Sample Questions & Scoring Guidelines
The AP Environmental Science Exam covers a one-semester introductory college course in environmental science with laboratory. The questions included in Section I are designed to cover the breadth of students' knowledge and understanding of environmental science. There are four questions in Section II. One is a data-set question, which requires students to analyze and interpret a given set of data. One is a document-based question in which students answer questions related to a given document (such as a pamphlet, advertisement, or newspaper article) and apply their knowledge of environmental science to contexts that are current, relevant, and authentic. Two are synthesis questions, which are in-depth, often multi-part essays.
Multiple-Choice Questions
For sample multiple-choice questions, refer to the Course Description.
AP Environmental Science Course Description (.pdf/867K)
Free-Response Questions
- 2008 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/301K)
- 2007 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/207K)
- 2006 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/163K)
- 2005 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/245K)
- 2004 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/169K)
- 2003 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/297K)
- 2002 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/291K)
Scoring Guidelines
2008 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf165K)
2007 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/258K)
2006 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/149K)
2005 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/327K)
2004 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/208K)
