Estimate your APES score (1-5) based on current grading curves.
Section I: Multiple Choice (MCQ)
60% of Score
/ 80 max
Please enter a value between 0 and 80.
Section II: Free Response (FRQ)
40% of Score
/ 10 pts
/ 10 pts
/ 10 pts
Points per question must be between 0 and 10.
Estimated AP Score:
–
Composite: 0 / 150
Understanding Your AP Environmental Science Score
The AP Environmental Science (APES) exam is a comprehensive test that assesses your understanding of the interrelationships of the natural world. Scoring a 3, 4, or 5 is the goal for most students to earn college credit. This calculator helps you predict your score by simulating the official College Board weighting system.
How the Exam is Weighted
The APES exam score is calculated based on two main sections, totaling a maximum composite score of approximately 150 points before being converted to the 1-5 scale.
Section I: Multiple Choice (60%): There are 80 questions. Each correct answer earns 1 raw point. To reach the weighted 60% of the total score (90 points), your raw score is multiplied by 1.125.
Section II: Free Response (40%): There are 3 questions, each worth 10 points (30 points total). To reach the weighted 40% of the total score (60 points), your raw total is multiplied by 2.0.
Score Distribution & Cutoffs
The "curve" varies slightly every year depending on the difficulty of the specific exam version. However, based on historical data, the cutoffs generally fall within the following ranges:
AP Score
Qualification
Est. Composite Range (0-150)
5
Extremely Well Qualified
108 – 150
4
Well Qualified
92 – 107
3
Qualified
76 – 91
2
Possibly Qualified
58 – 75
1
No Recommendation
0 – 57
Tips for Improving Your APES Score
Master the Math: Question 3 always involves calculations. Practice dimensional analysis and scientific notation without a calculator, although calculators are now allowed, showing work is crucial for partial credit.
Be Specific: In FRQs, avoid vague terms like "bad for the environment." Instead, say "decreases biodiversity" or "increases soil erosion."
Know the Legislation: Memorize key environmental laws (ESA, CITES, RCRA, CERCLA) as they frequently appear in multiple-choice questions.
function calculateApesScore() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var mcqInput = document.getElementById('apes-mcq');
var frq1Input = document.getElementById('apes-frq1');
var frq2Input = document.getElementById('apes-frq2');
var frq3Input = document.getElementById('apes-frq3');
var mcqRaw = parseFloat(mcqInput.value);
var frq1Raw = parseFloat(frq1Input.value);
var frq2Raw = parseFloat(frq2Input.value);
var frq3Raw = parseFloat(frq3Input.value);
// 2. Error Handling Elements
var mcqError = document.getElementById('mcq-error');
var frqError = document.getElementById('frq-error');
var resultContainer = document.getElementById('result-container');
// Reset errors
mcqError.style.display = 'none';
frqError.style.display = 'none';
resultContainer.style.display = 'none';
// 3. Validation
var isValid = true;
// Check MCQ (0-80)
if (isNaN(mcqRaw) || mcqRaw 80) {
mcqError.style.display = 'block';
isValid = false;
}
// Check FRQs (0-10 each)
if (isNaN(frq1Raw) || frq1Raw 10 ||
isNaN(frq2Raw) || frq2Raw 10 ||
isNaN(frq3Raw) || frq3Raw 10) {
frqError.style.display = 'block';
isValid = false;
}
if (!isValid) return;
// 4. Calculation Logic
// MCQ Weight: 80 questions * 1.125 = 90 points max (60% of 150)
var mcqWeighted = mcqRaw * 1.125;
// FRQ Weight: 30 points raw * 2.0 = 60 points max (40% of 150)
var frqTotalRaw = frq1Raw + frq2Raw + frq3Raw;
var frqWeighted = frqTotalRaw * 2.0;
// Composite Score
var compositeScore = mcqWeighted + frqWeighted;
compositeScore = Math.round(compositeScore); // Round to nearest whole number
// Determine AP Score (1-5) based on standard curve estimates
var apScore = 1;
var meaning = "No Recommendation";
if (compositeScore >= 108) {
apScore = 5;
meaning = "Extremely Well Qualified";
} else if (compositeScore >= 92) {
apScore = 4;
meaning = "Well Qualified";
} else if (compositeScore >= 76) {
apScore = 3;
meaning = "Qualified";
} else if (compositeScore >= 58) {
apScore = 2;
meaning = "Possibly Qualified";
}
// 5. Display Results
document.getElementById('final-score').innerText = apScore;
document.getElementById('composite-score').innerText = "Composite Score: " + compositeScore + " / 150″;
document.getElementById('score-meaning').innerText = meaning;
// Show container
resultContainer.style.display = 'block';
// Scroll to result
resultContainer.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}