• 69 questions

APES Energy Practice Test

Unofficial practice for Unit 6 of AP Environmental Science, Energy Resources and Consumption, from coal and nuclear power to wind.

Which of these energy sources is nonrenewable, although it gives off no air pollutants as it runs?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

Print covers the next 25 questions. Share this set copies a link to the same questions in the same order.

More options

Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the College Board. Bank checked October 11, 2026.

Next step All nine units: APES practice testAPES Unit 3: populations practice

All 69 questions

Topics 6.1 and 6.2: Renewable and nonrenewable resources, global consumption 8

  • A town of 5,000 people uses 60,000,000 kWh of electricity in a year. What is its yearly use per person? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.2, essential knowledge ENG-3.B.1
  • As a developing country becomes more developed, how does its use of fossil fuels usually change? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.2, essential knowledge ENG-3.B.3
  • By the course description, what do nonrenewable energy sources have in common? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.1, essential knowledge ENG-3.A.1
  • What makes an energy source renewable? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.1, essential knowledge ENG-3.A.2
  • Which of these energy sources is nonrenewable, although it gives off no air pollutants as it runs? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.G.4
  • Which set of factors shapes what energy sources people use, and how? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.2, essential knowledge ENG-3.B.5
  • Which sources of energy are the most widely used in the world? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.2, essential knowledge ENG-3.B.2
  • Which three fuels are the fossil fuels? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "U.S. energy facts explained"; course topic 6.1
Show all 69 questions (61 more)

Topics 6.3 and 6.4: Fuel types and where they are found 11

  • Gasoline for cars is an example of which idea from the course description? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.3, essential knowledge ENG-3.C.6
  • How does anthracite compare with lignite? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "Coal explained"; course topic 6.3
  • Natural gas is mostly which compound? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "Natural gas explained"; course topic 6.3
  • Tar sands mix clay, sand and water with which other material? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.3, essential knowledge ENG-3.C.5
  • What decides which type of coal a buried deposit of plant matter becomes? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.3, essential knowledge ENG-3.C.3
  • What is cogeneration? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.3, essential knowledge ENG-3.C.7
  • Which fossil fuel does the course description call the cleanest? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.3, essential knowledge ENG-3.C.4
  • Which fuel is partially decomposed organic material? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.3, essential knowledge ENG-3.C.2
  • Which list puts the three coal types of the course in order from the lowest energy content to the highest? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "Coal explained"; course topic 6.3
  • Why are deposits of ores, coal, crude oil and gas spread unevenly around the world? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.4, essential knowledge ENG-3.D.1
  • Why is wood, as firewood or charcoal, so often the fuel used in developing countries? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.3, essential knowledge ENG-3.C.1

Topic 6.5: Fossil fuels 8

  • The combustion of a fossil fuel is a reaction between the fuel and oxygen. What does it yield, besides energy? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.5, essential knowledge ENG-3.E.1
  • In a coal-fired power plant, what pushes directly on the turbine? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.5, essential knowledge ENG-3.E.2
  • What does the generator of a power plant do? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "How electricity is generated"; course topic 6.5
  • What is done to a well in hydraulic fracturing? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "Natural gas and the environment"; course topic 6.5
  • Which emission from burning coal contributes to acid rain? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "Coal and the environment"; course topic 6.5
  • Which pair of problems can hydraulic fracturing cause? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.5, essential knowledge ENG-3.F.1
  • Which sequence describes how a coal-fired power plant makes electricity? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.5, essential knowledge ENG-3.E.2
  • Which type of turbine is used to generate most of the world's electricity? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "How electricity is generated"; course topic 6.5

Topic 6.6: Nuclear power 12

  • A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 30 years. What fraction of a sample is left after 90 years? Wikipedia, "Half-life"; course topic 6.6
  • A sample holds 120 g of a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 8 days. How much of the isotope is left after 24 days? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.H.2
  • About how long is the half-life of uranium-235? Wikipedia, "Uranium-235"; course topic 6.6
  • After fission heats the water in a nuclear power plant, how is the electricity made? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.G.1
  • How does a nuclear power plant produce its heat? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.G.1
  • In a nuclear reactor, where is the uranium-235 held? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.G.1
  • What are the control rods of a nuclear reactor for? Wikipedia, "Control rod"; course topic 6.6
  • What is radioactivity? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.G.2
  • What kind of event was the Three Mile Island accident? Wikipedia, "Three Mile Island accident"; course topic 6.6
  • What makes an atom of uranium-235 split in a reactor? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.G.1
  • Which pair are environmental drawbacks of generating nuclear power? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.G.4
  • Which three places does the course description name as cases where a nuclear accident or a natural disaster led to the release of radiation? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.6, essential knowledge ENG-3.H.1

Topics 6.7 and 6.8: Biomass and solar energy 10

  • Ethanol can stand in for which fuel? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.7, essential knowledge ENG-3.I.2
  • What does a photovoltaic solar cell do? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.8, essential knowledge ENG-3.J.1
  • What does cutting too many trees for fuel cause? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.7, essential knowledge ENG-3.I.1
  • What does energy return on energy investment measure? Wikipedia, "Energy return on investment"; course topic 6.7
  • What drawback of ethanol as a fuel does the course description name? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.7, essential knowledge ENG-3.I.2
  • What limits the use of photovoltaic solar cells? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.8, essential knowledge ENG-3.J.1
  • What sets an active solar energy system apart from a passive one? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.8, essential knowledge ENG-3.J.2
  • Which ecosystems does the course description say large solar energy farms may harm? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.8, essential knowledge ENG-3.K.1
  • Which is a drawback of burning biomass, such as wood, for energy? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.7, essential knowledge ENG-3.I.1
  • Which of these is a passive solar energy system? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.8, essential knowledge ENG-3.J.3

Topics 6.9 to 6.12: Hydroelectric, geothermal, hydrogen fuel cells and wind 13

  • A dam that creates a reservoir may get in the way of which movement of animals? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "Hydropower and the environment"; course topic 6.9
  • How does a hydroelectric dam generate electricity? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.9, essential knowledge ENG-3.L.1
  • How is geothermal energy used to generate electricity? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.10, essential knowledge ENG-3.N.1
  • What does a tidal energy system use to turn its turbine? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.9, essential knowledge ENG-3.L.2
  • What is a drawback of hydrogen fuel cells? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.11, essential knowledge ENG-3.Q.1
  • What is the product, or emission, of a hydrogen fuel cell? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.11, essential knowledge ENG-3.P.1
  • Which form of energy does a wind turbine take from moving air? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.12, essential knowledge ENG-3.R.1
  • Which gas can the use of geothermal energy release? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.10, essential knowledge ENG-3.O.1
  • Which harm to wildlife is tied to wind turbines? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.12, essential knowledge ENG-3.S.1
  • Which of these makes electricity with no turbine and no generator? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.8, essential knowledge ENG-3.J.1
  • Which statement about hydroelectric power matches the course description? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.9, essential knowledge ENG-3.M.1
  • Which three sources spin a turbine without first making steam? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.9 and 6.12, essential knowledge ENG-3.L.1, ENG-3.L.2 and ENG-3.R.1
  • Why is geothermal energy not used for power in most places? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.10, essential knowledge ENG-3.O.1

Topic 6.13: Energy conservation 7

  • A 60-watt bulb is replaced by a 10-watt LED bulb. The light is on for 1,000 hours a year. How much energy is saved in a year? Wikipedia, "Kilowatt-hour"; course topic 6.13
  • A 2,000-watt space heater is on for 3 hours a day, every day of a 30-day month. How much energy does it use in the month? Wikipedia, "Kilowatt-hour"; course topic 6.13
  • A car is driven 12,000 miles a year. Its fuel economy improves from 20 miles per gallon to 40 miles per gallon. How much less gasoline does it burn in a year? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.13, essential knowledge ENG-3.T.2
  • Electricity costs $0.15 per kWh. What does it cost to run an appliance that uses 180 kWh? U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, "Units and calculators explained"; course topic 6.13
  • In the course description, what does BEV stand for? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.13, essential knowledge ENG-3.T.2
  • Which change conserves energy in a home? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.13, essential knowledge ENG-3.T.1
  • Which of these is a method of conserving energy on a large scale? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, topic 6.13, essential knowledge ENG-3.T.2

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to Unit 6 (Energy Resources and Consumption, topics 6.1 to 6.13) of the College Board's AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, effective fall 2026, https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-environmental-science-course-and-exam-description.pdf, read 2026-10-11. Each fact was read on 2026-10-11 in the public page named under its question: an essential knowledge statement of the course description, an Energy Explained page of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/) or a Wikipedia article. Answers that are worked out were recomputed. Licence: Own work. Short quotations from the public documents named under each question.

How it works

This APES energy practice test has 69 questions of our own on Unit 6 and opens on the nonrenewable resources. It is unofficial and not affiliated with the College Board, which owns AP.

Read the full guide

What Unit 6 covers

The College Board's course description, effective fall 2026 and read October 11, 2026, gives Unit 6 thirteen topics, and the bank follows them in order: renewable and nonrenewable resources and global consumption (8 questions), fuel types and where they are found (11), fossil fuels (8), nuclear power (12), biomass and solar (10), hydroelectric, geothermal, hydrogen fuel cells and wind (13) and energy conservation (7). The description gives topics no weights, so the spread is ours.

Sources you can open

Each answer cites an essential knowledge statement of the course description, an Energy Explained page of the U.S. Energy Information Administration or a Wikipedia article.

  • Coal, nuclear and geothermal plants all boil water: steam turns a turbine, and the turbine spins a generator.
  • For a half-life question, count the half-lives first, then halve the amount that many times.
  • Kilowatt-hours are kilowatts times hours. Change watts to kilowatts before you multiply.

Questions and answers

What unit is energy in APES?

Unit 6, Energy Resources and Consumption. It carries 10 to 15% of the multiple-choice section, by the course description, which allows about 16 to 17 class periods for it.

Where are geology and nonrenewable resources in APES?

Geology is topic 4.1, plate tectonics, in Unit 4, Earth Systems and Resources, and is not on this page. Nonrenewable energy resources are here: topics 6.1 to 6.6 cover coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power, and topic 6.4 ties their location to geologic history.

What should an APES energy unit study guide cover?

How each energy source of topics 6.5 to 6.12 makes electricity and what it costs the environment, from fossil fuels to wind. Add the coal types, cogeneration, half-life and the ways to conserve energy.

What math is in the APES energy unit?

Topics 6.2 and 6.13 ask for a numeric answer with its units, and topic 6.6 uses half-life. This page practices kilowatt-hours, cost, fuel saved, energy use per person and half-life.

Are these real APES exam questions?

No. The College Board's questions are its own, and none is used here, quoted or reworded. All 69 were written for this page from the topic list of Unit 6.

More tests

Show 8 more

Browse Civics and Law