One of the most intimidating parts of AP Environmental Science is memorizing the long list of environmental laws, treaties, and acts. You’re expected to know names, purposes, and sometimes the year of enactment for each. On the APES exam, these can appear in multiple-choice questions or as part of an FRQ.
In this RevisionDojo guide, we’ll break down how to efficiently memorize environmental laws so they stick in your long-term memory—without cramming the night before.
Step 1 – Know Which Laws to Focus On
The College Board doesn’t publish an official master list, but these commonly appear:
- Clean Air Act (CAA) – Regulates air emissions and pollutants.
- Clean Water Act (CWA) – Restores and maintains water quality.
- Endangered Species Act (ESA) – Protects threatened and endangered species.
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – Requires Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) – Ensures safe public drinking water.
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund) – Cleans up hazardous waste sites.
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – Governs hazardous waste disposal.
- Kyoto Protocol – International treaty reducing greenhouse gases.
- Paris Agreement – Global climate change mitigation agreement.
Step 2 – Use Acronyms to Group Laws
Creating acronyms helps you remember related laws:
- Clean Acts – CAA and CWA.
- Species & Nature – ESA and NEPA.
- Waste Management – RCRA and CERCLA.
Example: “Cool Cats Rest Nicely” = Clean Air, Clean Water, RCRA, NEPA.
Step 3 – Create a Law Flashcard System
Use digital flashcards (Quizlet, Anki) with:
- Front: Law name (e.g., Endangered Species Act).
- Back: Purpose, year, and key fact (e.g., “1973 – Protects species from extinction”).
Shuffle cards daily until recall is instant.
Step 4 – Build Association Stories
Storytelling cements memory. For example:
Imagine a bald eagle (ESA) flying over a river (CWA) through clean skies (CAA) while passing a recycling plant (RCRA).
The sillier the story, the stronger the recall.
Step 5 – Practice Retrieval, Not Just Review
Don’t just read the list—test yourself.
- Write down as many laws as you can from memory.
- Say them out loud.
- Answer APES practice questions that involve these laws.
Step 6 – Integrate Laws into Unit Notes
Instead of keeping laws in a separate list, insert them into relevant APES units:
- Clean Air Act → Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution
- Clean Water Act → Unit 8: Aquatic Pollution
- NEPA → Unit 5: Land and Water Use
This way, you learn them in context, making recall easier on exam day.
Step 7 – Review Weekly Until Test Day
The forgetting curve is real—if you don’t review regularly, you’ll lose the information. Schedule 10-minute law review sessions once or twice a week leading up to the exam.
FAQ – Memorizing Environmental Laws for APES
Q: Do I need to memorize the years of each law?
A: It’s not mandatory for most questions, but years can help distinguish between similar acts.
Q: Should I study international agreements too?
A: Yes—Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, and CITES often appear in multiple-choice and FRQs.
Q: Can I use mnemonic songs?
A: Absolutely—if music helps you, create a short jingle with the law names.
Final Thoughts
Memorizing environmental laws for APES doesn’t have to feel like drowning in acronyms. By grouping related acts, making visual stories, using flashcards, and reviewing weekly, you’ll keep them fresh and ready for the exam.
For more AP Environmental Science study strategies, visit RevisionDojo—your go-to resource for AP success.
