Hello everyone,
For my senior year, I am signed up to take AP Environmental Science. This year, I took AP Chemistry, and it ruined my life. I took the exam today and I’m just hoping for a 3.
Everyone at my school who takes the class says it is a joke because the teacher does not take it seriously. This would be a good boost for my GPA, yes, but I’m really taking it to get college credit. At UGA, I would need a 3 on this exam. I have a rough senior schedule besides this class, so I could not focus all of my time on it. Could a hardworking student whose forte is NOT science easily earn a 3 on this exam? If so, what are the best review books?
Thanks!
APES is about 50% memorizing facts and 50% common sense. There is a math portion to it (no calc, but basic multiplication and division) and you have to interpret some graphs and read tables and stuff.
Half the people that take the AP test don’t pass, but don’t let this throw you off. I really enjoyed APES this year, and even though I’m not really a science person, I dedicated myself to studying the material and I have an A in the class.
As for review books… anything but the Barrons.
“As for review books… anything but the Barrons.”
i second this… learned it the hard way…
I just took the test today. APES isn’t as hard as people make it out to be. If you have taken AP Biology previously it will be an easy class.
Thanks guys! Any specific books I should get?
And no, I have not taken AP Biology. The only AP science I have taken is chemistry.
I recommend getting the Smartypants if you want a quick refresher on the topics (really dense, around 60-70 pages and you’ll get a good review). But you should also study it in depth through Princeton Review. I crammed all the information the day before the test lol.
I suggest you get a head start and start reading few pages per day before senior year. Then, throughout the year, read it while taking the course. Then, the week before APs, I suggest you to read it the third time. By then, you’ll retain most of the information and it won’t take that long to get through the book.
It took me 10-20 hours to finish the book because I’m a really slow reader… But I hear people spending 5 hours.
Here’s a student who spent 2 days studying for it – http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sciences/1337145-how-to-study-self-study-for-ap-environmental-science-apes.html
I forgot most of the information for the exam (half, I would assume) and if I read it once more, I think I could’ve betted on that 5 easier. I’ll emphasize on the energy and pollution topics right now. If you don’t have time, just make sure to get a refresher on pollutions because not only is it the major component, but you’ll definitely face it in the FRQ as well.
I took the test 2 days ago and felt pretty prepared for it. I self-studied using Princeton Review and various guides I found online.
Thanks guys! I’ll look into getting Smartypants and the Princeton Review.
Princeton Review and get the 500 questions book from 5 steps to a 5 and if you actually read/work on both you’ll get a 5
Thank you! I would like a 5, but since I’m just trying to get college credit, a 3 would be okay. You guys have been very helpful!