Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science (also known as APES, AP Enviro, AP Environmental, AP Environment, or AP EnviroSci) is a course and exam offered by the American College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program to high school students interested in the environmental and natural sciences. AP Environmental Science was first offered in the 1997–1998 school year. The course is designed to replicate one-semester, introductory environmental science classes at typical American universities and colleges.

Course This course is designed to provide students with scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies necessary to comprehend the relationships abundant within the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems, to evaluate relative risks associated with these identified problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing similar problems facing the global environment. Lessons are taught in classroom settings as well as in the field through outdoor classrooms, field trips, and volunteer activities.

Topics covered in AP Environmental Science, according to the College Board, as of Fall 2019 include: UnitTopicTopics May IncludeExam Weighting1The Living World: Ecosystems Introduction to ecosystems Terrestrial and aquatic biomes Primary productivity Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles Trophic levels The flow of energy in an ecosystem and the 10% rule Food chains and food webs6–8%2The Living World: Biodiversity Introduction to biodiversity Ecosystem services Island biogeography Ecological tolerance Natural disruptions to ecosystems Ecological succession6–8%3Populations Generalist and specialist species Survivorship curves Population growth and resource availability Age structure diagrams Human population dynamics10–15%4Earth Systems and Resources Tectonic plates Soil formation and erosion Earth's atmosphere Global wind patterns Earth's geography and climate El Niño and La Niña10–15%5Land and Water Use The tragedy of the commons The Green Revolution Types and effects of irrigation Pest-control methods Meat production methods and overfishing The impacts of mining Urbanization and ecological footprints Introduction to sustainable practices including crop rotation and aquaculture10–15%6Energy Resources and Consumption Energy sources and fuel types, including fossil fuels, ethanol, and nuclear power Global energy consumption and distribution of natural resources Natural sources of energy, including solar power, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power Energy conservation methods10–15%7Atmospheric Pollution Introduction to air pollution Photochemical smog Indoor air pollution Methods to reduce air pollutants Acid rain Noise pollution7–10%8Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution Sources of pollution Human impact on ecosystems Thermal pollution Solid waste disposal and waste reduction methods Pollution and human health Pathogens and infectious diseases7–10%9Global Change Ozone depletion Global climate change Ocean warming and acidification Invasive species Human impacts on diversity15–20%

Topics covered in AP Environmental Science prior to Fall 2019 include:

TopicPercentEarth Systems and Resources10–15%The Living World10–15%Population10–15%Land and Water use10–15%Energy Resources and Consumption10–15%Pollution25–30%Global Change10–15% These topics cover a broad range of subject matter in order to prepare students for environmental science roles and interdisciplinary disciplines.

Skills practiced in AP Environmental Science, according to the College Board +SkillDescriptionExam Weighting (Multiple Choice Section)Exam Weighting (Free-Response Section)1. Concept ExplanationExplain environmental concepts, processes, and models presented in written format30%–38%13%–20%2. Visual RepresentationsAnalyze visual representations of environmental concepts and processes12%–19%6%–10%3. Text AnalysisAnalyze sources of information about environmental issues6%–8%Not assessed in free-response section.4. Scientific ExperimentsAnalyze research studies that test environmental principles2%–4%10%–14%5. Data AnalysisAnalyze and interpret quantitative data represented in tables, charts, and graphs12%–19%6%–10%6. Mathematical RoutinesApply quantitative methods to address environmental concepts6%–9%20%7. Environmental SolutionsPropose and justify solutions to environmental problems17%–23%26%–34%

Exam The AP Environmental Science exam is divided into a multiple choice and free response section.

Old exam (1998–2019) The old exam was 3 hours long and contained two sections: Section I: Multiple Choice (100 questions, 90 minutes). Section II: Free-Response (one data-set question, one document-based question, and two synthesis and evaluation questions, 90 minutes).

Current exam (2020–present) As of fall 2019, multiple changes have been made to the AP Environmental Science exam. These changes include but are not limited to: allowed calculator use, changes in the number of multiple choice questions, the use of stimuli in multiple choice questions, and changes in free response questions.

According to the College Board: "The exam is 2 hours and 40 minutes long and includes 80 multiple-choice questions and 3 free-response questions. A four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator is allowed on both sections of the exam." The exam is fully online using the Bluebook testing app. All responses are submitted upon exam completion. The new exam contains two sections with slight changes: Section I: Multiple Choice (80 questions, 90 minutes). Section II: Free-Response (one investigation design question, one solution to an environmental problem proposal question, and one solution to an environmental problem proposal question with calculations, 70 minutes).

Grade distribution The percentage of students scoring a grade of "5" was only 7.0% in the 2021 testing administration. It remains one of the lowest "5" scoring AP Exams to this date right under AP Art History, AP English Literature & Composition, AP English Language & Composition, and AP World History. The AP Environmental Science exam was first administered in 1998.

Grade distributions since 2009 are: Score2009http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap09_EnvSci_GradeDistributions.pdf 2009 Grade Distribution 2010http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/2010_EnvSci_Score_Dist.pdf 2010 Grade Distribution 2011http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/2011_Env_Sci_Score_Dist.pdf 2011 Grade Distribution 20122013http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/apcentral/ap13_enviro_sci_ScoringDist.pdf 2013 Grade Distribution 2014http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/2014/STUDENT-SCORE-DISTRIBUTIONS-2014.pdf 2014 Student Score Distributions2015"Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 17, 2024.2016 2017"Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 13, 2024.2018 2019"Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 13, 2024.202020212022"Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 13, 2024.2023"Student Score Distributions" (PDF). Retrieved January 13, 2024.2024"2024 AP Score Distributions". Retrieved July 8, 2024.20252026510.4%10.4%8.9%8.9%8.0%8.3%7.7%7.6%9.5%8.8%9.4%11.9%7.0%8.9%8.3%9%12%13%420.7%22.6%24.8%24.9%23.4%23.6%24.2%23.2%24.5%23.9%25.7%28.5%24.9%27.4%28.4%27%28%29%318.9%17.0%15.6%16.6%16.8%15.3%15.1%14.8%15.4%15.0%14.1%13.0%18.5%17.5%17.0%18%29%27%218.5%18.1%24.9%24.3%25.4%25.5%25.4%25.8%24.5%25.8%25.4%25.5%27.6%25.9%26.4%26%15%15%131.5%32.0%25.8%25.3%26.5%27.2%27.6%28.6%26.2%26.5%25.4%21.0%22.1%20.3%19.9%20%16%16%% of scores 3 or higher 50.0%50.0%49.4%50.4%48.2%47.3%47.0%45.6%49.4%47.7%49.2%53.4%50.3%53.8%53.7%54%69%69%Mean2.602.612.662.682.612.602.592.552.672.632.682.852.672.792.792.79Standard deviation1.381.401.331.331.311.321.321.321.341.331.341.351.261.291.281.28Number of students73,57586,65098,959108,839118,288130,321138,703149,096159,578166,433172,456162,469160,771179,957209,757236,371245,371245,000

References

External links AP Environmental Science at CollegeBoard.com