AP Human Geography Map Test Review and Cartographic Standards
Core Geographic Skills and Foundational Knowledge
Success in Advanced Placement Human Geography requires a baseline of background knowledge and specific cartographic skills, often referred to as the ABC’s and 1,2,3’s of geography.
Fundamental skills for map and atlas usage include:
Utilizing an atlas to locate specific geographical information.
Reading and interpreting various types of maps accurately.
Using latitude and longitude coordinates to find and locate specific places on the globe.
Global Reference Lines and Physical Geography Fundamentals
The following general features must be identified and labeled on a physical map:
The continents.
The major oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Southern, Arctic, and Indian.
The Equator.
The Prime Meridian.
The Tropic of Cancer.
The Tropic of Capricorn.
Major Orographics: Mountain Ranges of the World
Accurate identification of these major mountain ranges is required:
Himalayas
Rockies
Andes
Alps
Caucasus
Urals
Pyrenees
Global Hydrography: Principal Rivers and Inland Bodies of Water
Major Rivers:
Rhine
Amazon
Yangtze
Mississippi
Ganges
Nile
Congo
Mekong
Major Bodies of Water:
Great Lakes
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Red Sea
Arabian Sea
South China Sea
Caribbean Sea
Aral Sea
Arid Regions, Tundra Landscapes, and Climate Zones
Major Deserts and Tundras:
Sahara
Great Sandy (Victoria) Desert in Australia
Gobi
Siberia
Sahel
Major Climate Regions:
Tropical
Subtropical
Temperate
Polar & subpolar
Macro-Geographic Regions
The following regions must be clearly identified on the Regions Map:
North America
Latin America (specifically including Mexico)
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Russian Federation
Southwest Asia
Central Asia
South Asia
East Asia (specifically including Japan)
Southeast Asia
Maritime Chokepoints: Strategic Straits and Canals
Geopolitical and economic chokepoints include:
Strait of Gibraltar
Panama Canal
Suez Canal
Strait of Malacca
English Channel
Bosporus & Dardanelles
Strait of Hormuz
Cartographic Standards and Map Production Rules
General Labeling and Titling:
A title must always be provided if one is not already present.
A key/legend must be included to explain color coding or symbols used.
All labeling must be performed in black ink only.
Labels should generally be written in the same direction, with the exception of mountains and rivers, which should be labeled along the direction of their physical path.
For areas too small to label internally, draw a line out to the side or use a number inside a box and define it in the map key.
Coloring Requirements:
Colors must be applied neatly and in a single direction.
Physical Maps: Colors represent specific features or elevations. Standard mainstream color themes should be used (e.g., brown for mountains, blue for water, green for lowlands).
Political Maps: No two adjacent countries or regions can share the same color. This ensures boundaries are clearly visible. While various colors may be chosen, blue is strictly reserved for water and can never be used for landmasses.
Oceans: On political maps, oceans do not require full coloring but must be shaded at a minimum around the edges of landmasses.
Drafting Technique:
There are no "square root curves" permitted on map tests; lines and boundaries should reflect geographical reality.
Geographical Study Resources and Online Assessments
Interactive map quizzes are available for practice at the following locations:
http://www.lizardpoint.com/geography/index.phphttp://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/geography.asp
Additional cartographic resources for reference include:
University of Texas Map Library:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/United Nations Cartographic Section:
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/english/htmain.htm", "title": "AP Human Geography Map Test Review and Cartographic Standards"}