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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.
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. [1] 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 [2] , according to the College Board, as of Fall 2019 include:
| Unit | Topic | Topics May Include | Exam Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Living World: Ecosystems |
| 6–8% |
| 2 | The Living World: Biodiversity |
| 6–8% |
| 3 | Populations |
| 10–15% |
| 4 | Earth Systems and Resources |
| 10–15% |
| 5 | Land and Water Use |
| 10–15% |
| 6 | Energy Resources and Consumption |
| 10–15% |
| 7 | Atmospheric Pollution |
| 7–10% |
| 8 | Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution |
| 7–10% |
| 9 | Global Change |
| 15–20% |
Topics covered in AP Environmental Science prior to Fall 2019 include:
| Topic | Percent |
|---|---|
| Earth Systems and Resources | 10–15% |
| The Living World | 10–15% |
| Population | 10–15% |
| Land and Water use | 10–15% |
| Energy Resources and Consumption | 10–15% |
| Pollution | 25–30% |
| Global Change | 10–15% |
These topics cover a broad range of subject matter in order to prepare students for environmental science roles and interdisciplinary disciplines.
| Skill | Description | Exam Weighting (Multiple Choice Section) | Exam Weighting (Free-Response Section) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Concept Explanation | Explain environmental concepts, processes, and models presented in written format | 30%–38% | 13%–20% |
| 2. Visual Representations | Analyze visual representations of environmental concepts and processes | 12%–19% | 6%–10% |
| 3. Text Analysis | Analyze sources of information about environmental issues | 6%–8% | Not assessed in free-response section. |
| 4. Scientific Experiments | Analyze research studies that test environmental principles | 2%–4% | 10%–14% |
| 5. Data Analysis | Analyze and interpret quantitative data represented in tables, charts, and graphs | 12%–19% | 6%–10% |
| 6. Mathematical Routines | Apply quantitative methods to address environmental concepts | 6%–9% | 20% |
| 7. Environmental Solutions | Propose and justify solutions to environmental problems | 17%–23% | 26%–34% |
The AP Environmental Science exam is divided into a multiple choice and free response section.
The old exam was 3 hours long and contained two sections: [3] [4]
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." [2] 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: [5]
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:
| Score | 2009 [6] | 2010 [7] | 2011 [8] | 2012 [9] | 2013 [10] | 2014 [11] | 2015 [12] | 2016 [13] | 2017 [14] | 2018 [15] | 2019 [16] | 2020 [17] | 2021 [18] | 2022 [19] | 2023 [20] | 2024 [21] | 2025 [22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10.4% | 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% |
| 4 | 20.7% | 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% |
| 3 | 18.9% | 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% |
| 2 | 18.5% | 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% |
| 1 | 31.5% | 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% |
| % 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% |
| Mean | 2.60 | 2.61 | 2.66 | 2.68 | 2.61 | 2.60 | 2.59 | 2.55 | 2.67 | 2.63 | 2.68 | 2.85 | 2.67 | 2.79 | 2.79 | 2.79 | |
| Standard deviation | 1.38 | 1.40 | 1.33 | 1.33 | 1.31 | 1.32 | 1.32 | 1.32 | 1.34 | 1.33 | 1.34 | 1.35 | 1.26 | 1.29 | 1.28 | 1.28 | |
| Number of students | 73,575 | 86,650 | 98,959 | 108,839 | 118,288 | 130,321 | 138,703 | 149,096 | 159,578 | 166,433 | 172,456 | 162,469 | 160,771 | 179,957 | 209,757 | ||