Section 1: Multiple Choice
80 Questions, 1 Hour 30 Minutes, 60% of Exam Score
Individual questions
Set-based questions
--3-4 sets include quantitative data, such as data tables, charts, or graphs. These questions primarily assess Practice 5, but can also assess Practices 1, 4, 6, or 7.
--3-4 sets include qualitative data or information, such as models, representations, or maps. These questions primarily assess Practice 2, but can also assess Practices 1, 4, or 7.
--2 sets include text-based sources. These questions primarily assess Practice 3, but can also assess Practices 1, 6, or 7.
Section 2: Free Response
3 Questions, 1 Hour 10 Minutes, 40% of Exam Score
There are 3 free-response questions. They ask students to:
--Design an investigation
--Analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution
--Analyze an environmental problem and propose a solution doing calculations
Concept explanation; visual representations; text analysis; scientific experiments; data analysis; mathematical routines; environmental solutions.
1. Science is a process.
• Science is a method of learning more about the world.
• Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.
2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
• Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
• As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.
3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
• Natural systems change over time and space.
• Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.4. Humans alter natural systems.
• Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.
• Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment.
4. Humans alter natural systems.
• Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.
• Technology and population
5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
• Understanding the role of cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions.
6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
• A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.
• Management of common resources is essential.