AP Environmental Science Score Calculator
How is AP Environmental Science Scored?
Calculating your AP Environmental Science (APES) score involves understanding the two main sections of the exam. The College Board weighs these sections differently to determine your final score on a 1 to 5 scale.
Section I: Multiple Choice (60% of Score)
The first section consists of 80 multiple-choice questions. You have 90 minutes to complete this section. Each correct answer is worth 1 raw point. There is no penalty for guessing, so you should answer every question.
- Raw Score: Total number of correct answers (0–80).
- Weighting: To account for 60% of the total score (90 out of 150 points), your raw score is multiplied by 1.125.
Section II: Free Response (40% of Score)
The second section consists of 3 free-response questions (FRQs). You have 70 minutes for this section. Each question is scored out of 10 points.
- Question 1: Design an investigation.
- Question 2: Analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution.
- Question 3: Analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution involving calculations.
- Weighting: The raw FRQ score (0–30) is multiplied by 2.0 to reach 60 out of 150 points.
AP Score Distribution Estimations
While the exact curve varies slightly every year based on exam difficulty, the following table represents a standard scoring scale for AP Environmental Science.
| AP Score | Composite Score Range (approx.) | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 107 – 150 | Extremely Qualified |
| 4 | 92 – 106 | Well Qualified |
| 3 | 77 – 91 | Qualified |
| 2 | 59 – 76 | Possibly Qualified |
| 1 | 0 – 58 | No Recommendation |
Tips for Improving Your Score
To maximize your score on the APES exam, focus on mastering the specific skills required for the FRQs. Since the MCQ section is worth 60%, ensure you practice pacing to answer all 80 questions within the 90-minute limit. For FRQ #3, practice showing all work for mathematical calculations, as points are often awarded for the setup even if the final arithmetic is slightly off.