AP Human Geography Exam Preparation Notes

The 2025 AP Human Geography Exam

Foundation

Key Elements for Success:
- Positive attitude: "Stay Positive"
- Courage
- Connecting Units: Understanding how different units relate to each other.
- FRQ Writing + Practice MC Questions: Focus on both Free-Response Questions (FRQ) and Multiple-Choice (MC) questions.
- Thinking - 4 Level Analysis: Employing a four-level analysis framework.
- ESPN+DC: Considering Economic, Social, Political, eNvironmental, and Demographic factors.
- Skills + Application: Developing skills and applying them.
- Vocabulary + Geographic or Data Examples: Using relevant vocabulary and examples.
- Effort and Growth Mindset: Maintaining a strong work ethic and believing in one's ability to improve.

How to Prepare for the AP Human Geography Exam

Exam Format:
- 60 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ): 60 minutes, Skills & Content (50% of the exam grade).
- Break.
- 3 Free Response Questions (FRQs): 75 minutes (50% of the exam grade).
  - Question 1: Includes two stimuli.
  - Question 2: Includes one stimulus.
  - Question 3: Includes no stimulus.

What is a Stimulus?

A stimulus is NOT a bill. (referencing images)

Which Units Will Be Assessed?

All units will be assessed.
Common words appear in all units.
Units:
- Unit 1: Thinking Geographically
- Unit 2: Population/Migration Patterns and Processes
- Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes
- Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes
- Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes
- Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes
- Unit 7: Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes

ESPN+DC

ESPN+DC is important.
Components:
- Economic
- Social / Cultural
- Political
- eNvironmental
- Demographic

What Will I Be Asked To Do?

Using an AUTHENTIC (real-world) situation or scenario:
- Identify
- Describe
- Explain
- Compare
- Apply concepts, processes, or models
As you analyze:
- Patterns
- Relationships
- Outcomes (results/impacts)

Verbs Matter: How to Write

Identify: 1-2 sentence answer.
Define: Write a 1-2 sentence definition and support with an example that illustrates the definition.
Describe: Claim, Explain, Evidence / Geographic Examples (2-4 sentences). Use specific details, qualities + characteristics (use evidence from stimulus if available).
Explain (3-5 Sentences total):
- Write your Claim (1-2 sentences), then explain your claim with specific details, examples, evidence + analysis (why/how/because).
- Provide examples + evidence that support your claim.
- If you can, give specific geographic examples to support your reasoning.
- “Burden of Proof” is on you to prove to the reader you know what you are talking about.
Explain the degree: (Described on a later slide).
Compare: Remember Urban FRQ + Dev theory FRQ.
- Prompt will usually ask for a similarity, difference, or both.
- With similarities and differences, you must describe characteristics of both places (concept, term, data, image).
  - Place (concept, term, data, image) A is different /similar than place (concept, term, data, image) B because A has. While place B has .
  - Provide examples + evidence to support your claim. If you can, give specific geographic examples to support your reasoning. (3-5 Sentences Total)
When you read the questions circle the verbs and underline key words and concepts. Write down a few quick ideas or examples (just a few words).
LABEL all parts of your essay A, B, C, D etc.
ANSWER all parts of the questions and all three questions.
If running short of time, make sure your claims are on point (first 1-2 sentences).

Sample FRQ Prompts

Geographers study cultural traits, ideas, and practices and their diffusion across space and in places. These traits, ideas, and practices can change through a variety of processes.
- A. Describe TWO ways that the process of globalization has contributed to similarities between the cultural landscapes shown in Image 1 and Image 2.
- B. Explain how increased Internet access throughout the world can contribute to time-space convergence.
- C. Describe a process by which artists or musicians in cities such as New York City or Tokyo adopt cultural traits from cultures on other continents.
- D. Explain the degree to which the process of syncretism affects the cultural landscapes of New York City and Tokyo.
- E. Explain a possible limitation of comparing Image 1 and Image 2 to understand differences between the gender or ethnic identities of New York City and Tokyo.

Explain the Degree…

The last element of this skill requires explaining the degree to which a geographic concept or model effectively describes or explains expected outcomes. This skill requires a deep understanding of different regions of the world and an ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of various models and theories.
Structure of Response:
- Your claim must include a magnitude adjective (large, small, none, a little, a lot…) followed by the explain elements described earlier. And in this case the prompt has elements of comparing. Discuss both places!!
- Example: The process of syncretism has a large impact on the cultural landscapes of both Tokyo and New York City shown in the images (claim).
  - Define syncretism….syncretism is the merging or blending together of different cultural traits and can result in a new hybrid cultural trait or complex. (Support with example from images).
  - Both images show models wearing similar fashion trends in advertisements which show a blending of US and Japanese styles and forming a new global fashion style.
  - Additionally, both images show large screen, images of popular or global culture such as McDonalds in Times Square and Forever 21 in Tokyo. Both stores will have a hybrid blend of American and Japanese trends and food items within their stores.

Required Skills For APHG Exam

Skill Category 1: Concepts and Processes
- Analyze geographic theories, approaches, concepts, processes, or models in theoretical and applied contexts.
Skill Category 2: Spatial Relationships
- Analyze geographic patterns, relationships, and outcomes in applied contexts.
Skill Category 3: Data Analysis
- Analyze and interpret quantitative geographic data represented in maps, tables, charts, graphs, satellite images, and infographics.
Skill Category 4: Source Analysis
- Analyze and interpret qualitative geographic information represented in maps, images (e.g., satellite, photographs, cartoons), and landscapes.
Skill Category 5: Scale Analysis
- Analyze geographic theories, approaches, concepts, processes and models across geographic scales to explain spatial relationships.

Course Skills

Skill Category 1: Concepts and Processes
- 1.A Describe geographic concepts, processes, models, and theories.
- 1.B Explain geographic concepts, processes, models, and theories.
- 1.C Compare geographic concepts, processes, models, and theories.
- 1.D Describe a relevant geographic concept, process, model, or theory in a specified context.
- 1.E Explain the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of different geographic models and theories in a specified context.
Skill Category 2: Spatial Relationships
- 2.A Describe spatial patterns, networks, and relationships.
- 2.B Explain spatial relationships in a specified context or region of the world, using geographic concepts, processes, models, or theories.
- 2.C Explain a likely outcome in a geographic scenario using geographic concepts, processes, models, or theories.
- 2.D Explain the significance of geographic similarities and differences among different locations and/or at different times.
- 2.E Explain the degree to which a geographic concept, process, model, or theory effectively explains geographic effects in different contexts and regions of the world.
Skill Category 3: Data Analysis
- 3.A Identify the different types of data presented in maps and in quantitative and geospatial data.
- 3.B Describe spatial patterns presented in maps and in quantitative and geospatial data.
- 3.C Explain patterns and trends in maps and in quantitative and geospatial data to draw conclusions.
- 3.D Compare patterns and trends in maps and in quantitative and geospatial data to draw conclusions.
- 3.E Explain what maps or data imply or illustrate about geographic principles, processes, and outcomes.
- 3.F Explain possible limitations of the data provided.
Skill Category 4: Source Analysis
- 4.A Identify the different types of information presented in visual sources.
- 4.B Describe the spatial patterns presented in visual sources.
- 4.C Explain patterns and trends in visual sources to draw conclusions.
- 4.D Compare patterns and trends in visual sources to draw conclusions.
- 4.E Explain how maps, images, and landscapes illustrate or relate to geographic principles, processes, and outcomes.
- 4.F Explain possible limitations of visual sources provided.
Skill Category 5: Scale Analysis
- 5.A Identify the scales of analysis presented by maps, quantitative and geospatial data, images, and landscapes.
- 5.B Explain spatial relationships across various geographic scales using geographic concepts, processes, models, or theories.
- 5.C Compare geographic characteristics and processes at various scales.
- 5.D Explain the degree to which a geographic concept, process, model, or theory effectively explains geographic effects across various geographic scales.

Academic Dishonesty

Do NOT even THINK about any type of academic dishonesty.
The College Board takes the integrity of the exam VERY SERIOUSLY.
Consequences from the College Board:
- Blocked from testing.
- AP scores will be canceled.
- Your high school will be notified.
- Colleges or other organizations to which the student has already sent any College Board scores (including SAT® scores) will be notified.
- May be prohibited from taking a future Advanced Placement® Exam as well as the SAT, SAT Subject Tests™, or CLEP® assessments.

How Should I Prepare?

Have a plan!
Big Ideas (Vocab)
Quizzing (Iscore 5, Albert, AP Classroom)
TEACH someone!
Use the resources your teachers post
Ask questions
Practice FRQs- Do them!!!!!
Seek to UNDERSTAND not just recognize

Final Thoughts

Stay positive and believe in yourself.