By Sophie Tuan
Many people think AP Environmental Science is “super easy.” Although the course does mostly require logical thinking skills, it also requires an understanding of dozens of vocabulary words and the ability to make connections between two seemingly unrelated events. Down below are a few easy things to remember in order to ace APES!
Study vocabulary- It’s vital to understand all vocabulary terms in order to understand multiple choice questions. The course is simple if you understand what is being asked and talked about. Quizlet has great vocabulary flash cards. My personal favorite vocabulary word is eutrophication. Additionally, learn to recognize diagrams (like age pyramids) quickly.
Think logically!- Most MCQ and FRQ questions can be answered logically by just using common sense. In many cases, you are given a graph or context that provides you with all the information needed to answer. There’s no need to overthink; just answer logically!
Width > Depth- Usually people emphasize depth over breadth of knowledge. However, when it comes to APES you need to know an overview of numerous topics from pollution, to climate change, to human population, to environmental legislation. Therefore, it’s important to know the basics and a little bit of everything. Most of the time you only need the most surface level knowledge in order to answer College Board’s questions.
Know all the cycles- You MUST know the hydraulic, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus cycles. Memorize the elements of each cycle and where the “sinks” are. These are imperative to know and will help you answer both MCQ and FRQ questions.