AP Environmental Science study plan
AP Environmental Science · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Global Change
Explain how increased atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations alter Earth's energy balance and global mean temperature
Distinguish among positive and negative feedback loops in climate systems and predict their net effect on warming
Interpret the causes and consequences of sea level rise, including thermal expansion and ice sheet loss
Compare the relative contributions of different greenhouse gases to radiative forcing
Your checkpoint
A one-page concept map linking greenhouse gas sources, radiative forcing, feedback loops, and at least four documented global-change consequences
Global Change & Atmospheric Pollution
Analyze how climate change shifts species ranges, phenology, and ecosystem services
Connect global change to ocean acidification chemistry and calcifying organism impacts
Identify major greenhouse gas sources by sector and evaluate one mitigation strategy per sector
Trace the formation and environmental effects of tropospheric ozone and photochemical smog
Your checkpoint
A 12-question self-made practice set on global change and atmospheric pollution with worked answer explanations
Populations
Calculate population growth rates using birth, death, immigration, and emigration data
Distinguish exponential from logistic growth and identify carrying capacity in given scenarios
Interpret age-structure diagrams to predict future population trends
Explain demographic transition stages and their associated birth and death rate patterns
Relate population growth to resource consumption and environmental impact
Your checkpoint
A solved problem set of 10 quantitative population calculations, including at least three age-structure interpretations
Earth Systems and Resources
Describe the rock cycle and distinguish the formation processes of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock
Explain plate tectonic processes and their association with earthquakes, volcanoes, and mineral distribution
Analyze soil formation, horizons, and the causes of soil erosion and salinization
Trace the water cycle and explain how groundwater withdrawal and recharge interact
Identify the properties and formation of key nonrenewable and renewable soil and mineral resources
Your checkpoint
A completed 25-question mixed-format quiz on Earth systems and resources, scored with a written error log
Energy Resources and Consumption
Compare the energy density, emissions, and availability of fossil fuels and renewable sources
Calculate energy efficiency and energy return on investment for given scenarios
Explain the environmental impacts of extracting, processing, and combusting each major fuel type
Evaluate the trade-offs of nuclear power, including waste storage and accident risk
Recommend a regional energy portfolio justified by resource availability and environmental constraints
Your checkpoint
A written comparative analysis recommending an energy mix for a hypothetical region, with quantitative justification
Land and Water Use
Classify land use types and evaluate the sustainability of agricultural, forestry, and urban practices
Analyze the causes and consequences of deforestation, desertification, and urbanization
Explain irrigation methods and their associated waterlogging and salinization risks
Evaluate fishery management and aquaculture practices against sustainability criteria
Compare integrated pest management with synthetic pesticide use in terms of environmental outcomes
Your checkpoint
A land-use case study write-up applying at least four sustainability criteria to a single hypothetical region
Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution & The Living World: Ecosystems
Identify major point and nonpoint sources of aquatic pollution and their effects on dissolved oxygen
Explain biomagnification and bioaccumulation using a food chain example
Distinguish primary, secondary, and tertiary wastewater treatment processes
Describe the pathways and health effects of major terrestrial pollutants, including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants
Trace energy flow and nutrient cycling through trophic levels in an ecosystem
Your checkpoint
A labeled diagram and written explanation of a pollutant's path from source through treatment or environment to a human health effect
The Living World: Biodiversity & The Living World: Ecosystems & Global Change
Compare species richness, evenness, and ecosystem resilience across given examples
Explain the causes and consequences of habitat fragmentation and invasive species
Evaluate biodiversity conservation strategies, including protected areas and restoration
Synthesize content across all nine domains by mapping each to its recurring exam themes
Diagnose and correct remaining weak areas identified from prior practice results
Your checkpoint
A full-length timed practice exam completed under test conditions, with a prioritized review list of remaining weak domains
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70% on the self-made global change and atmospheric pollution practice set and explain every missed item aloud without notes
Week 4: Complete the Earth systems quiz with at least 80% accuracy and a written error log covering every incorrect answer
Week 6: Submit the land-use case study containing at least four applied sustainability criteria and one quantitative estimate
Week 8: Score at least 75% on the full-length timed practice exam and produce a final prioritized review list with no more than two domains flagged as weak