AP Environmental Science Flo Gullickson How to take the APES Exam Part 3 [e-mail]

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AP Environmental ScienceFlo GullicksonHow to
take the APES ExamPart 3gullicf_at_gcsnc.com
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The Exam

• May 1998 5,163 students took the first AP
  Environmental Science exam
• In May 2009 59,000 students took the APES exam
• What is it?
• Section I 100 Multiple Choice Questions with a
  time limit of 90 minutes
• Section II 4 Free Response Questions with a
  time limit of 90 minutes
• All questions come from the test development
  committee 2 years to develop and tested at
  different universities.

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• Three exams have been released to use for review
  1998,2003 2008
• If you pass the Audit there is a third exam
  available to you to use.
• All Essays except 1998 are on line for you to use
• Exams are good to use as pre and post tests

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• May 3,2011 from
• 8-12AM

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Effective Instructional Practices

• Connect with other professionals
• Develop a repertoire of effective teaching
  resources
• Share Activities and Post exam activities
• Share effective practices and lessons from with
  others
• Begin to develop an action plan and syllabus

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The Exam

• I. Multiple Choice (60)
• 100 questions in 90 minutes
• Breadth
• - Thought-provoking, fundamental ideas
• - Recall facts/concepts
• Guessing
• - ¼ point penalty
• Released Exams
• - three released exams

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The Exam

• II. Free Response (40)
• 4 Questions in 90 minutes
• Depth
• - 1 data set question
• - 2 synthesis/evaluation questions
• - 1 document-based question
• Test-taking hints
• - Students may be asked to plot graphs,
  predict, describe, identify, discuss, analyze
• Score range 1 - 5

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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

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What to know about the multiple choice

• 1/4 point for every wrong answer
• 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

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What to know for the Free Response

• Read all four essays first, pick the one you know
  best and start with that one
• DO NOT RESTATE the question
• Follow the directions EXACTLY
• Underline the key words. If it says two only
  answer two
• Give Clear and Concise answers
• Do NOT make lists. You must give the answer in
  complete sentences
• Do NOT use buzz words without an explanation,
  example- bioaccumulate

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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

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Math Problems

• Remember NO CALCULATORS
• Problems are simple multiplication, division and
  addition
• Show every calculation in the PINK booklet
• Do NOT give up because youre afraid of the math
• Read the free response carefully its not
  completely math so there can be points even if
  you cant do the math

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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.

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Free Response Graphs

• Set up the graph with the independent variable
  along the x-axis and dependent along the y-axis
• Mark off axes in equal increments and label with
  proper units
• Plot points and attempt to sketch in the curve
  (line)
• If more than one curve is plotted, write a label
  on each curve ( this is better than a legend)
• Label each axis
• Give your graph an appropriate title( what is it
  showing)

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Types of Free Response

• Data- analysis
• Document based
• Synthesis and evaluation
• Lets look at one of each

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MAJOR THEMES

• Biosphere, the living world
• Cycling of matter
• Population
• Food Agriculture Soils
• Solid Earth

• Land Water Use
• Atmosphere/pollution
• Water/pollution
• Human Health
• Energy
• Laws Influential people

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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 cant exactly remember a word give a
  shot
• Read all four essays first

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General Misconceptions

• Niche Habitat
• CO2 CFCs
• Atmospheric Ozone Ground level Ozone
• Fission Fusion
• Origin of Acids in the Atmosphere,Sulfuric
  Nitric acids
• Convention Alternative energy
• Passive and Solar energy

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Become a Reader

• The Reading
• 60 College professors, 40 AP teachers
• Hierarchy (quality control ensures consistent
  scoring)
• - Readers
• - Table leaders
• - Question leaders
• - Chief reader
• No rubric/answer key