AP Environmental Science Exam - UPDATED

Exam timing

Students will have 25 minutes to read and respond to Question 1, and then 5 minutes to upload their response. After uploading the response to Question 1, students will have 15 minutes to respond to Question 2, with 5 additional minutes to upload their response to Question 2. Once their response to Question 1 has been submitted, they cannot go back to it.

Questions

Question 1 (25 mins.)

Question 2 (15 mins.)

% of exam weight (rounded)

60%

40%

Question name

Design an Investigation

Analyze an Environmental Problem and Propose a Solution

Question description

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

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

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

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

Corresponding free-response question (FRQ) type in the course and exam description binder

FRQ 1

• 2020 Question 1 has been lengthened from an FRQ as described in the 2019-20 course and exam description, in order to fit the 25-minute working period.
• Students will not be asked to provide (nor will be granted points for providing) basic definitions—rather, the question will focus on environmental concepts, processes and models, and how they interrelate and apply to environmental scenarios.

FRQ 2

• 2020 Question 2 has been shortened from an FRQ as described in the 2019-20 course and exam description, in order to fit the 15-minute working period.
• Students will not be asked to provide (nor will be granted points for providing) basic definitions—rather, the question will focus on environmental concepts, processes and models, and how they interrelate and apply to environmental scenarios.

Units eligible for 2020 exam

Units 1–7

Units not included in 2020 exam

Units 8–9