Training for AP Environmental Science as a 10th Grader

The following Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science article was written by Katherine Wang, high school class of 2023. Most AP Environmental Science high school courses are for 11th and 12th graders. However, as only a 10th grader, Katherine took on the challenge to train for this AP outside of high school. With training from Ryan Young, Founder & CEO (English Teacher), Katherine earned a perfect AP 5 score on the June 2021 College Board AP Environmental Science exam.

My Favorite Units

Out of the many units in Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science (commonly referred to as “APES”), I enjoyed most of them. That said, my favorite units were atmospheric pollution, and aquatic and terrestrial pollution. These two units came easily to me because I studied pollution previously and had genuine interest in the topics. Knowing how pollution plays a part in environmental degradation in the real world helped me stay motivated. The atmospheric pollution unit mainly covers legislation regarding pollution and human actions that cause pollution. Specific topics of the atmospheric pollution unit include acid rain, greenhouse gases, indoor and outdoor air pollution, and noise pollution.

The aquatic and terrestrial pollution unit mainly examines the impacts of such pollution on land and in the ocean. Specific topics of aquatic and terrestrial pollution include thermal pollution, waste disposal, pathogens and infectious disease, and biodiversity loss. Both units are actually extremely crucial because they help develop critical thinking skills in providing realistic solutions for major issues, which will show up as a free-response question (FRQ) on the test.

Overcoming Challenges

Even though I found the majority of the units manageable, there were still some units that I enjoyed considerably less. My least favorite unit was earth systems and resources. This unit focuses on the makeup of the environment, from geologic features to the atmosphere and climate. Specific topics include tectonic plates, soil formation, wind patterns, geography and climate. This unit is perceived as one of the harder units, but it’s not. It is simply memorization. This unit definitely has the most graphs and data as well.

Collision of two continental plates. Top photo shows Mount Everest and Makalu in the Himalayas from space. Bottom diagram shows the Himalayan Mountain range, which includes the highest mountains on earth and was formed when the collision of two continental plates forced the margins of both plates upward. Source: Environmental Science for the AP Course 3rd Edition, 2019; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 2019.

When reading data, always read the title of the graph first to understand the comparison or the correlation. After understanding the purpose of the graph, analyze the x and y values to make sure you are correctly reading the graph. This is going to be key when comparing climatic data from two biomes with similar names, such as temperate deciduous forest and tropical deciduous forest. With graphing and analyzing data, practice makes perfect. Aside from a specific topic, anything related to math in APES annoyed me because I am simply not a math person. However, to be clear, the math is not hard. The math formulas are also pure memorization. Although understanding is very important and will help you achieve a much better score, sometimes memorization is key.

AP Environmental Science vs. AP Human Geography

Managing two, three, or even four APs in one school year is not an easy task, especially when the APs have overlapping concepts. Although some of these overlaps may make your life easier, sometimes, they could actually confuse you. In the case of AP Environmental Science and AP Human Geography, there are multiple overlapping concepts. The most notable include the demographic transition. This is covered in the population unit in both AP Environmental Science and AP Human Geography. The underlying concept of the demographic transition is similar in both subjects, however, precise definitions and phrasing vary distinctly. In AP Human Geography, the stages of the demographic transition are referred to as stages. But in AP Environmental Science, they are referred to as phases. This is a small detail that should not be missed. The definitions and boundaries of each phase, or stage, also vary. When studying both APs, remember to move any preexisting definitions of one to the back of your head. This is only a problem if you let it. Make sure to shift into a science mindset when training for AP Environmental Science.

Time Management During the AP Test

One of the hardest parts of AP Environmental Science is the actual AP test. The test consists of Section 1 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), which account for 60% of your score, and Section 2 free-response questions (FRQs), which account for 40% of your score. There are 80 total MCQs and 90 minutes to complete them. Since my AP test was online, I could not go back to review or change previous MCQs. However, this is not the case with paper and pencil exams. I would recommend allocating 30 seconds for each MCQ. This might seem like a very short amount of time, but it really isn’t because many of the questions will be extremely straightforward. By spending 30 seconds on each MCQ, it will leave you with 50 minutes to go back and double-check. Dwelling on a question will only drain time and make you worry. Speed is crucial to completing all MCQs.

As for FRQs, there are three total questions and 70 minutes to complete them. Each of the three FRQs can branch off into sub-questions, such as Q1A, Q1B, or even Q1Ai and Q1Aii. My AP test had around 8-9 sub questions in each main FRQ, leaving me with around 25 FRQs in total. This means that 25 FRQs roughly translates to 2.8 minutes per question. This seems like a lot of writing but some of the FRQs are also very straightforward. Some of the math FRQs simply required a number answer given in minimal context. I would recommend spending two minutes on each sub-FRQ. This will leave you with adequate time to return and check your work. In regards to drawing and labeling, I did not have to do this on my test as it was online. However, practicing to draw straight lines, naming graphs and clearly labeling all axes are all important skills, especially for paper exams.

General Tips for Training Outside High School

Self-studying APES requires patience and focus. The textbook is quite thick and will take a good amount of time to go through. The textbook took me six months to get through, which means I did not get started on AP Environmental Science Diagnostic Tests (DTs) until six months into my training. Although this may seem like a really long time, the textbook contains everything you need to know for the AP test. Since the APES textbook contains so much material, consistently reviewing is key in order to retain the knowledge. Reviewing the Section 1 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Section 2 free-response questions (FRQs) from previous chapters helped me because they are similar to ones in past AP exams. Reviewing the past College Board FRQs were also extremely helpful because they were similar to the actual exam MCQs and FRQs. Having organized notes is also important to keep track of all the information. To have organized notes, clearly label each note with a distinct title, take bullet points and summarize each chapter.

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Author: KATHERINE WANG

Katherine, high school class of 2023, enjoys biology and chemistry. Her hobbies include cooking, especially baking, and socializing with people. With a strong academic focus, Katherine studies hard and pours in a lot of energy to develop her writing and critical thinking skills. Sustainability issues, such as climate change, human trafficking and resource development, encourage her to develop strong solutions for these pressing issues. While Katherine plans to attend college in the United States, she would like to spend at least one year studying abroad to learn new cultures, skills and languages.