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2024 AP Environmental Science Exam Guide

11 min read•june 18, 2024

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AP Environmental Science ♻️

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Your Guide to the 2024 AP Environmental Science Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP Environmental Science exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day. Unlock Cram Mode for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions.
Format of the 2024 AP Environmental Science Exam
This year, all AP exams will cover all units and essay types. The 2024 Environmental Science exam format will be:
  • Section 1: Multiple Choice
    • 80 questions in 1 hr 30 mins
    • 60% of exam score
    • This includes individual questions as well as sets of questions that refer to the same stimulus.
    • 3-4 sets of questions will include quantitative data, such as data tables, charts, or graphs.
    • 3-4 sets of questions will include qualitative data/information, such as models, representations, or maps.
    • 2 sets of questions will include text-based sources.
  • Section 2: Free Response
    • 3 questions in 1 hr 10 mins
    • 40% of exam score
    • 1 question in which you’ll design an investigation
    • 2 questions which will ask you to analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution, one of which will require performing calculations.
Check out our study plan below to find resources and tools to prepare for your AP Environmental Science exam.
When is the 2024 AP Environmental Science Exam and How Do I Take It?
The exam is on paper and in school.
The exam will be given on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 8:00 AM, your local time.

How should I prepare for the exam?

  • First, download the AP Environmental Science Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses! 
  • We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.
  • Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via Cram Mode. Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.
Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment
Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.
🖥 Create a study space.
Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 
📚 Organize your study materials.
Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!
📅 Plan designated times for studying.
The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.
🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.
How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

AP Environmental Science 2024 Study Plan

🏜 Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems

Big takeaways:
The first unit sets up the rest of the course. It is a refresher of ecology topics learned in biology. If you have not taken biology yet, no worries. Here you will learn how species interactions are affected by various ecosystem resources, the global distribution of biomes, biogeochemical cycles, and energy transfers within food webs and chains.
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
📰 Check out these articles:
✍️ Practice:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

🐠 Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity

Big takeaways:
This unit investigates the different forms of diversity and how that diversity is essential for ecosystems. Then it presents the impacts of ecosystems from both human and natural disturbances. The unit concludes by looking at organisms’ adaptations for survival due to the disturbances.
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Unit 3: Populations

Big takeaways:
This unit discusses the different population dynamics within an ecosystem. First is a look at the species being a generalist vs. specialist and K- vs. r-. This is followed by how resource availability affects population grow and how that looks graphically. This unit finishes with human population dynamics and the four demographic transitions.
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
📰 Check out these articles:
✍️ Practice:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

🌍 Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources

Big takeaways:
This unit discusses the abiotic factors that influence life. Earth’s massive plates and their movements show that our planet is still changing. Soils also influence the type of life in an area from the topsoil to the bedrock. Atmospheric movements influence weather patterns and ocean currents. 
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

🏝 Unit 5: Land and Water Use

Big takeaways:
This unit looks at how humans use the land and waters. This entails the harvesting of crops, meat, and fish along with the effects of harvesting on the land and water. The effects of overfishing, mining, and urbanization are also discussed. Lastly, this unit looks into your ecological footprint and sustainable practices.
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
📰 Check out these articles:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

⚡️ Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption

Big takeaways:
Energy is either renewable or nonrenewable. Both types have impacts on the land, water, or air. Different areas of the world have different energy needs and availability. Conserving energy and finding efficient alternatives will extend the supply of our nonrenewable energy sources.
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
📰 Check out these articles:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

💨 Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

Big takeaways:
Atmospheric pollution has both natural and anthropogenic sources. Air pollution affects the health of an ecosystem and may harm humans. Many businesses are required by law to remove certain chemicals before releasing wastes into the atmosphere.
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
📰 Check out these articles:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

♻️ Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

Big takeaways:
Pollution created by human activities directly impacts ecosystems in the air, on land, and in water. The source of pollution can be easy to identify, but other times the source is diffused. We’ll learn how to evaluate data related to pollution and explain concepts related to the different types of pollution that impact land and water. Legislation has been created to reduce discharges of pollution in water and regulate drinking water.
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
📰 Check out these articles:
✍️ Practice:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:

🔥 Unit 9: Global Change

Big takeaways:
In this unit, we’ll look at how the actions of humans can have global impacts. We explore cases of countries having great success in preservation of Earth’s natural resources, but also times when humans have directly resulted in irreparable harm. Some topics we’ll learn about include global climate change, alteration of the ocean’s temperature and pH, and loss of biodiversity. 
Definitely do this:
📚 Read these study guides:
🎥 Watch these videos:
📰 Check out these articles:
✍️ Practice:
If you have more time or want to dig deeper:
Browse Study Guides By Unit
🏜Unit 1 – The Living World: Ecosystems
🐠Unit 2 – The Living World: Biodiversity
👪Unit 3 – Populations
🌏Unit 4 – Earth Systems & Resources
🏖Unit 5 – Land & Water Use
⚡️Unit 6 – Energy Resources & Consumption
💨Unit 7 – Atmospheric Pollution
♻️Unit 8 – Aquatic & Terrestrial Pollution
🔥Unit 9 – Global Change
📚Study Tools
2024 AP Environmental Science Exam Guide
🤔Exam Skills
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