Award-Winning AP Environmental Science
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Award-Winning AP Environmental Science Tutors

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Henry
A Harvard-trained researcher who wrote his senior thesis on John Dewey's philosophy of education, Henry connects AP Environmental Science topics like biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics to the real-world policy debates that make them matter. He teaches students to interpret data sets and co...
Harvard College
Bachelor in Arts, History

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Rachel
Supervising an AmeriCorps conservation program in New Mexico means Rachel doesn't just teach APES concepts like land management, resource depletion, and habitat restoration — she manages real projects dealing with them daily. Her Johns Hopkins master's in Environmental Health Sciences adds the scien...
Johns Hopkins University
Masters
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Masters, Environmental Health Sciences
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Jake
Studying Human Biology at Stanford with a concentration in health policy gives Jake a direct line into the APES units on public health, pollution, and environmental legislation — he understands how ecological disruptions translate into real human consequences, which is exactly the kind of reasoning ...
Stanford University
Current Undergrad, Human Biology
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Eileen
Eileen's neuroscience coursework at Vanderbilt — tracing how disruptions propagate through biological systems — gives her a useful lens for APES topics like bioaccumulation, feedback loops in climate systems, and how environmental toxins affect organisms at multiple scales. She scored a 36 on the AC...
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Todd
Todd's biology degree from UIUC gives him the ecological and cellular foundations that underpin APES topics like nutrient cycling, energy flow through trophic levels, and ecosystem disruption — and his social work training adds a surprisingly useful lens for the policy and human-impact questions tha...
University of Chicago
Master of Social Work, Social Work
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
University of Chicago
graduate
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Sharan
Premed coursework in human biology builds an intuitive grasp of the biological systems that APES questions test — nutrient cycling, population growth models, and the health consequences of environmental degradation aren't abstract concepts for Sharan, they're threads running through his own studies ...
Cornell University
Bachelor of Science, Human Biology
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Patricia
Having earned her bachelor's in Environmental Science, Patricia didn't just survey APES topics — she studied biogeochemical cycles, soil science, and ecosystem dynamics at the college level they're drawn from. She zeroes in on the quantitative side students often underestimate, like calculating ener...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
Eric
Eric's degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology means he studied the actual science behind APES — population ecology, species interactions, and ecosystem-level processes — not just the survey-course version. He teaches students to think about environmental problems the way an ecologist would, tracin...
Princeton University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Nima
A physics degree builds the kind of systems thinking that translates directly to APES — understanding energy budgets, thermodynamic constraints on ecosystems, and how to set up the quantitative problems around resource depletion or atmospheric carbon that the exam loves to test. Nima applies that ph...
Duke University
Bachelors, Physics
Certified Tutor
Pranav
Hello, students! My name is Pranav, and I'm so excited to be tutoring with Varsity Tutors. I have vast experience tutoring both personally and professionally; I've held officer positions in several nonprofit organizations, including STEMpals and The Do Re Mi Project, teaching courses ranging from bi...
Rice University
BS
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Top 20 Science Subjects
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Rachel
Calculus Tutor • +32 Subjects
I am also experienced in teaching test preparation and test-taking strategies, resume and personal statement preparation, and leadership. Further, I am an experienced researcher and editor. I am an avid reader and a skilled writer. I aspire to help my students feel confident and positive about their education and future.
Sydney
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +43 Subjects
I am a 2019 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where I received a dual degree BFA in Vocal Performance and BA in Creative Writing. I also achieved a GPA of 3.92, 3 semesters on the Dean's List, induction into Phi Beta Kappa as well as Sigma Tau Delta (the English honors society) and Pi Kappa Lambda (the Music honors society), Carnegie Mellon University Honors, and Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Honors. I graduated Bloomfield Hills High School with a 3.96 GPA in 2015, and was a National Merit Finalist as well as a Presidential Scholarship candidate, thanks to my top test scores.
Zachary
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +42 Subjects
I am pursuing a career as an actor, but am thrilled to continue to flex my intellectual side and share my passion for learning with the next generation. In college, I studied Cognitive Science, not so much as a fallback career, but because I am fascinated by the subject. I succeeded in getting into Northwestern without the aid of any academic tutors or test prep classes. As such, I am confident in my standardized test-taking abilities, and happy to share the strategies I used for the ACT, SAT II, and AP tests. I am also prepared to tutor a variety of academic subjects as well, as reflected by my approved courses. I look forward to working with you!
Dylan
Middle School Math Tutor • +39 Subjects
I'm looking forward to pursuing graduate studies in the fall for Environmental Management. During the past 3 years, I've been fortunate to travel and work on different organic farms and sustainable land stewardship projects; I'm hoping that my graduate studies will offer an opportunity to merge my formal academic training with my recent experiences working with the land. Can't wait to get to know you, and help you work towards your goals!
Jhonatan
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +42 Subjects
I am a firm believer in the idea that there is no better feeling than that "aha!" moment.
Amanda
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +84 Subjects
I'm currently a fourth year medical student at a private medical school in Texas. I've been involved with tutoring since middle school continuing all the way through medical school. There are so many different ways to teach based on how students learn best and I am passionate about meeting the individual needs of students so they can succeed. I took unconventional approaches to learning as instilled by mentors throughout my life that greatly increased my ability to learn and comprehend material . I've worked with tutoring students in ACT prep, SAT prep, MCAT prep, IB and AP courses, as well as STEM subjects from elementary school through to college. Recently, I've also tutored for USMLE Step 1 & 2. I also edit and work with students who need tutors for writing and reading comprehension. I have extensive experience in both college and medical school admissions and work yearly with students on essays and applications. I went to high school at the Downingtown STEM Academy and graduated May 2018 from the University of Alabama with a 4.2. I have a BS in Biology with minors in Social Work and Social Welfare. I will be graduating with an MD and MPH in May 2022. I tutor english, math, geometry, algebra, SAT, ACT, MCAT, USMLE chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and writing along with other subjects. I've worked with rural students in Alabama, students in the Greater Philadelphia area, and students in urban areas. I believe education should be personalized and while schools can't provide this due to lack of resources, tutors are a great substitute for that. Education is the gateway to social mobility and happiness and I seek to prepare my student to meet their individual goals. I work to create an environment where the student can focus on understanding the material for their own understanding and not for others which significantly increases the students confidence in the subject matter and their desire to learn more.
Kiera
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I'm a student at Dartmouth College majoring in Biology modified with Engineering, and I'm minoring in Human Centered Design. I love nature and all things STEM, and my friends know me for having endless fun facts about the natural world. I'm on the women's rugby team and a member of the Dartmouth Humanitarian Engineering club, and I love to hike, bike, and snowboard in my free time.
Firas
Applied Mathematics Tutor • +62 Subjects
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at Princeton Univerity working on Machine Learning and Big Data. As an experienced software and machine learning engineer, with industry experience and a Ph.D. in Computer Science, as well as an extensive tutoring experience at the College and High-School levels, I am passionate about helping students develop their skills and achieve their goals. I believe that learning should be engaging and interactive, and I strive to create a supportive and collaborative environment in my tutoring sessions. Whether you are looking to improve your programming skills, prepare for a standardized test, or gain a deeper understanding of areas related to programming, math, data mining, and machine learning, I am committed to providing personalized guidance and support to help you succeed. Hobbies: travel, reading, music, writing, art, books, traveling
Libby
Calculus Tutor • +31 Subjects
I am up to date on the reformed common core curriculum currently used in public schools as well. Furthermore, I am capable of working with special needs children. I have worked with children on the autism spectrum, children with down syndrome, and Deaf children in behavioral therapy and their class courses.
Kelsey
Calculus Tutor • +21 Subjects
I am striving towards my Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy at Johns Hopkins University, and will be obtaining my degree in May of 2022. Being a student myself, I am excellent at pinpointing what each learner needs to succeed. I was a former educator at a community college focusing on biology and microbiology. This college had multiple early college high school programs in place, therefore I have taught at the high school and college level. Prior to that, I was a group tutor for honors biology (known as a supplemental instructor), in which I created review packets and held sessions for the students. More than halfway through my advanced graduate program, I feel confident in my ability to stretch my teaching skills past biology and microbiology, into environmental science as well!
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students often struggle most with the quantitative sections—particularly energy flow calculations, population growth models, and water/nutrient cycle stoichiometry. The FRQ section also trips up many students because it requires synthesizing concepts across multiple units (like connecting atmospheric chemistry to acid rain impacts). Additionally, the distinction between biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystem dynamics, and understanding feedback loops in Earth systems, tends to be conceptually difficult without targeted explanation.
The exam has two sections: 80 multiple-choice questions (90 minutes) and 3 free-response questions (90 minutes). For the MC section, pace yourself at roughly 1 minute per question and flag questions involving calculations or complex diagrams to revisit. For FRQs, allocate 30 minutes per question and structure your answer clearly—define terms, show your work for calculations, and explicitly connect your answer to environmental principles. Many students lose points by not explaining the "why" behind their answers, especially in questions about human impacts or policy solutions.
Focus on understanding the underlying concepts before memorizing formulas—for example, knowing that NPP (Net Primary Productivity) = GPP minus respiration helps you interpret what the numbers mean, not just plug them in. Practice working through calculation-heavy topics like doubling time, carrying capacity, and bioaccumulation repeatedly with different scenarios. Many students benefit from creating a reference sheet of common formulas and their real-world applications, then practicing problems without looking at it to build fluency and confidence under test conditions.
The key is practicing under timed conditions with actual past FRQs and learning to structure your responses clearly. Strong FRQ answers identify the environmental concept being tested, define relevant terms, provide specific examples (like naming actual pollutants or ecosystems), and explain the cause-and-effect relationship. Many students rush through the writing portion; instead, spend the first few minutes outlining your answer, then write in complete sentences that directly address the prompt. Reviewing scoring rubrics alongside sample responses helps you understand exactly what exam readers are looking for.
You'll encounter graphs showing population trends, temperature anomalies, pollution levels, and resource consumption—and you need to extract meaning quickly. Practice identifying axes labels, units, and trends (linear vs. exponential growth, correlation vs. causation). Many students misread axes or confuse correlation with causation, especially in questions about climate data or toxicology studies. Spend time analyzing real datasets from sources like NOAA or EPA reports to build comfort with environmental data, and always ask yourself: "What does this pattern tell me about the environmental system, and what are the limitations of this data?"
The exam rewards students who see how units relate—for instance, understanding how energy flow in ecosystems (Unit 1) connects to human agriculture and food production (Unit 5), or how atmospheric chemistry (Unit 7) drives both climate change and ozone depletion. Create concept maps linking topics like nutrient cycles, human impacts, and policy responses. When studying, ask yourself questions like: "How would increased CO₂ affect photosynthesis rates and ecosystem productivity?" or "How do population dynamics influence resource consumption?" This synthesis thinking is what separates students scoring 4s and 5s from those scoring 2s and 3s.
Practice full-length exams under realistic conditions (2.5 hours, no breaks) to build stamina and familiarity with the pace—this reduces anxiety on test day. For the MC section, if you're stuck on a question after 1.5 minutes, mark it and move on; you can return if time allows. During FRQs, read all three prompts first and start with the one you feel most confident about to build momentum. Deep breathing and positive self-talk matter too—remind yourself that you've practiced these concepts and that it's okay not to know every detail; partial credit is available for showing your reasoning.
Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level. Students who are struggling with foundational concepts (scoring 1-2) typically see the biggest gains—often 1-2 full points—when they get targeted help identifying knowledge gaps and building systematic study habits. Students scoring 3s can often reach 4s by strengthening FRQ writing and quantitative problem-solving through practice. The national average is around a 2.5, so reaching a 3 or 4 puts you ahead of most test-takers. Realistic improvement requires consistent practice with past exams, honest assessment of weak areas, and applying feedback to future attempts.
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