Your Guide to the 2025 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 2025 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 2025 AP Environmental Science Exam
This year, all AP exams will cover all units and essay types. The 2025 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 2025 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 13, 2025, at 12 PM 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 2025 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:
- 1.0 Unit 1 Overview
- 1.1 Introduction to Ecosystems
- 1.2 Terrestrial Biomes
- 1.3 Aquatic Biomes
- 1.4 The Carbon Cycle
- 1.5 The Nitrogen Cycle
- 1.6 The Phosphorous Cycle
- 1.7 The Hydrologic Cycle
- 1.8 Primary Productivity
- 1.9 Trophic Levels
- 1.10 Energy Flow and the 10% Rule
- 1.11 Food Chains and Food Webs
🎥 Watch these videos:
- Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes: climate, soil, flora, and fauna
- Biogeochemical Cycles: Comparing different types of maps
- Energy Transfer in the Ecosystem: trophic levels, 10% Rule
🐠 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:
- 2.0 Unit 2 Overview
- 2.1 Introduction to Biodiversity
- 2.2 Ecosystem Services
- 2.3 Island Biogeography
- 2.4 Ecological Tolerance
- 2.5 Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems
- 2.6 Adaptations
- 2.7 Ecological Succession
🎥 Watch these videos:
- Island Biogeography how islands affect population size
- Adaptations and Ecological Succession: organisms change due to environmental changes, terrestrial and aquatic succession
👩👩👧👦 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:
- 3.0 Unit 3 Overview
- 3.1 Generalist and Specialist Species
- 3.2 K-Selected r-Selected Species
- 3.3 Survivorship Curves
- 3.4 Carrying Capacity
- 3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability
- 3.6 Age Structure Diagrams
- 3.7 Total Fertility Rate
- 3.8 Human Population Dynamics
- 3.9 Demographic Transition
🎥 Watch these videos:
- Generalist/Specialist and K-/r- species reproductive and survivorship strategies
- Carrying Capacity: factors that affect population growth, different growth curves
- Age Structure Diagrams: TFR, growth patterns, Replacement Level Fertility
🌍 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:
- 4.0 Unit 4 Overview
- 4.1 Tectonic Plates
- 4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion
- 4.3 Soil Composition and Properties
- 4.4 Earth's Atmosphere
- 4.5 Global Wind Patterns
- 4.6 Watersheds
- 4.7 Solar Radiation and Earth's Seasons
- 4.8 Earth's Geography and Climate
- 4.9 El Niño and La Niña
🎥 Watch these videos:
- Earth's Seasons and Climate seasons, El Nino, rain shadow effect
- Earth's Atmosphere and Global Wind Patterns: atmosphere composition, Hadley Cells, Coriolis Effect
- Soil Composition what makes soil, differences in biomes
🏝 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:
- 5.0 Unit 5 Overview
- 5.1 The Tragedy of the Commons
- 5.2 Clearcutting
- 5.3 The Green Revolution
- 5.4 Impacts of Agricultural Practices
- 5.5 Irrigation Methods
- 5.6 Pest Control Methods
- 5.7 Meat Production Methods
- 5.8 Impacts of Overfishing
- 5.9 Impacts of Mining
- 5.10 Impacts of Urbanization
- 5.11 Ecological Footprints
- 5.12 Intro to Sustainability
- 5.13 Methods to Reduce Urban Runoff
- 5.14 Integrated Pest Management
- 5.15 Sustainable Agriculture
- 5.16 Aquaculture
- 5.17 Sustainable Forestry
🎥 Watch these videos:
- Fishing Practices, Tragedy of the Commons, types of fishing, impacts of overfishing
- Agricultural Practices II, clear-cutting, Green Revolution, impacts of agriculture
- Agricultural Practices III irrigation, pest control, meat production
📰 Check out these articles:
⚡️ 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:
- 6.0 Unit 6 Overview
- 6.1 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
- 6.2 Global Energy Consumption
- 6.3 Fuel Types and Uses
- 6.4 Distribution of Natural Resources
- 6.5 Fossil Fuels
- 6.6 Nuclear Power
- 6.7 Energy from Biomass
- 6.8 Solar Energy
- 6.9 Hydroelectric Power
- 6.10 Geothermal Energy
- 6.11 Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- 6.12 Wind Energy
- 6.13 Energy Conservation
🎥 Watch these videos:
- Renewable Energy I solar energy, wind energy, conservation
- Renewable Energy II nuclear, geothermal, hydroelectric, hydrogen fuel cell
- Fossil Fuels, crude oil, coal, natural gas, fracking, energy distribution
- Global Energy Consumption global energy distribution, conservation, calculations
💨 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:
- 7.0 Unit 7 Overview
- 7.1 Introduction to Air Pollution
- 7.2 Photochemical Smog
- 7.3 Thermal Inversion
- 7.4 Atmospheric CO2 and Particulates
- 7.5 Indoor Air Pollutants
- 7.6 Reduction of Air Pollutants
- 7.7 Acid Rain
- 7.8 Noise Pollution
🎥 Watch these videos:
- Air Pollution, fossil fuel combustion, smog, thermal inversion, Clean Air Act, scrubbers
♻️ 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:
- 8.0 Unit 8 Overview
- 8.1 Sources of Pollution
- 8.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems
- 8.3 Endocrine Disruptors
- 8.4 Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves
- 8.5 Eutrophication
- 8.6 Thermal Pollution
- 8.7 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- 8.8 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
- 8.9 Solid Waste Disposal
- 8.10 Waste Reduction Methods
- 8.11 Sewage Treatment
- 8.12 Lethal Dose 50% (LD50)
- 8.13 Dose Response Curve
- 8.14 Pollution and Human Health
- 8.15 Pathogens and Infectious Diseases
🔥 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: