AP® Environmental Science Unit 1 Review and Practice Test
Prepare for AP® Environmental Science Unit 1 with UWorld’s engaging lessons and practice tests on ecosystems, energy flow, and biogeochemical cycles. Use our APES Unit 1 review to master these foundational topics through realistic practice tests, FRQs, and MCQs modeled after the AP exam.
Your Complete APES Unit 1 Study Companion
From video lessons to practice tests, UWorld’s AP Environmental Science Unit 1 review covers everything you need to ace “The Living World: Ecosystems” with confidence.
Engaging Video Lessons
Understand ecosystems like never before with UWorld’s interactive APES Unit 1 videos. Learn how energy flows through food chains, how biogeochemical cycles work, and how organisms interact within ecosystems, all explained step-by-step by experienced educators.
Interactive Study Guides
Turn your AP Environmental Science Unit 1 review into active learning with UWorld’s interactive study guides. Explore essential ecosystem concepts, test yourself with built-in practice, and track your progress as you prepare for the AP exam.
Try Our AP Environmental Science Unit 1 Practice Test Questions
Passage
Question
Taiga is the primary terrestrial biome in this area.
| A. A | |
| B. B | |
| C. C | |
| D. D |
Explanation
Taiga, also called a northern coniferous forest or boreal forest, is a terrestrial biome that has extremely cold winters. Due to the cold, taigas are primarily made up of coniferous evergreen trees such as hemlock, pine, spruce, fir, and cedar. The forest floor has low plant diversity due to the cold temperatures, short growing season, and acidic soil below the conifers. Nonetheless, these forests support numerous animal species that have adapted to living in this biome; these species range from bears that hibernate to rodents who burrow to escape the cold.
Taigas are located between the latitudes of 50°N and 70°N, just south of the arctic tundra in the northern parts of Asia (Choice C), North America, and Europe.
(Choice A) Temperate seasonal forest is the primary terrestrial biome in this area.
(Choice B) This area's biome consists of arctic tundra.
(Choice D) The primary biome in Central Australia is desert.
Things to remember:
Taiga, also called northern coniferous forest or boreal forest, is a terrestrial biome found in northern parts of Asia, North America, and Europe, just south of arctic tundra in those regions.
Passage
The diagram illustrates a food web of a salt marsh community. The consumers at different trophic levels are labeled A to D.
Question
This consumer is the predator of a primary producer.
| A. A | |
| B. B | |
| C. C | |
| D. D |
Explanation
Food webs—diagrams that depict the flow of energy and nutrients between organisms within an ecosystem—are made up of multiple interconnected food chains. In a food web, energy and nutrient flow is shown as an arrow that points from the prey (organism that is consumed) to the predator (organism that consumes prey).
This energy flow shows predator-prey relationships between lower and higher trophic levels. In the food web of a salt marsh community, the primary producers include aquatic plants and algae. These primary producers are eaten by primary consumers, such as insects, small fish, and snails (Choice D).
(Choices A, B, and C) Because the arrows pointing to the hawk, crane, and frog do not come from the plants or algae, these organisms are not the predators of primary producers.
Things to remember:
When one organism, the predator, eats another organism, the prey, the two are in a predator-prey relationship.
Question
The diagram shows how the tolerance range of two plant species in the same habitat could possibly be changed over many generations.
Which of the following correctly identifies the type of species interaction within each potential scenario in the diagram?
| A. Scenario 1 experiences resource partitioning, while Scenarios 2 and 3 experience competition only. | |
| B. Scenarios 1 and 2 experience competition, while Scenario 3 experiences resource partitioning only. | |
| C. All scenarios experience resource partitioning, but only Scenario 1 experiences competition. | |
| D. All scenarios experience competition, but only Scenario 2 experiences resource partitioning. |
Explanation
A tolerance range is the range of abiotic conditions, such as sunlight, to which an organism or species has adapted to survive. When two or more species have the same range of tolerance in the same habitat, competition occurs. Over many generations, competition can cause a shift in a species' tolerance range. For example, to minimize competition, organisms may engage in resource partitioning—sharing the same resource in different ways, in different places, or at different times.
The original scenario in the diagram shows the tolerance of two species for sunlight. Because there is some overlap in their ranges, competition occurs between the two organisms. In these scenarios, this competition has led to a shift in sunlight tolerance and population size.
-
Scenario 1: Reduced tolerance ranges and population sizes for both species, with large overlap between them.
-
Scenario 2: Reduced tolerance ranges and increased population sizes for both species, with less overlap between them.
-
Scenario 3: Reduced tolerance range and population size of species 1 and increased tolerance range and population size of species 2, with the majority of species 1 range overlapping.
Because all scenarios have an overlap in the tolerance ranges for both species, all scenarios experience competition. However, only Scenario 2 experiences resource partitioning because the sunlight requirement for each species has shifted to reduce competition.
(Choices A, B, and C) Because the majority of one or both species' tolerance ranges are overlapping in Scenarios 1 and 3, these scenarios are experiencing only competition, not resource partitioning.
Things to remember:
Resource partitioning—sharing resources in different ways, in different places, or at different times—can reduce the negative impacts of competition when resources are limited.
Learn on the Go with UWorld
Your APES Unit 1 review fits your schedule. Watch ecosystem videos between classes, quiz yourself on energy flow during a break, or review notes on the bus. The UWorld app keeps your study goals within reach anytime, anywhere.
Stand Out
with a Top Score in AP Environmental Science
Finish your AP Environmental Science Unit 1 review and continue mastering all units with UWorld. Boost your performance to make yourself a standout candidate for competitive colleges, majors, and scholarships by earning a top score.
Get our all-in-one course today!
- Focused APES Videos
- Print & Digital Study Guide
- 550+ Exam-style Practice Questions
- Customizable Quiz Generator
- Adjustable Study Planner
- Realistic Timed Test Simulation
- Colorful Visual Explanations
- Progress Dashboard
- Smart Flashcards
- Digital Notebook
Hear From Our AP Students
UWorld’s service is pretty good and helps provide a lot of explanations on subjects I haven’t been confident on before.
The questions here are the most realistic to the AP tests I've seen so far! I appreciate the ability to customize tests as well.
The best part is that all options are well-explained, telling clearly why they are not the right option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the main topics covered in AP Environmental Science Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems?
AP Environmental Science Unit 1 focuses on how energy and matter move through ecosystems and how living organisms interact with their surroundings.
- Introduction to ecosystems: Learn the components, functions, and interactions that define ecosystems.
- Terrestrial and aquatic biomes: Explore the climate, biodiversity, and distribution of major biomes.
- Primary productivity: Understand how solar energy fuels the production of biomass.
- Biogeochemical cycles: Study the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles that recycle essential nutrients.
- Trophic levels: Discover how organisms are organized in feeding hierarchies.
- Energy flow and the 10% rule: See how energy transfers between trophic levels with limited efficiency.
- Food chains and food webs: Examine how energy and nutrients move through interconnected feeding systems.
Prepare with UWorld’s AP Environmental Science Unit 1 study tools, video lessons, detailed explanations, and practice questions that make every topic easy to master.
How should I prepare for an AP Environmental Science Unit 1 exam?
The best way to prepare for the AP Environmental Science Unit 1 exam is to combine consistent review with active practice.
- Read: Start with concise study guides that explain ecosystem concepts like energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and trophic levels in simple terms.
- Watch: Reinforce your understanding through engaging video lessons that visualize how ecosystems function and interact.
- Practice: Apply what you’ve learned with AP-style questions and detailed explanations to strengthen recall and problem-solving skills.
UWorld’s AP Environmental Science prep brings all three together in one platform. With expert-designed lessons, interactive quizzes, and real exam-level practice questions, you’ll build the confidence and knowledge needed to ace Unit 1 and the full AP exam.
Are any free resources available for AP Environmental Science Unit 1?
Yes! UWorld offers a 7-day free trial that lets you explore Unit 1 lessons, sample questions, and explanations to see how our platform simplifies complex AP Environmental Science concepts. You can review detailed study materials, watch topic-based videos, and test your understanding at no cost.
You can also supplement your prep with Khan Academy’s free topic videos and practice exercises or explore College Board’s AP Classroom, which provides progress checks and official exam-style questions.
Together, these resources give you a strong foundation but UWorld’s interactive explanations and test-like questions take your learning a step further, helping you fully master The Living World: Ecosystems and prepare confidently for exam day.
What types of questions are on the AP Environmental Science Unit 1 test?
The AP Environmental Science Unit 1 test includes a mix of multiple-choice and free-response questions that assess your understanding of ecosystem dynamics, energy flow, and nutrient cycling.
- Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs): These test your ability to interpret data, identify patterns, and apply concepts to real-world environmental scenarios.
- Free-Response Questions (FRQs): These require written explanations, data analysis, and problem-solving to show how well you can connect ecological principles.
UWorld’s AP Environmental Science question bank mirrors the difficulty and format of the actual exam. Every question includes detailed answer explanations, visuals, and references to help you learn from mistakes and build confidence for test day.
How can I improve my score on the Free-Response Questions (FRQs) for Unit 1?
To boost your FRQ score in AP Environmental Science Unit 1, focus on clarity, accuracy, and evidence-based reasoning.
- Understand the prompt: Read each question carefully to identify all required parts—describe, explain, or calculate.
- Use specific examples: Support your answers with real-world ecological processes, like the carbon or nitrogen cycle.
- Show calculations clearly: For numeric responses, include units and steps to earn full credit.
- Practice timed writing: Simulate exam conditions to improve pacing and organization.
UWorld’s FRQ practice questions are modeled after actual AP exam prompts and include sample responses with scoring explanations. Reviewing these helps you see exactly what earns points—so you can write confidently and maximize your score.
What is the "The Living World: Ecosystems" unit's weight on the AP Environmental Science exam?
The Living World: Ecosystems” (Unit 1) makes up about 6–8% of the total AP Environmental Science exam. Questions from this unit test your understanding of ecosystem structure, energy flow, and nutrient cycling concepts that set the foundation for later units like biodiversity and populations.
Because this unit is concept-heavy, mastering it early gives you a major advantage when studying for the rest of the course.
UWorld’s AP Environmental Science Unit 1 review helps you cover every tested topic through visual explanations, step-by-step problem solving, and realistic practice questions, so you can earn every possible point on exam day.
Where can I find a good study guide for AP Environmental Science Unit 1?
The best study guide for AP Environmental Science Unit 1 is available through UWorld’s comprehensive APES prep platform. Our digital and print study guides are designed by experts to simplify complex topics like energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem interactions.
Each guide includes concise explanations, colorful visuals, and concept summaries that make difficult material easier to understand and retain. You’ll also find integrated practice questions and detailed answer rationales that connect theory to application.
With UWorld, you get more than just notes, you get a complete learning system that combines reading, visualization, and practice. Whether you prefer digital access or a printed copy, UWorld’s AP Environmental Science Unit 1 study guide helps you learn efficiently and confidently for exam success.
Can I find practice tests specifically for APES Unit 1?
Yes! UWorld offers AP Environmental Science Unit 1 practice tests designed to mirror the style, format, and difficulty of the real AP exam. Each test includes exam-style multiple-choice (MCQ) and free-response (FRQ) questions that assess your understanding of key topics—ecosystem structure, energy flow, and nutrient cycling.
Every question comes with step-by-step explanations, visuals, and answer rationales, helping you learn from both correct and incorrect responses. You can also customize quizzes, track your performance, and revisit weak areas with detailed progress reports.
UWorld’s APES Unit 1 review and practice test questions make it easy to build confidence, improve retention, and prepare effectively for test day all in one convenient, exam-aligned platform.
How much time should I spend studying for AP Environmental Science Unit 1?
Most students benefit from spending 6–8 hours reviewing AP Environmental Science Unit 1, spread out over several days. Focus first on understanding the core concepts, ecosystem structure, biogeochemical cycles, and energy flow before moving to practice questions.
Break your study sessions into smaller chunks: read and review key lessons, watch videos for visualization, then test your understanding with exam-style questions. Consistency is more important than cramming, especially for a concept-heavy unit like The Living World: Ecosystems.
With UWorld’s AP Environmental Science practice tools, you can create customized quizzes, monitor progress, and focus on your weak areas efficiently. This flexible, guided approach helps you stay on track and build lasting understanding—without wasting study time.
Why is understanding energy flow so important in AP Environmental Science Unit 1?
Energy flow is the foundation of all ecosystem interactions covered in Unit 1. It explains how sunlight is converted into chemical energy through producers, transferred to consumers, and eventually lost as heat following the 10% rule. Understanding this process helps you connect topics like food chains, trophic levels, and productivity across different ecosystems.
Mastering energy flow also builds the framework for later AP Environmental Science units on biodiversity, populations, and resource management.
UWorld’s AP Environmental Science Unit 1 review uses visuals, diagrams, and step-by-step explanations to make energy transfer easy to grasp. By seeing how energy moves through ecosystems in real-world examples, you’ll be able to answer complex exam questions with confidence.
