APES FRQ Tips

Secrets to earn the points you deserve on the written portion of the APES exam

Types of questions

One of the four questions will involve the Analysis of a Data Set (Calculators not allowed)

One of the questions will be a Document-Based question. You will have to read a document and answer questions based on that information as well as your general knowledge. This is often where you can add sustainable examples or Env. Laws to support your argument

Two questions will be Synthesis and Evaluation. One of these questions will require you to set up an experiment to show some particular effect.

Structure of the exam

You have 90 minutes to write 4 essays. Plan to use 20 minutes per essay. Leaving 8 minutes

to read over your answers and breath a little. Each essay is graded on a 10-point scale. Usually the

grading rubric is set up to contain slightly more than 10 points (e.g., 11-13). However, you can only earn a maximum of 10 points on any one question. This means that extra points can be earned to some parts of questions, especially in listing things. (list ones you know to be true first, and only list extras if you are 100% positive they are correct)

Calculation Based FRQ

Possible Calculation-Based FRQ Topics Municipal Solid Waste: amounts generated, placed in

landfills, recycled, incinerated; waste-to-energy plants (e.g., methane production)

Agriculture/Arable Land: amounts of fertilizers used, water used, carrying capacity, feeding more people, overpopulation

Ecological Pyramids: trophic structure, energy transfer Biodiversity: listed endangered and threatened species Water: use, requirements, population size, sewage treatment

Look for the points

Each question will have parts labeled: a,b,c,d. Each of these parts have assigned points. You may only earn points for what is asked.

For example: What are 2 colors of the rainbow?

Red and blue are colors of the rainbow. Rainbows are often seen on a sunny day.

Key words for points

DescribeExplain, list and explainCompareGive evidence forGraph Calculate

Underline these words as you read the question.

Writing your answer

Use a ballpoint pen with blue or black ink. Label all parts of the question Spelling, grammar, and sentence structure are

important, but you will not lose points as long as you get your ideas across.

Write neatly. If the grader can’t read what you wrote, you will receive no credit.

Use phonetic spelling or explain the concept if you don’t remember the term to describe it.

Leave nothing blank. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

Show your work and units for all mathematical calculations.

Have confidence

You will be prepared for this exam.If you feel panicked, take a deep breath

and try to associate the question to something that you have learned in the class.

Success comes to the prepared mind.

Experimental Design FRQs

Think “4 points” (1) hypothesis (2-3) variable being tested and controls,

remember to allow a long time for data collection

(1-2) analysis

Hypothesis

Must include the cause and effect specific to the question asked

Must be a specific, testable statement

Example:

Lake trout will no longer survive above a pH of 8.0 and will reach 90% survival at a pH of 7.2.

ControlsControl group requiredExperimental group requiredDetailed requirements such as: time,

space, materials, sample size

Example:

The positive control will be trout living in neutral (7.0) water, the negative control will be trout living in water at a pH of 8.0. The experimental groups will be 7.3 and 7.7. I will use 10 fish per group for three weeks.

Analysis

Measurement of timeElaborationRepeated experimentsCorrelation to other experimentsRelate or discuss additional research

Example:

Each day I will observe the fish for general health such as feeding behavior. A fish will be considered dead when it floats to the surface. By plotting the percentage of fish living at each pH, I will estimate the pH that yields 90% survival. This experiment should be repeated for accuracy and could also be tested with other types of fish.