The AP Environmental Science (APES) exam is designed to test your understanding of the interrelationships of the natural world. Scoring a 5 on this exam requires a solid grasp of scientific principles, sociology, and political science as they relate to environmental issues. This calculator helps you estimate your potential score based on the current College Board exam format.
The Exam Format
The AP Environmental Science exam is divided into two main sections, weighted to produce a final composite score on a scale of 150 points.
Section I: Multiple Choice (60% of Score)
This section consists of 80 questions to be completed in 90 minutes. It covers individual questions and set-based questions requiring the analysis of data or text.
Section II: Free Response (40% of Score)
This section consists of 3 questions to be completed in 70 minutes. Each question is worth 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.
How the Score is Calculated
The College Board converts your raw points into a composite score, which is then mapped to the final 1-5 AP score. While the exact curve varies slightly from year to year based on exam difficulty, the standard weighting is as follows:
Section
Raw Range
Weight Multiplier
Max Weighted Score
Multiple Choice
0 – 80
x 1.125
90
Free Response
0 – 30
x 2.0
60
Total
150
Score Distributions
Based on historical data and recent exam curves, the following cutoffs are generally used to estimate the final AP score:
5 (Extremely Well Qualified): Composite score of approx. 105 – 150
4 (Well Qualified): Composite score of approx. 88 – 104
3 (Qualified): Composite score of approx. 72 – 87
2 (Possibly Qualified): Composite score of approx. 58 – 71
1 (No Recommendation): Composite score of 0 – 57
Tips for Improving Your Score
To maximize your score in AP Environmental Science focus on:
Mastering the Math: Question 3 always involves calculations. Practice dimensional analysis and scientific notation without a calculator, as mental math speed is crucial.
Vocabulary Precision: In FRQs, avoid vague terms like "bad for the environment." Be specific—cite "eutrophication," "bioaccumulation," or "habitat fragmentation."
Experimental Design: For Question 1, ensure you can clearly identify independent and dependent variables, controls, and hypotheses.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on standard scoring curves. Official scores are determined by the College Board and may vary by year.
function calculateAPScore() {
// 1. Get input values
var mcqInput = document.getElementById('mcqCorrect').value;
var frq1Input = document.getElementById('frq1').value;
var frq2Input = document.getElementById('frq2').value;
var frq3Input = document.getElementById('frq3').value;
// 2. Parse values and handle empty inputs (treat as 0)
var mcq = mcqInput === "" ? 0 : parseFloat(mcqInput);
var frq1 = frq1Input === "" ? 0 : parseFloat(frq1Input);
var frq2 = frq2Input === "" ? 0 : parseFloat(frq2Input);
var frq3 = frq3Input === "" ? 0 : parseFloat(frq3Input);
// 3. Validation
if (mcq 80) {
alert("Multiple Choice score must be between 0 and 80.");
return;
}
if (frq1 10 || frq2 10 || frq3 10) {
alert("Each FRQ score must be between 0 and 10.");
return;
}
// 4. Calculate Weighted Scores
// MCQ is 60% of total score (90/150). Raw max is 80. Multiplier = 90/80 = 1.125
var weightedMCQ = mcq * 1.125;
// FRQ is 40% of total score (60/150). Raw max is 30. Multiplier = 60/30 = 2.0
var rawFRQTotal = frq1 + frq2 + frq3;
var weightedFRQ = rawFRQTotal * 2.0;
// 5. Calculate Composite Score
var compositeScore = weightedMCQ + weightedFRQ;
// Round to nearest whole number for display
var compositeRounded = Math.round(compositeScore);
// 6. Determine AP Score (1-5) based on approximate curve
var apScore = 1;
if (compositeRounded >= 105) {
apScore = 5;
} else if (compositeRounded >= 88) {
apScore = 4;
} else if (compositeRounded >= 72) {
apScore = 3;
} else if (compositeRounded >= 58) {
apScore = 2;
} else {
apScore = 1;
}
// 7. Calculate Percentage
var percentage = (compositeScore / 150) * 100;
// 8. Display Results
document.getElementById('finalScore').innerText = apScore;
document.getElementById('compositeScore').innerText = compositeRounded;
document.getElementById('percentageScore').innerText = percentage.toFixed(1) + "%";
// Show result area
document.getElementById('result-area').style.display = 'block';
// Scroll to results
document.getElementById('result-area').scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth' });
}