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📊 Unit Confidence Tracker — 9 Units
Rate your confidence in each of the 9 APES units. Unit 9 (Global Change) is the most heavily weighted at 15-20%. Units 3-6 each carry 10-15%.
How AP Environmental Science Is Scored
The APES exam consists of two sections. Section I: Multiple Choice has 80 questions in 90 minutes and accounts for 60% of your total score. Section II: Free Response has 3 questions in 70 minutes and accounts for 40%.
Each MCQ correct answer earns 1 raw point (no penalty for guessing). The 3 FRQs are each scored 0-10 points using detailed rubrics, for a maximum of 30 FRQ raw points. Your MCQ raw score is scaled to 60 points and your FRQ total is scaled to 40 points, giving a maximum composite of 100.
The composite score is then converted to an AP score of 1-5. The exam is fully digital via the Bluebook app, and a calculator is permitted on both sections. A reference sheet with formulas and equations is also provided.
FRQ Scoring: FRQ 1 tests your ability to design an investigation. FRQ 2 asks you to analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution. FRQ 3 is similar to FRQ 2 but requires mathematical calculations (energy, population growth, percent change, etc.). Each FRQ has ~10 individually scored parts worth 1 point each.
Unit Weights on the Exam
The 9 course units are weighted differently on the MCQ section. Focus your study time on the highest-weighted units.
2025 Score Distributions
How ~246,000 AP Environmental Science students scored in 2025. The pass rate jumped to 69.2% from 54.1% in 2024, likely due to Evidence-Based Standard Setting adopted this year.
Historical Trends
AP Environmental Science mean scores and pass rates over the past five years show a dramatic improvement in 2025.
Top Strategies for APES Success
At 15-20% weight, Global Change is the single most important unit. Focus on climate change, ozone depletion, ocean acidification, and invasive species. Know the greenhouse gases and their sources.
FRQ 3 always requires math. Master energy calculations, population growth (rule of 70), percent change, unit conversions, and LD50/dose-response. Always show your work and include units.
The Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, CITES, and Montreal Protocol appear frequently. Know what each law does and why it matters.
Each FRQ part uses a specific task verb: Identify (1 sentence), Describe (1-2 sentences), Explain (2-3 sentences), Calculate (show work). Match your response length to the verb.