• 63 questions

APES Human Population Practice Test

Unofficial practice for Unit 3 of AP Environmental Science, Populations, with the human population topics first.

In Country A, 44% of the people are under age 15. In Country B, 15% are. Which population is likely growing faster?

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

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

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All 63 questions

Topic 3.6: Age structure diagrams 6

  • A country's fertility falls to replacement level, yet its population keeps growing for decades. What explains this? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Population Momentum"; course topic 3.6
  • A diagram has bars of nearly equal width from the youngest ages up to late middle age, and it tapers only at the top. What does it show? Wikipedia, "Population pyramid"; course topic 3.6, EK EIN-1.A.1
  • An age structure diagram is narrow at the bottom and widest in the middle-aged bands. What does the shape say about the population? Wikipedia, "Population pyramid"; course topic 3.6, EK EIN-1.A.1
  • The bars for ages 0 to 4, 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 on a diagram are each wider than the bar above them. Which type of pyramid is this? Wikipedia, "Population pyramid"; course topic 3.6, EK EIN-1.A.1
  • By convention, how is a population pyramid laid out? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Population Pyramid"; course topic 3.6
  • In Country A, 44% of the people are under age 15. In Country B, 15% are. Which population is likely growing faster? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.A.2; course topic 3.6
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Topic 3.7: Total fertility rate 9

  • A country has a total fertility rate of 3.2. What does the figure mean? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Total Fertility Rate"; course topic 3.7
  • A country's fertility has held at replacement level for decades, and migration is negligible. How is its population described? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.B.2; course topic 3.7
  • A government drops a rule that held each family to one child and starts paying parents for each birth. Which measure is it trying to raise? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.B.1; course topic 3.7
  • About what total fertility rate is replacement level in most developed countries? Wikipedia, "Total fertility rate"; course topic 3.7, EK EIN-1.B.2
  • Girls in a region begin staying in school through age 18 where most once left at 12. What usually happens to the region's total fertility rate? Wikipedia, "Total fertility rate"; College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, EK EIN-1.B.1; course topic 3.7
  • In one country the average age at which women have their first child rises from 19 to 26. What is likely to happen to the total fertility rate? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.B.1; course topic 3.7
  • In one year a country records 400,000 live births and 6,000 deaths of infants under age 1. What is its infant mortality rate? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Infant Mortality Rate"; course topic 3.7, EK EIN-1.B.3
  • Replacement-level fertility can be as high as 3.5 in some countries, against 2.1 in most developed ones. Why is it higher there? Wikipedia, "Total fertility rate"; course topic 3.7, EK EIN-1.B.2
  • Which change is most likely to bring down a country's infant mortality rate? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.B.3; course topic 3.7

Topic 3.8: Human population dynamics 13

  • A country has a crude birth rate of 14 per 1,000, a crude death rate of 10 per 1,000 and net migration of -4 per 1,000. What is happening to its population? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Zero Population Growth"; course topic 3.8, EK EIN-1.C.1
  • A country's rate of natural increase is 1.5%, and its crude death rate is 7 per 1,000 people. What is its crude birth rate? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.C.4; course topic 3.8
  • A drought kills half the seedlings in a valley, in the thick stands and the thin ones alike. Which kind of limiting factor is the drought? Nature Education, "Population Limiting Factors"; College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, EK EIN-1.C.3; course topic 3.8
  • A population doubled in 20 years of steady growth. By the rule of 70, about what was its annual growth rate? Wikipedia, "Doubling time"; course topic 3.8, EK EIN-1.C.4
  • A town of 50,000 people records 600 live births in a year. What is its crude birth rate? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Birth Rate (or crude birth rate)"; course topic 3.8
  • As a city grows more crowded, a contagious disease passes from person to person more quickly. Which kind of limiting factor is the disease? Nature Education, "Population Limiting Factors"; course topic 3.8, EK EIN-1.C.3
  • Country A grows by 3.5% a year and Country B by 0.7% a year. By the rule of 70, what are their doubling times? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.C.4; course topic 3.8
  • In Malthusian theory, what holds a population back if fertility is not controlled? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Malthus, Thomas R."; course topic 3.8, EK EIN-1.C.2
  • In one year a country of 10 million people has 200,000 births, 90,000 deaths, 30,000 immigrants and 20,000 emigrants. By how much does its population change? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.C.1; course topic 3.8
  • What did Thomas Malthus claim about population and food? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Malthus, Thomas R."; course topic 3.8, EK EIN-1.C.2
  • Which flows are left out of the rate of natural increase? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Rate of Natural Increase (or Decrease)"; course topic 3.8, EK EIN-1.C.4
  • Which of these does the course description class as a density-dependent factor? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.C.3; course topic 3.8
  • Workers leave Country X to live for good in Country Y. What is this movement called from Country X's side? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Emigration"; course topic 3.8, EK EIN-1.C.1

Topic 3.9: Demographic transition 7

  • A country completes the demographic transition. How has its age structure diagram most likely changed? Wikipedia, "Population pyramid"; course topic 3.9, EK EIN-1.D.1
  • A graph of one country shows its death rate dropping sharply from 1900 on, while its birth rate stays high until 1950 and then falls. When did its population grow fastest? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Demographic Transition"; course topic 3.9, EK EIN-1.D.1
  • How many stages does the demographic transition model named in the course description have? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.D.1; course topic 3.9
  • In the demographic transition, which rate usually falls first? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Demographic Transition"; course topic 3.9, EK EIN-1.D.1
  • In the middle of the demographic transition, deaths have fallen and births have not. Which measure is at its highest then? Population Reference Bureau, Glossary of Demographic Terms, "Demographic Transition" and "Rate of Natural Increase (or Decrease)"; course topic 3.9, EK EIN-1.D.1
  • Which pair of traits does the course description give for developing countries, compared with developed ones? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge EIN-1.D.2; course topic 3.9
  • Why do families in the least developed countries tend to have more children? Wikipedia, "Total fertility rate"; course topic 3.9, EK EIN-1.D.2

Topics 3.1 and 3.2: Generalists, specialists, K and r 12

  • A fast-breeding plant from another continent spreads through a valley. By the course description, which native species are typically hurt most? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.B.5; course topic 3.2
  • A koala lives almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves. What kind of species is it? Wikipedia, "Generalist and specialist species"; course topic 3.1, EK ERT-3.A.1
  • A tree lives for centuries and competes strongly for light, yet it releases thousands of seeds a year and gives them no care. What does this show? Wikipedia, "r/K selection theory"; course topic 3.2, EK ERT-3.B.4
  • In the terms r-selected and K-selected, what does the K refer to? Wikipedia, "r/K selection theory"; course topic 3.2
  • In whose habitats is competition for resources usually relatively high? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.B.1 and ERT-3.B.2; course topic 3.2
  • Roads, fires and new housing keep changing a forest from year to year. Which species tend to have the advantage there? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.A.1; course topic 3.1
  • Species X has 2 offspring at a time, matures at 12 years and lives 60 years. Species Y has 4,000 offspring at a time, matures at 3 months and lives 1 year. Which is r-selected? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.B.2; course topic 3.2
  • What is biotic potential? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.B.3; course topic 3.2
  • When environmental conditions change, which species tend to fall victim to extinction more easily? Wikipedia, "Generalist and specialist species"; course topic 3.1, EK ERT-3.A.1
  • Which of these organisms is K-selected? Wikipedia, "r/K selection theory"; course topic 3.2, EK ERT-3.B.1
  • Which reproductive strategy do most invasive species have? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.B.5; course topic 3.2
  • Why is the raccoon classed as a generalist? Wikipedia, "Generalist and specialist species"; course topic 3.1, EK ERT-3.A.1

Topic 3.3: Survivorship curves 7

  • A bird species has about the same chance of dying in each year of its life. Which survivorship curve does it follow? Wikipedia, "Survivorship curve"; course topic 3.3, EK ERT-3.C.1
  • A survivorship curve stays nearly flat through early and middle life and then drops steeply in old age. Which type is it? Wikipedia, "Survivorship curve"; course topic 3.3, EK ERT-3.C.1
  • Of 1,000 people born in one year, 990 are alive at age 10, 950 at age 50, 600 at age 80 and 20 at age 100. Which survivorship curve does this cohort follow? Wikipedia, "Survivorship curve"; course topic 3.3, EK ERT-3.C.1
  • On a survivorship curve, what is a cohort? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.C.1; course topic 3.3
  • On a Type III survivorship curve, when is mortality greatest? Wikipedia, "Survivorship curve"; course topic 3.3, EK ERT-3.C.1
  • Where on the age axis does a survivorship curve end? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.C.1; course topic 3.3
  • Which survivorship curves do K-selected species typically follow? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.C.2; course topic 3.3

Topics 3.4 and 3.5: Carrying capacity and resources 9

  • A few rabbits are released on an island with plentiful food and no predators. What kind of growth does the population show at first? Nature Education, "Population Limiting Factors"; College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, EK ERT-3.F.3; course topic 3.5
  • A fish population rises to 500, overshoots to 650, falls back to 420 and then hovers near 500 for years. What is the best estimate of the lake's carrying capacity for it? Nature Education, "Population Limiting Factors"; course topic 3.4, EK ERT-3.D.1
  • A herd of 1,200 reindeer lives on a range whose carrying capacity is 800. What is this condition called? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.D.1; course topic 3.4
  • A population grows quickly, slows as its resources are used up and then stops growing. What is this pattern called? Nature Education, "Population Limiting Factors"; course topic 3.5, EK ERT-3.F.1
  • A population has reached its carrying capacity and is holding steady. How do its birth and death rates compare? Nature Education, "Population Limiting Factors"; course topic 3.4
  • Barnacles cover every bit of a rock. Food is plentiful, yet no new larvae can settle. Which limit on population growth is at work? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.F.1; course topic 3.5
  • The food supply of a lake's fish population shrinks for good. By the course description, what ultimately follows? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.F.4; course topic 3.5
  • Which environmental impact of population overshoot does the course description name? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.D.1; course topic 3.4
  • Which statement about the resource base matches the course description? College Board, AP Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, essential knowledge ERT-3.F.2; course topic 3.5

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to Unit 3 (Populations, topics 3.1 to 3.9) 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: the Population Reference Bureau's glossary of demographic terms (https://www.prb.org/resources/glossary/), an article of Nature Education's Scitable library, an essential knowledge statement of the course description, 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 human population practice test has 63 questions of our own on Unit 3, Populations. The human population topics, 3.6 to 3.9, come first. It is unofficial and not affiliated with the College Board, which owns AP.

Read the full guide

What Unit 3 covers

The College Board's course description, effective fall 2026 and read October 11, 2026, gives Unit 3 nine topics. Human population takes four of them and 35 questions here: age structure diagrams (6), total fertility rate (9), human population dynamics (13) and the demographic transition (7). Topics 3.1 to 3.5, on species strategies, survivorship curves and carrying capacity, have 28. The description gives topics no weights, so the spread is ours.

Sources you can open

Demographic terms come from the glossary of the Population Reference Bureau. Other answers cite an essential knowledge statement of the course description, a Scitable article from Nature Education or a Wikipedia article.

  • Rule of 70: divide 70 by the growth rate in percent to get the doubling time in years.
  • Birth and death rates are per 1,000 people. Divide their difference by 10 for the rate of natural increase in percent.
  • Read an age structure diagram from the bottom: a wide base means growth, a narrow base means decline.

Questions and answers

What unit is human population in APES?

Unit 3, Populations. Topics 3.6 to 3.9 are the human ones; topics 3.1 to 3.5 cover species strategies, survivorship and carrying capacity. The unit carries 10 to 15% of the multiple-choice section, by the course description.

What math is in the APES populations unit?

Two calculations, both named in topic 3.8: the rate of natural increase, which is the crude birth rate minus the crude death rate as a percentage, and doubling time, which is 70 divided by the annual growth rate.

What should an APES human population study guide cover?

What moves the total fertility rate, replacement-level fertility, infant mortality, density-dependent and density-independent limits, Malthusian theory and the four-stage demographic transition model, along with reading an age structure diagram.

What is the difference between K-selected and r-selected species?

K-selected species are usually large with few offspring, give long parental care and live long. r-selected species are usually small with many offspring, mature early and live briefly. Many species mix the two strategies.

Are these real APES exam questions?

No. The College Board owns the real questions, and none appears here, even in other words. Every question was written for this page from the topic list of Unit 3.

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