles and data presentations, your brain will be more prepared to interpret novel information on the exam. The New York Times often has great environmental science articles with dynamic diagrams. Check it out here! Science News also has excellent articles.

5. Take the time to think about the Big 4.

The AP® Environmental Science exam expects you to know a lot about many topics. This may seem overwhelming at first, but once you realize they are connected through the big four ideas listed below, you will be able to see themes and patterns that the test will ask questions about. When you finish studying a topic or unit, make sure you can write out how one to two of these Big Ideas relate to what you’ve learned. This will make sure you understand the themes in the unit, which is critical for success on the exam. If you’re having trouble, the Course and Exam Description will give you some hints.

For example, in Unit 1, one of the main Big Ideas is Energy Transformation. As you study geochemical cycles, make sure that you can articulate the following:

1. How energy moves in each cycle
2. How energy is transferred in each step

If you can articulate those two things for each cycle, you will definitely nail any question on geochemical cycles on the exam.

The Big Four Ideas are listed below with a shortened summary.

1. Energy Transfer (ENG): Energy is neither created nor destroyed, always transferred.
2. Interactions between Earth Systems (ERT): Systems change when they interact.
3. Interactions between different species’ environments (EIN): Humans impact the earth.
4. Sustainability (STB): To survive, humans need to find sustainable systems.

Check out a more detailed breakdown of these here.

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5 AP® Environmental Science Multiple-Choice Tips

1. Always read the question(s) first!

The exam has lots of diagrams, text, and data presentations, and it is essential not to get caught up in these before you know what the question is going to ask! You only have a little over a minute for each question, so start by reading the question so you can hone in on where the answer might be.

2. Know population dynamics.

The AP® Environmental Science exam now allows students to have a calculator for the entire test. That means some common equations could pop up in the multiple-choice questions. Population dynamics and calculation questions are very common on past tests. Know the following two equations and how they relate to data presentations:

• Rule of 70: calculates the time it would take for a population to double in size
  • \text{Doubling time} = \dfrac{70}{\text{The population’s growth rate}}
• Population Growth Rate (PGR): indicates how quickly a population expands or contracts.
  • PGR is calculated by subtracting the number of deaths from the number of births in a year and dividing by the population size.
  • \text{PGR} = \dfrac{\text{Number of Births – Number of Deaths}}{\text{Total Population Size}}

3. Practice your pacing.

You have 90 minutes to answer 80 questions. That gives you only 1 minute and 12 seconds for each question. When taking practice tests or even quizzes, do it under time pressure so you can perfect your technique! You don’t want to run out of time when you know most of the answers!

4. Answer every question as there is no penalty for wrong answers.

There is no penalty for wrong answers on the AP® Environmental Science exam, so answer them all! The same logic applies to the free response section, where you could get partial credit for some correct ideas. Never leave a problem blank. Try to use the process of elimination; read through the question and answer choices carefully, cross out any answers you know to be wrong, and pick the one that makes the most sense to you.

5. Prioritize your practice and study time on heavily-weighted topics.

For example, these topics appear more on the exam:

• Unit 9: Global Change
• Unit 3: Populations
• Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources

Use the weights of topics to help prioritize your studying. If you need to work on three topics, it’s probably best to work on them in the order in which they are weighted most heavily on the exam.

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5 AP® Environmental Science Free Response Study Tips

1. Know the free response format and what your strengths are.

College Board tells you ahead of time how the free-response questions are ordered. Get used to these question types by practicing them specifically. Once you know which free response question type you’re best at, always start with that one — you’ll earn the most points the quickest.

The question types are always the following:

• Question 1 will ask students to design an investigation.
• Question 2 will ask students to analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution.
• Question 3 will ask students to analyze an environmental problem and propose asolution.

2. Practice reading and writing about common and novel data presentations.

The AP® Environmental Science Exam is full of diagrams and data presentations. When diagrams are presented in class, like energy pyramids and food chains, pay close attention. Here is a Pinterest board with common graphs and diagrams. You also need to get comfortable reading unfamiliar data presentations and diagrams. Try reading the diagram below and writing a sentence to explain what it’s telling you. If you can do that, great! You’re on your way! If not, you might want to practice this skill each time you look at a graph! Check out Tip #4 from the 5 AP® Environmental Study Tips to Do at Home section in this study guide and use current events to help you.

Here’s an example of a common data presentation you would have to analyze.

3. Understand the task verbs and do exactly as asked.

The words/phrases “Calculate”, “Describe”, “Explain”, “Identify”, “Justify”, “Make a Claim” and “Propose a solution” have very specific meanings in the AP® world. It is super important that you study the College Board’s definitions. They also provide great hints about whether you are expected to write a quick sentence or provide a long paragraph response. The Course and Exam Description provides a good breakdown in the image below.

4. The scoring guidelines are like answer keys; use them a lot!

The College Board provides sample free response questions as well as scoring rubrics from previous AP® Environmental Science exams. The questions may be different, but the targeted skills remain the same, and understanding both complete and insufficient solutions is an important piece of the puzzle.

Albert also provides sample free response questions with detailed feedback after each one. Some suggestions on how to use the guidelines.

• Notice that the graders will grade the first things you write! So if a question asks for three supports, don’t give 10 and hope you will get credit. They will only grade the first 3!
• Take note of HOW SPECIFIC answers need to be and any important vocabulary that is SCORED.
• After each practice problem, if you can articulate WHY you got an answer wrong and how your understanding of the topic has changed, you will be well on your way to getting a 5 on the AP® Environmental Science exam.
• Credit for each part is awarded independently, so you can still receive full credit if you miss a part of a question.

5. Create a formula sheet and practice showing your work clearly.

There are a few important formulas, conversion factors, and units that you need to know. As you study, create a formula sheet like this one that will help guide you. Then, when you practice, make sure that you are showing your work clearly, labeling each number with a unit. The scoring guidelines will ask you for this, but pay careful attention because these are some easier points you do not want to lose!

This YouTube video goes through an energy calculation problem and does a great job showing clear and labeled work.

For an even more comprehensive list of tips, see The Ultimate List of AP® Environmental Science Tips.

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AP® Environmental Science Exam: 5 Test Day Tips to Remember

1. Get everything ready to go the night before.

Make sure you have everything from the What You Should Bring list from earlier in this AP® Environmental Science study guide ready to go! Double check you have a calculator with extra batteries or that is fully charged, multiple pencils, your ID, and a watch specifically!

Pro-Tip: make a list of everything you need and check it twice before you leave for the exam.

2. Know where and how you are going!

There’s nothing more stressful than realizing you don’t know where the exam is or how to get there! Have a plan of action set up — is a parent or friend taking you to the test? Is it at your homeschool? Know the room number. If it’s at another school, get there early so you can make sure that you will have time to get help getting to the correct room if you need it.

3. Eat a healthy breakfast.

Every teacher tells you this for a good reason! Don’t eat something you’ve never had before! Eat something you know will make you feel good so your brain can be nourished and ready to ace the exam.

4. Bring gum or mints with you.

While you can’t have food or drinks, gum and mints are allowed unless it’s against your specific testing site’s rules. If you are having trouble concentrating, pop some gum or mint in your mouth. Studies show that mint can increase focus. If you don’t believe it, read this article and find out for yourself.

5. Review some light AP® Environmental flashcards the morning of, but don’t cram!

Don’t try to cram the morning of; you’ve already done the work. On the way to the exam, review some flashcards just to focus your mind on Environmental Science. However, if you have followed all of our advice, studied well, and listened to your teacher, then you’ve got this!

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AP® Environmental Science Review Notes and Practice Test Resources

Besides practice questions and FRQs, you may find it helpful to review other forms of class notes and concept reviews.

We’ve linked to a couple of sites that feature notes or review videos you can use to refresh your understanding of key concepts. The best way to use these resources is to go through a Unit and then check for understanding on Albert. Then, use past FRQs to practice your free-response answers.

Bozeman Science’s AP® Environmental Science Playlist

This YouTube playlist provides thirty-five videos of binge-worthy content to help you review for the exam by one of YouTube’s most well-regarded science leaders.

• Use this site if: you like videos! Bozeman is known by all experienced AP® Environmental Science teachers and does a fantastic job breaking down topics. This is great for auditory learners or someone who wants a verbal explanation.
• Don’t use this site if: you are looking for practice problems, notes or specific articles to read.

Kwanga.net APES Notes & Handouts

This teacher from Pinellas County provides tons of helpful PDFs of notes broken down by Units along with some great APES test-taking tips.

• Use this site if: you are looking for topic specific activities, practice worksheets, and notes. This site has a robust collection of topic specific notes and class activities. It also provides phenomenally detailed vocabulary lists as test hints.
• Don’t use this site if: you’re looking for videos or quick answers to questions. This site will let you explore and test the knowledge you might already have but doesn’t come with the explanations of a teacher.

Mr. Rittner is APES

If you like Google slides, you’ll love Mr. Rittner’s notes. He provides tons of helpful slides to work through, including references to the Essential Knowledge that each deck covers.

• Use this site if: you are looking for detailed PowerPoint slides for Unit specific topics. If you are confused and want more details about something in words this is the site for you! It also has some interesting enrichment ideas around environmental science and some test taking strategies.
• Don’t use this site if: you’re looking for summaries, videos, or practice problems. This website definitely leans more into class notes.

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Summary: The Best AP® Environmental Science Review Guide

We’ve covered a lot about how you can prepare for the AP® Environmental Science Exam and be confident in your skills. Here’s a summary of our study plan.

First, the AP® Environmental Science Exam has two parts and will take 2 hours and 40 minutes:

Source: College Board

That means you should budget about 1 minute and 10 seconds per multiple-choice problem and about 23 minutes for each free response.

The exam covers topics from the following units:

• Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems
• Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity
• Unit 3: Populations
• Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources
• Unit 5: Land and Water Use
• Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption
• Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution
• Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution Practice Questions
• Unit 9: Global Change Practice Questions

For more detail on each topic, see AP® Environmental Science: Course and Exam Description.

Here are the 7 steps we went over on how to study for AP® Environmental Science:

1. Take a full diagnostic test
2. Identify topics that want to prioritize for practice
3. Map out your study sessions in a calendar
4. Learn and review concepts with notes or videos
5. Do a LOT of practice problems
6. Take another full test under time pressure to practice pacing
7. Relax the day before the exam

Lastly, here are some of the best tips we went over for AP® Environmental Science:

• Always read the question first. Remember the exam has a lot of data presentations and diagrams; don’t waste time getting stuck on those before you know what the question is asking!
• Get comfortable with data presentations and diagrams; there are a lot of them on the test. Use old College Board exams or Albert questions to help.
• Use flashcards! This test is vocab heavy and you need to be as specific as possible. Here is an example Quizlet set for AP® Environmental Science and here is a list of words and terms you should know!
• Know the Task Verbs. These will help you use your time wisely and answer questions as appropriately as possible. Use this list.
• When completing the Free Response section, do the easiest problem first and then the others. That way you don’t run out of time tackling the hardest problem on the exam.
• Practice, practice, practice! We can’t say this often enough. As soon as possible, start doing high-quality and challenging practice questions from College Board, Albert, or these AP® Environmental Science review books.

We hope you have found this review guide helpful. If you follow the advice in this article and walk into the exam with a positive attitude, we are confident that you will be happy with your score. Good luck!