APES FRQs?

Anyone have any tips on how to study for the AP Environmental Science Free Response Questions? Like what are some strategies you guys used?

Sure, happy to help! Here are a few strategies that may be beneficial while preparing for AP Environmental Science Free Response Questions:

1. Understand the Question Structure: Free Response Questions require you to apply, analyze, and understand different environmental scenarios. They often require a longer, essay-type answer, so it's beneficial to you to know what to expect. For example, a question might start with a description of an environmental scenario, and then ask for causes, effects, possible mitigation strategies, and so forth.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice: One of the best ways to prepare for FRQs is to practice with older APES FRQs. You can find these on the College Board website. This will help you familiarize yourself with the types of questions asked, the structure, and the required depth of answers. You'll also have the added benefit of seeing the scoring guidelines and judge your own responses.

3. Use the Course And Exam Description (CED): The AP Environmental Science CED by College Board outlines the main concepts and themes to be covered in the class, divided into units.

4. Create an Answer Template: Create a general template or structure for how you will respond to different question scenarios. For example, if you are asked to explain an environmental concept, you may want to structure your response as: definition, example, impact, and solution.

5. Make a List of Keywords: Having a strong understanding of key terms can significantly boost your performance on the FRQs. Make a list of thematic keywords which are often asked about in the FRQ section such as "sustainability", "biodiversity", "population dynamics", etc.

6. Use illustrations: This might not always be applicable, but if you are explaining a particularly complex idea or mechanism, feel free to include a simple diagram or flow chart. These can often make your answer clearer and shows a higher level of understanding.

Remember, when answering FRQs, clarity and precision are key. Make sure you're directly answering the question asked, and providing explained examples where possible to back up your claims.