AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description
Overview
Effective Fall 2020
Periodic updates; check AP Central for latest version
About College Board
Not-for-profit organization connecting students to college success
Established in 1900, assists over seven million students annually
Known for SAT and Advanced Placement Program
Focuses on research and advocacy in education
AP Equity and Access Policy
Encourages equitable access to AP programs
Supports diversity in AP classes
Advocates for challenging coursework as preparation for AP success
Course Framework
Components
Science Practices
Development and application throughout the course
Course Content
Organized into units reflecting college expectations
Builds understanding through big ideas
Big Ideas
Energy Transfer (ENG)
Energy conversions and ecological processes
Interactions Between Earth Systems (ERT)
Earth as an interconnected system
Interactions Between Species and the Environment (EIN)
Impact of humans on natural systems
Sustainability (STB)
Importance of sustainable practices
Units
The Living World: Ecosystems (6-8% exam weight)
The Living World: Biodiversity (6-8% exam weight)
Populations (10-15% exam weight)
Earth Systems and Resources (10-15% exam weight)
Land and Water Use (10-15% exam weight)
Energy Resources and Consumption (10-15% exam weight)
Atmospheric Pollution (7-10% exam weight)
Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution (7-10% exam weight)
Global Change (15-20% exam weight)
Instructional Approaches
Incorporation of AP resources throughout
Focus on developing scientific practices
Exam Information
Two sections: multiple-choice and free-response
Multiple-choice (60% of exam): 80 questions
Free-response (40% of exam): 3 questions
Covers four big ideas and corresponding units
Science Practices in Exam
Concept Explanation
Visual Representations
Text Analysis
Scientific Experiments
Data Analysis
Mathematical Routines
Environmental Solutions
Key Policies and Legislation
Important environmental legislation: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, CITES, CERCLA, Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species Act, SWDA, Delaney Clause, RCRA
Laboratory Investigations
25% of instructional time should be in lab settings
Emphasis on inquiry-based investigations
Recommended to develop skills in generating questions, designing experiments, and analyzing data
AP Resources and Supports
AP Classroom provides resources for year-long support
Unit guides and personal progress checks available
Progress dashboard for monitoring student progress
Additional Resources
Access more information via collegeboard.org
Participate in AP Reading for professional development and insights into AP scoring standards
Note
For detailed reading and inquiry practice, explore primary and secondary sources beyond the textbook