Transcript Preparing for the AP Environmental Science Exam
Preparing for the AP Environmental Science Exam
And How To… guide
Getting Organized to Study
You are putting information in long term memory!
You are coordinating ideas under broader concepts You are connecting these ideas and concepts You are striving for a better understanding of the whole Use the Major Themes as a guide!
Make good study notes to use in May!
Facts about the exam
Part one: Multiple Choice
Time: 90 minutes
100 questions with options a-e 60% of total grade
NO CALCULATOR
Be sure to have a good eraser: smudges can confuse the machine
Facts about the Exam
Part Two: Free Response
Time: 90 minutes
4 Questions 40% of total grade
NO CALCULATORS
All four questions are weighted equally About 22 minutes for each
What to know about the multiple choice
No point are subtracted if you leave it blank It may be to your advantage to guess if you can eliminate at least two It is not expected that everyone will finish so DO NOT spend too much time on difficult questions Use your time effectively
Common Verbs
Compare: point out similarities and differences, to examine 2 or more objects and consider the likenesses.
Explain: Tell how to do( steps), tell the meaning of or why.. Give reasons for Describe: to give a picture or account of in words Discuss: to consider from various points of view
What to know for the Free Response
you know best and start with that one DO NOT RESTATE the question Follow the directions EXACTLY only answer two Give Clear and Concise answers answer in complete sentences explanation, example- bioaccumulate
How do the students earn points on the essay?
Describe how you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Score your description
1 point of each: Spread jelly Spread peanut butter on one slice Put 2 slices of bread together, filling inside Place on plate Slice horizontally or diagonally
Tallying the score
In this scenario, a student could have earned a maximum of 14 points. On an AP exam essay question, students earn up to 10 points for each of the four questions. Essays are grades using a rubric developed by the grading committee.
Common Verbs
Compare: point out similarities and differences, to examine 2 or more objects and consider the likenesses.
Explain: Tell how to do( steps), tell the meaning of or why.. Give reasons for Describe: to give a picture or account of in words Discuss: to consider from various points of view
What to know for the Free Response
you know best and start with that one DO NOT RESTATE the question Follow the directions EXACTLY only answer two Give Clear and Concise answers answer in complete sentences explanation, example- bioaccumulate
More on Free Response
Know the common APES language, example- reduce or remediate Do NOT give up on a question there is a point there for you Make sure you do all your work in the PINK booklet Where explanation or discussion is required, support your answers Be aware of “negative” questions such as “ all of the following except”
Math Problems
Remember NO CALCULATORS Problems are simple multiplication, division and addition Show every calculation in the PINK booklet Do NOT give up because you’re afraid of the math Read the free response carefully it’s not completely math so there can be points even if you can’t do the math
Designing an Experiment
Hypothesis- If…….Then statement. • Example – If the number of gypsy moths increase then the number of acorns will decrease.
Control- Clearly indicate a control and the experiment
Independent and dependent variable-
• • Independent – the variable that is being changed Manipulative variable ( pH) What treatment will you apply dependent - the one that you are testing Responsive variable ( Frog) What will you measure Data or description of experiment – describe how you will take data, materials, organism etc. How it will be graphed an analyzed.
State how you will draw a conclusion. Your experiment needs to be at least theoretically possible.
Be consistent throughout.
Free Response Graphs along the y-axis Mark off axes in equal increments and curve (line) If more than one curve is plotted, write a legend) Label each axis
Types of Free Response
Data- analysis Document based Synthesis and evaluation
MAJOR THEMES
Biosphere, the living world Cycling of matter Population Food Agriculture & Soils Solid Earth Land & Water Use Atmosphere/polluti on Water/pollution Human Health Energy Laws & Influential people
Hints
•Follow the directions EXACTLY •Blue or Black ball pt. pen ONLY •Complete sentences ONLY •Write clearly and neatly •Look for the buzz words •When asks for two – only
first
two •Label parts, a-d or e •If you can’t exactly remember a word – give a shot •Read all four essays first
Most Common Names
Rachel Carson – water pollution, Silent Spring Barry Commoner – Ozone, Closing Circle Hugh Bennet-soil conservation Lois Marie Gibbs – Love canal Al Gore – The Inconvenient Truth Garrett Hardin – Tragedy of the Commons John Muir – naturalist Gifford Pinchot – US Forest Service Theodore Roosevelt – set aside land national forests
Most Common Laws
Air Clean Air Act 1955 Montreal Protocol 1987 – cut CFC’s Kyoto Protocol 1997- greenhouse gases Water Clean Water Act 1972 Safe drinking Act 1974
More Laws
Wildlife Conservation Endangered Species Act 1973 Lacey Act 1990 Toxic Substances Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, & Liability Act 1980 ( CLERCA) Superfund Hazardous Materials Transportation Act 1975, (HAZMAT)
More laws
Pesticides Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,& Rodenticide Act 1947, ( FIFRA) Noise Noise Control Act 1965 Solid Waste Mining Act 1872 Solid Waste Disposal Act 1965
Environmental Agencies
Bureau Of Land Management ( BLM) Center for Disease control (CDC) Department of Energy (DOE) Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Administration (NOAA) Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) formerly Soil Conservation Service United States Geological Survey ( USGS)