♻️ 2023 AP Environmental Science Study Plan and Progress Tracker
Welcome to this plethora of resources that cover everything! This toolkit is constantly being updated with more resources! AP Environmental Science is a college-level course where you will develop an understanding of relationships in the natural world through inquiry-driven investigation and field work.
🚨 All you need to know about the 2023 AP Enviro Exam!
The AP Environmental Science Exam
A breakdown of the exam content by percentage.
| Unit | Exam Weighting (MCQ) |
|---|---|
| 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% |
Science Practices
By taking AP Environmental, you’ll gain a variety of skills that will help you think and practice like a environmental scientist.
| Skill | Description | Exam Weighting (MCQ) | Exam Weighting (FRQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Concept Explanation | Explain environmental concepts, processes, and models presented in written format | 30%–38% | 13%–20% |
| 2. Visual Representations | Analyze visual representations of environmental concepts and processes | 12%–19% | 6%–10% |
| 3. Text Analysis | Analyze sources of information about environmental issues | 6%–8% | Not assessed in free-response section. |
| 4. Scientific Experiments | Analyze research studies that test environmental principles | 2%–4% | 10%–14% |
| 5. Data Analysis | Analyze and interpret quantitative data represented in tables, charts, and graphs | 12%–19% | 6%–10% |
| 6. Mathematical Routines | Apply quantitative methods to address environmental concepts | 6%–9% | 20% |
| 7. Environmental Solutions | Propose and justify solutions to environmental problems | 17%–23% | 26%–34% |
Download our 2023 AP Enviro Study Tracker Notion Template! It's free for all students to use. Track your study progress, rate your confidence levels, and store notes in each study guide page. It's the perfect companion to Fiveable's AP Study Guides
Study Guides for Every Unit
🏜 Unit 1 - The Living World: Ecosystems
- 1.0 Unit 1 Overview
- 1.1 Introduction to Ecosystems
- 1.2 Terrestrial Biomes
- 1.3 Aquatic Biomes
- 1.4 The Carbon Cycle
- 1.5 The Nitrogen Cycle
- 1.6 The Phosphorous Cycle
- 1.7 The Hydrologic Cycle
- 1.8 Primary Productivity
- 1.9 Trophic Levels
- 1.10 Energy Flow and the 10% Rule
- 1.11 Food Chains and Food Webs
- 1.12 Multiple Choice Questions
- 1.13 MC Answers and Review
🐠 Unit 2 - The Living World: Biodiversity
- 2.0 Unit 2 Overview
- 2.1 Introduction to Biodiversity
- 2.2 Ecosystem Services
- 2.3 Island Biogeography
- 2.4 Ecological Tolerance
- 2.5 Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems
- 2.6 Adaptations
- 2.7 Ecological Succession
- 2.8 Multiple Choice Questions
- 2.9 MC Answers and Review
👪 Unit 3 - Populations
- 3.0 Unit 3 Overview
- 3.1 Generalist and Specialist Species
- 3.2 K-Selected r-Selected Species
- 3.3 Survivorship Curves
- 3.4 Carrying Capacity
- 3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability
- 3.6 Age Structure Diagrams
- 3.7 Total Fertility Rate
- 3.8 Human Population Dynamics
- 3.9 Demographic Transition
- 3.10 Multiple Choice Questions
- 3.11 MC Answers and Review
🌏 Unit 4 - Earth Systems and Resources
- 4.0 Unit 4 Overview
- 4.1 Tectonic Plates
- 4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion
- 4.3 Soil Composition and Properties
- 4.4 Earth's Atmosphere
- 4.5 Global Wind Patterns
- 4.6 Watersheds
- 4.7 Solar Radiation and Earth's Seasons
- 4.8 Earth's Geography and Climate
- 4.9 El Niño and La Niña
- 4.10 Multiple Choice Questions
- 4.11 MC Answers and Review
🏖 Unit 5 - Land and Water Use
- 5.0 Unit 5 Overview
- 5.1 The Tragedy of the Commons
- 5.2 Clearcutting
- 5.3 The Green Revolution
- 5.4 Impacts of Agricultural Practices
- 5.5 Irrigation Methods
- 5.6 Pest Control Methods
- 5.7 Meat Production Methods
- 5.8 Impacts of Overfishing
- 5.9 Impacts of Mining
- 5.10 Impacts of Urbanization
- 5.11 Ecological Footprints
- 5.12 Intro to Sustainability
- 5.13 Methods to Reduce Urban Runoff
- 5.14 Integrated Pest Management
- 5.15 Sustainable Agriculture
- 5.16 Aquaculture
- 5.17 Sustainable Forestry
- 5.18 Multiple Choice Questions
- 5.19 MC Answers and Review
- Bonus: Required Environmental Legislation
⚡️ Unit 6 - Energy Resources and Consumption
- 6.0 Unit 6 Overview
- 6.1 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
- 6.2 Global Energy Consumption
- 6.3 Fuel Types and Uses
- 6.4 Distribution of Natural Resources
- 6.5 Fossil Fuels
- 6.6 Nuclear Power
- 6.7 Energy from Biomass
- 6.8 Solar Energy
- 6.9 Hydroelectric Power
- 6.10 Geothermal Energy
- 6.11 Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- 6.12 Wind Energy
- 6.13 Energy Conservation
- 6.14 Multiple Choice Questions
- 6.15 MC Answers and Review
💨 Unit 7 - Atmospheric Pollution
- 7.0 Unit 7 Overview
- 7.1 Introduction to Air Pollution
- 7.2 Photochemical Smog
- 7.3 Thermal Inversion
- 7.4 Atmospheric CO2 and Particulates
- 7.5 Indoor Air Pollutants
- 7.6 Reduction of Air Pollutants
- 7.7 Acid Rain
- 7.8 Noise Pollution
- 7.9 Multiple Choice Questions
- 7.10 MC Answers and Review
♻️ Unit 8 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution
- 8.0 Unit 8 Overview
- 8.1 Sources of Pollution
- 8.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems
- 8.3 Endocrine Disruptors
- 8.4 Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves
- 8.5 Eutrophication
- 8.6 Thermal Pollution
- 8.7 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- 8.8 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
- 8.9 Solid Waste Disposal
- 8.10 Waste Reduction Methods
- 8.11 Sewage Treatment
- 8.12 Lethal Dose 50% (LD50)
- 8.13 Dose Response Curve
- 8.14 Pollution and Human Health
- 8.15 Pathogens and Infectious Diseases
- 8.16 Multiple Choice Questions
- 8.17 MC Answers and Review
🔥 Unit 9 - Global Change
- 9.0 Unit 9 Overview
- 9.1 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
- 9.2 Reducing Ozone Depletion
- 9.3 The Greenhouse Effect
- 9.4 Increases in the Greenhouse Gases
- 9.5 Global Climate Change
- 9.6 Ocean Warming
- 9.7 Ocean Acidification
- 9.8 Invasive Species
- 9.9 Endangered Species
- 9.10 Human Impacts on Biodiversity
- 9.11 Multiple Choice Questions
- 9.12 MC Answers and Review
- Bonus: Major Environmental Disasters
AP Environmental Science MCQ
- ❓AP Environmental Science Multiple Choice: A complete breakdown of the multiple-choice section, including examples, practice problems, and expert advice
- ✍🏽 Environmental Science Free Response Questions: A complete breakdown of the FRQ writing and thinking process. Examples and practice prompts are included.
Quicklinks
- 🗂 Best AP Environmental Science Textbooks and Prep Books: Whether you're looking into resources for review or self-studying, textbooks and prep books are a great option for print study. Here are a few tried-and-true textbooks and prep books that can help you get started!
- ❓ Is AP Environmental Science Hard? Is AP Environmental Science Worth Taking?: If you're thinking about taking AP Environmental Science, you're probably wondering about the difficulty and if the course is worth it.
- 🏫 How Do I Self-Study AP Environmental Science?: Want to take AP Environmental Science, but your school doesn't offer it, or you're homeschooling? Consider self-studying! You can create a customized experience and take the AP exam at the end of the year.
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