Specification points
College Board AP Environmental Science environmental-science
228 points in 9 topics, with College Board's codes and titles.
Codes and titles are read by a script from College Board's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: College Board’s specification.
1 The Living World: Ecosystems
- 1.1 Introduction to Ecosystems
- ERT-1.A How resource availability shapes species interactions
- 1.2 Terrestrial Biomes
- ERT-1.B Distribution and features of terrestrial biomes
- 1.3 Aquatic Biomes
- ERT-1.C Distribution and features of aquatic biomes
- 1.4 The Carbon Cycle
- ERT-1.D The carbon cycle: steps and reservoirs
- 1.5 The Nitrogen Cycle
- ERT-1.E The nitrogen cycle: steps and reservoirs
- 1.6 The Phosphorus Cycle
- ERT-1.F The phosphorus cycle: steps and reservoirs
- 1.7 The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
- ERT-1.G The hydrologic cycle: steps and reservoirs
- 1.8 Primary Productivity
- ENG-1.A How organisms capture and pass on solar energy
- 1.9 Trophic Levels
- ENG-1.B Energy flow and matter cycling through trophic levels
- 1.10 Energy Flow and the 10% Rule
- ENG-1.C Energy loss through an ecosystem
- 1.11 Food Chains and Food Webs
- ENG-1.D Food chains and food webs by trophic level
2 The Living World: Biodiversity
- 2.1 Introduction to Biodiversity
- ERT-2.A Levels of biodiversity and why they matter
- 2.2 Ecosystem Services
- ERT-2.B Ecosystem services
- ERT-2.C Effects of human disruption to ecosystem services
- 2.3 Island Biogeography
- ERT-2.D Island biogeography
- ERT-2.E Island biogeography and evolution
- 2.4 Ecological Tolerance
- ERT-2.F Ecological tolerance
- 2.5 Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems
- ERT-2.G Short- and long-term natural disruptions to ecosystems
- 2.6 Adaptations
- ERT-2.H How populations respond to environmental change
- 2.7 Ecological Succession
- ERT-2.I Ecological succession
- ERT-2.J Effects of ecological succession on ecosystems
3 Populations
- 3.1 Generalist and Specialist Species
- ERT-3.A Generalist and specialist species
- 3.2 K-Selected r-Selected Species
- ERT-3.B K-selected and r-selected species
- 3.3 Survivorship Curves
- ERT-3.C Survivorship curves
- 3.4 Carrying Capacity
- ERT-3.D Carrying capacity
- ERT-3.E Effects of carrying capacity on ecosystems
- 3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability
- ERT-3.F Resource availability and population growth
- 3.6 Age Structure Diagrams
- EIN-1.A Age structure diagrams
- 3.7 Total Fertility Rate
- EIN-1.B Factors affecting total fertility rate
- 3.8 Human Population Dynamics
- EIN-1.C Growth and decline of human populations
- 3.9 Demographic Transition
- EIN-1.D The demographic transition
4 Earth Systems and Resources
- 4.1 Plate Tectonics
- ERT-4.A Geological events at plate boundaries
- 4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion
- ERT-4.B Soil formation and characteristics
- 4.3 Soil Composition and Properties
- ERT-4.C Comparing properties of soil types
- 4.4 Earth’s Atmosphere
- ERT-4.D Structure and composition of the atmosphere
- 4.5 Global Wind Patterns
- ERT-4.E Causes of atmospheric circulation
- 4.6 Watersheds
- ERT-4.F Characteristics of a watershed
- 4.7 Solar Radiation and Earth’s Seasons
- ENG-2.A How solar energy affects the Earth's surface
- 4.8 Earth’s Geography and Climate
- ENG-2.B How geography affects weather and climate
- 4.9 El Niño and La Niña
- ENG-2.C Environmental effects of El Niño and La Niña
5 Land and Water Use
- 5.1 The Tragedy of the Commons
- EIN-2.A The tragedy of the commons
- 5.2 Clearcutting
- EIN-2.B Effects of clearcutting on forests
- 5.3 The Green Revolution
- EIN-2.C Changes in agricultural practices
- 5.4 Impact of Agricultural Practices
- EIN-2.D Agricultural practices that damage the environment
- 5.5 Irrigation Methods
- EIN-2.E Methods of irrigation
- EIN-2.F Benefits and drawbacks of irrigation methods
- 5.6 Pest Control Methods
- EIN-2.G Benefits and drawbacks of pest control methods
- 5.7 Meat Production Methods
- EIN-2.H Methods of meat production
- EIN-2.I Benefits and drawbacks of meat production methods
- 5.8 Impacts of Overfishing
- EIN-2.J Causes and problems of overfishing
- 5.9 Impacts of Mining
- EIN-2.K Resource extraction through mining
- EIN-2.L Ecological and economic impacts of mining
- 5.10 Impacts of Urbanization
- EIN-2.M Environmental effects of urbanisation
- 5.11 Ecological Footprints
- EIN-2.N Variables in an ecological footprint
- 5.12 Introduction to Sustainability
- STB-1.A The concept of sustainability
- 5.13 Methods to Reduce Urban Runoff
- STB-1.B Reducing problems from urban runoff
- 5.14 Integrated Pest Management
- STB-1.C Integrated pest management
- STB-1.D Benefits and drawbacks of integrated pest management
- 5.15 Sustainable Agriculture
- STB-1.E Sustainable agriculture and food production
- 5.16 Aquaculture
- STB-1.F Benefits and drawbacks of aquaculture
- 5.17 Sustainable Forestry
- STB-1.G Reducing human impact on forests
6 Energy Resources and Consumption
- 6.1 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
- ENG-3.A Renewable and nonrenewable energy sources
- 6.2 Global Energy Consumption
- ENG-3.B Trends in energy consumption
- 6.3 Fuel Types and Uses
- ENG-3.C Types of fuel and their uses
- 6.4 Distribution of Natural Energy Resources
- ENG-3.D Where natural energy resources occur
- 6.5 Fossil Fuels
- ENG-3.E Fossil fuels in power generation
- ENG-3.F Environmental effects of fossil fuels
- 6.6 Nuclear Power
- ENG-3.G Nuclear power generation
- ENG-3.H Environmental effects of nuclear power
- 6.7 Energy from Biomass
- ENG-3.I Environmental effects of biomass power
- 6.8 Solar Energy
- ENG-3.J Solar power generation
- ENG-3.K Environmental effects of solar power
- 6.9 Hydroelectric Power
- ENG-3.L Hydroelectric power generation
- ENG-3.M Environmental effects of hydroelectricity
- 6.10 Geothermal Energy
- ENG-3.N Geothermal power generation
- ENG-3.O Environmental effects of geothermal power
- 6.11 Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- ENG-3.P Hydrogen fuel cells in power generation
- ENG-3.Q Environmental effects of hydrogen fuel cells
- 6.12 Wind Energy
- ENG-3.R Wind power generation
- ENG-3.S Environmental effects of wind power
- 6.13 Energy Conservation
- ENG-3.T Methods of conserving energy
7 Atmospheric Pollution
- 7.1 Introduction to Air Pollution
- STB-2.A Sources and effects of air pollutants
- 7.2 Photochemical Smog
- STB-2.B Photochemical smog: causes, effects and reduction
- 7.3 Thermal Inversion
- STB-2.C Thermal inversion and pollution
- 7.4 Atmospheric CO₂ and Particulates
- STB-2.D Natural sources of CO₂ and particulates
- 7.5 Indoor Air Pollutants
- STB-2.E Indoor air pollutants
- STB-2.F Effects of indoor air pollutants
- 7.6 Reduction of Air Pollutants
- STB-2.G Reducing air pollutants at the source
- 7.7 Acid Rain
- STB-2.H Acid deposition
- STB-2.I Environmental effects of acid deposition
- 7.8 Noise Pollution
- STB-2.J Causes and effects of noise pollution
8 Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution
- 8.1 Sources of Pollution
- STB-3.A Point and nonpoint sources of pollution
- 8.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems
- STB-3.B Human impacts on aquatic ecosystems
- 8.3 Endocrine Disruptors
- STB-3.C Endocrine disruptors
- STB-3.D Effects of endocrine disruptors on ecosystems
- 8.4 Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves
- STB-3.E Human impacts on wetlands and mangroves
- 8.5 Eutrophication
- STB-3.F Effects of excess fertilisers and detergents in water
- 8.6 Thermal Pollution
- STB-3.G Effects of thermal pollution on aquatic ecosystems
- 8.7 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- STB-3.H Effects of persistent organic pollutants on ecosystems
- 8.8 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
- STB-3.I Bioaccumulation and biomagnification
- STB-3.J Effects of bioaccumulation and biomagnification
- 8.9 Solid Waste Disposal
- STB-3.K Solid waste disposal methods
- STB-3.L Effects of solid waste disposal methods
- 8.10 Waste Reduction Methods
- STB-3.M Reducing waste: changes, benefits and drawbacks
- 8.11 Sewage Treatment
- STB-3.N Best practice in sewage treatment
- 8.12 Lethal Dose 50% (LD₅₀)
- EIN-3.A Lethal dose 50% (LD₅₀)
- 8.13 Dose Response Curve
- EIN-3.B Dose-response curves
- 8.14 Pollution and Human Health
- EIN-3.C Pollution-linked sources of human health issues
- 8.15 Pathogens and Infectious Diseases
- EIN-3.D Human pathogens and how they cycle through the environment
9 Global Change
- 9.1 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
- STB-4.A Why stratospheric ozone matters to life
- 9.2 Reducing Ozone Depletion
- STB-4.B Substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- 9.3 The Greenhouse Effect
- STB-4.C The greenhouse gases
- STB-4.D Sources and potency of greenhouse gases
- 9.4 Increases in the Greenhouse Gases
- STB-4.E Health and environmental threats of rising greenhouse gases
- 9.5 Global Climate Change
- STB-4.F Short- and long-term climate change and ecosystems
- 9.6 Ocean Warming
- STB-4.G Causes and effects of ocean warming
- 9.7 Ocean Acidification
- STB-4.H Causes and effects of ocean acidification
- 9.8 Invasive Species
- EIN-4.A Invasive species: problems and control strategies
- 9.9 Endangered Species
- EIN-4.B How species become endangered and how to respond
- 9.10 Human Impacts on Biodiversity
- EIN-4.C Human effects on biodiversity and how to respond