AP Environmental Science
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About the Course
Explore and investigate the interrelationships of the natural world and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human-made. You’ll take part in laboratory investigations and field work.
Note: Save your lab notebooks and reports; colleges may ask to see them before granting you credit.
Skills You'll Learn
Explaining environmental concepts and processes
Analyzing data, visual representations, and writings
Applying quantitative methods in solving problems
Proposing a solution for an environmental problem and supporting your idea with evidence
Analyzing a research study to identify a hypothesis
Equivalency and Prerequisites
College Course Equivalent
A one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science
Recommended Prerequisites
Two years of high school laboratory science, including life science and physical science, along with at least one year of algebra
Exam Date
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Tue, May 2, 2023,
8 AM LocalAP Environmental Science Exam
This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Environmental Science Exam.
About the Units
The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.
Course Content
Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems
You’ll begin to explore a view of planet Earth as one system made up of regional ecosystems composed of interdependent environmental features, processes, and relationships between species.
Topics may include:
- 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 webs
On The Exam
6%–8% of exam score
Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity
You’ll learn about the importance of biodiversity within ecosystems and the impact of outside factors on the evolution of organisms.
Topics may include:
- Introduction to biodiversity
- Ecosystem services
- Island biogeography
- Ecological tolerance
- Natural disruptions to ecosystems
- Ecological succession
On The Exam
6%–8% of exam score
Unit 3: Populations
You’ll examine how populations within ecosystems change over time, and the factors that affect population growth.
Topics may include:
- Generalist and specialist species
- Survivorship curves
- Population growth and resource availability
- Age structure diagrams
- Human population dynamics
On The Exam
10%–15% of exam score
Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources
You’ll study the natural components that make up the environment, from geologic features to the atmosphere and climate.
Topics may include:
- Tectonic plates
- Soil formation and erosion
- Earth's atmosphere
- Global wind patterns
- Earth's geography and climate
- El Niño and La Niña
On The Exam
10%–15% of exam score
Unit 5: Land and Water Use
You’ll examine how humans use and consume natural resources, and the ways in which we disrupt ecosystems, both positively and negatively.
Topics may include:
- 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 aquaculture
On The Exam
10%–15% of exam score
Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption
You’ll learn about renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy, where they’re used, and their impact on the environment.
Topics may include:
- 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 methods
On The Exam
10%–15% of exam score
Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution
You’ll learn more about air pollution, including how human actions can cause it, and you’ll analyze legislation intended to regulate emissions and improve air quality.
Topics may include:
- Introduction to air pollution
- Photochemical smog
- Indoor air pollution
- Methods to reduce air pollutants
- Acid rain
- Noise pollution
On The Exam
7%–10% of exam score
Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution
You’ll examine the impact of pollution on ecosystems and learn how to determine its source.
Topics may include:
- Sources of pollution
- Human impact on ecosystems
- Thermal pollution
- Solid waste disposal and waste reduction methods
- Pollution and human health
- Pathogens and infectious diseases
On The Exam
7%–10% of exam score
Unit 9: Global Change
You’ll come to understand the global impact of local and regional human activities and evaluate and propose solutions.
Topics may include:
- Ozone depletion
- Global climate change
- Ocean warming and acidification
- Invasive species
- Human impacts on diversity
On The Exam
15%–20% of exam score
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Course Resources
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AP Classroom Resources
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AP Environmental Science Lab and Field Investigations
In AP Environmental Science, you’ll do hands-on work in the laboratory and make observations and explore problems in real-world settings.
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AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description
This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and AP Program in general.
See Where AP Can Take You
AP Environmental Science can lead to a wide range of careers and college majors
Career Areas
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Majors
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