The AP® Human Geography exam is undeniably one of the most challenging AP® tests offered. Its volume of information alone could make for a difficult test, but all of this material coupled with the notoriously difficult AP® Human Geography FRQ questions must account for why only 10.8% of students scored a 5 and only 18.2% scored a 4 on the 2019 exam.
However, despite the difficulty surrounding the AP® Human Geography exam, you can score a 5 with the right amount of hard work, preparation, study routines, and AP® Human Geography tips. Formulating a good study routine consisting of AP® Human Geography practice tests and AP® Human Geography study guides is the best way to solve the tough question of how to prepare for the exam.
Below, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of AP® Human Geography tips, prep, and notes which will help you score a 5 on the exam and point you in the right direction to developing a solid study routine!
What We Review
How To Study for AP® Human Geography: 9 Tips for 4s and 5s
1. Unpack the structure of the exam to devise a test-taking strategy
Before you even start studying for the AP® Human Geography exam, it’s helpful to know how the exam is structured so you can prepare a study routine around its organization. There are two sections on the exam, each counting for half of your score. Here is a table outlining the structure of the AP® HUG exam:
| Section | Time | # of Questions |
| Section I (Multiple-Choice) | 60 minutes | 60 |
| Section II (Free-Response) | 75 minutes | 3 |
Knowing the structure of the exam will help focus your studying and noting the time limits you have on each section will help you know what to expect. For example, since you must answer 60 MCQs in 60 minutes, you have, on average, one minute per question. Since you have 75 minutes for 3 FRQ’s, you have, on average, 25 minutes per essay. Use these numbers to time yourself during practice exams and FRQ practice.
| Section | Time | Average Time Per Question |
| Section I (Multiple-Choice) | 60 minutes | 1 minute |
| Section II (Free-Response) | 75 minutes | 25 minutes |
2. Work a supplementary review book like Barron’s into your study routine
Taking comprehensive notes in class and reading your class’s assigned textbook is helpful, but an outside review book like Barron’s can give you a more holistic look at what the AP® Human Geography exam covers. These books, unlike, say, your class, will give you further insight into the exam by providing multiple-choice questions, strategic breakdowns, and FRQ samples.
Use these AP® Human Geography review books as a way to boost the knowledge you receive in class, and work them into your daily study routine. For instance, when you’re reviewing coursework from class, carve out at least 30 minutes to take 15-20 multiple choice questions from Barron’s or to work out a practice essay. This will develop your test-taking skills and allow you to see how the AP® Human Geography exam works.
3. Make flashcards of key terms using Quizlet
First and foremost, don’t go out and buy pre-written flashcards. The act of writing them out yourself actually helps you to retain the information you’ll need to ace the exam. While you can write out physical flashcards, we recommend using online cards through Quizlet. The site not only allows you to make your own flashcards, but also offers different interfaces and study methods like true and false, multiple-choice, and more.
Carve out at least 15-30 minutes per day to work through flashcards on a certain unit or vocabulary bank. Quizlet also allows you to star or highlight terms you struggle with so use that feature to organize words you need help with. Here’s a great list of APHG vocabulary terms you should know. Aim to make flashcards on all of these words.
4. Create a study journal detailing various types of geographical regions
Since the AP® Human Geography exam tests, well, your understanding of geography, you will need to have developed a strong understanding of the many geographical features and regions populating the course. When your class covers a new type of region like a formal, functional, or perceptual region, mark it and define it in a separate journal. Use this journal throughout the year to review and study because knowing the basic types of geographical regions is key to scoring high on the exam, and particularly, scoring high on the FRQ section. You should be able to locate and identify each region and then be able to expand on its relationship with other concepts. Check out our crash course on Types of Geographical Regions to get started!
5. Join or form an AP® Human Geography study group
Sometimes studying alone can become tedious. You can start to lose focus, get distracted, and just can sometimes have a hard time motivating yourself to even start studying. That’s why study groups are beneficial. Ask some of your AP® Human Geography classmates if they want to meet once or twice a week to go over the materials. If you’d prefer to meet virtually you can use Zoom or Google Hangouts, too. Conqr is an online platform specifically designed for group study, so it is also a good resource.
Once you have found a group, create a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. Select a location to meet, and stick to the schedule. Prior to meeting, create a checklist of terms, concepts, regions, etc. to cover or use Conqr to do so. Be sure you stick to the list. Deviating from it can lead to unproductive study sessions and time-wasting.
6. Follow AP® Human Geography social media accounts
Whether you use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or all four, there are teachers and students who run social media accounts dedicated to AP® Human Geography. By following or liking these accounts, you will be incorporating APHG facts, study resources, videos, and graphics into your everyday life.
So get out there and start following some accounts! Try following @APHumanGeog on Twitter, this AP® Human Geography board on Pinterest, and Thornton Academy’s AP® Human Geography Facebook page. After you follow these accounts, create a page on your notes app of certain terms, phrases, ideas, or regions discussed by these pages that you think will benefit your learning. Maintaining this study routine will help build your AP® Human Geography foundation.
7. Engage with AP® Human Geography-related media
If you’re a visual learner, sometimes it can be hard to focus or understand concepts when you’re reading a textbook. It can be nice to change up your study technique and get your nose out from behind your review books.
Look up YouTube videos about certain topics in Human Geography. Use keywords like “crash course” or “review” when searching for videos. Mr. Sinn offers a handful of good review videos, and so does Advanced Placement itself. When watching, keep a set of notes out, and jot down certain explanations or topics that stick out to you. You could even keep a Google Doc running on one side of the screen and the video playing on the other.
Additionally, we recommend that you read or watch the news on a regular basis. Since global politics is such an important part of AP® Human Geography, watching the news or reading the newspaper regularly is a habit you should form in the buildup to the exam. It’s important to get your news from several different sources, so watch channels such as CNN, PBS, FOX news, MSNBC, read online publications such as the New York Times, and listen to NPR’s “The World” regularly. Keep a journal of current events that strike a chord with you.
Moreover, you could also listen to AP® Human Geography podcasts and keep a daily journal of what you hear. A quick Google search comes up with a wide variety of free AP® Human Geography podcasts, which cover certain topics. Listen to them while you’re at the gym, before bed, on your bus ride to school, or whenever you have extra time. These may be a nice way to keep AP® Human Geography always on your mind.
8. Create a review guide of geographic models and theories
Many past FRQs and multiple-choice questions have been about specific geographic models and theories. You will not only need to know the definitions of these but also how they interact, apply to real-life situations, and their overall significance. Some basic models you’ll need to know include the demographic transition model, the gravity model, Rostow’s Stages of Growth, Concentric Circles, and the Hoyt Sector Model. When you come across terms like this, create a separate journal detailing them, or plug them into a separate set of Quizlet flashcards and study them individually because they are essentially the backbone of AP® Human Geography.
9. Manage your stress using meditation apps like Headspace or Calm
It can be very easy to become stressed out when preparing for the exam, which is why positive affirmations, confidence, and trusting in your abilities are important when studying. The best way to achieve a positive mentality in the thick of AP® Human Geography is to clear your head using meditation apps like Headspace or Calm. After studying give yourself 15-30 minutes to detox and meditate. It will clear your head, and take away the stress that blocks you from memorizing or understanding concepts clearly. Overall, it will benefit your academic progress greatly.
Start your AP® Human Geography test prep here
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AP® Human Geography Multiple-Choice Review: 11 Tips for a 4 or 5
1. Focus on specific themes
It’s helpful to know that the multiple-choice questions on the AP® Human Geography exam follow a pattern and are not just randomly selected. Based on previous exam, the breakdown goes like this:
Unit Percentage of Questions
- Thinking Geographically, 8-10%
- Population and Migration Patterns and Processes,12-17%
- Cultural Patterns and Processes, 12-17%
- Political Patterns and Processes, 12-17%
- Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes, 12-17%
- Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes,12-17%
- Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes, 12- 17%
Notice how much of the exam content is distributed fairly evenly across the board. Therefore, it is imperative that you develop a strong understanding of the course as a whole. When you study, pay certain attention to units that trouble you most and study those harder. But the exam is pretty equal in terms of which units it tests you over, so it is best you have a solid understanding of the course at large.
2. Mark up keywords and commands in the question
When you first look at a multiple-choice question, circle the commands (EXCEPT, NOT, ALL, BEST, etc.). Sometimes, questions can trip you up if you don’t read them correctly. By circling the commands, you’re making sure you don’t misinterpret the question or confuse yourself.
Similarly, underline keywords in the questions, such as words that relate to places, people, vocabulary words, etc. This will help keep you focused and maybe even help jog your memory. By picking apart the questions, you can get a better understanding of it and pin down exactly what it is asking.
3. Don’t skip any questions
On the APHG exam, there is no guess-penalty. This means that you don’t get docked for answering a question incorrectly. It goes without saying that even if you have no idea what the answer to a question is, just make an educated guess! The key here is an educated guess, which will give you a better chance of getting the correct answer than if you just circled an answer willy-nilly.
One way to perfect you educated guessing skills is to use the process of elimination when working through the questions. If you come upon one or two that are clearly incorrect, draw a line or X through them. Then, with some of the obviously-incorrect answers out of the way, you can make a better guess.
4. Form a plan to take practice tests
Taking practice exams is an extremely beneficial way to determine your strengths and weaknesses in the AP® Human Geography exam. You could go about this a few ways. One, you could try and carve out at least one day per month to give yourself time to take a practice exam. Set a reminder on your phone calendar equipped with an alert to remind you too. One test per month will help establish a solid test-taking foundation and adequately prepare you for the big one.
Or, you could take only certain components of the exam either weekly or bi-weekly. On, say, Sunday you could take the multiple-choice component and then record and evaluate your results. On the following Sunday you could take the FRQ section of the exam, evaluate your writing, and continue alternating between MCQ and FRQ every week or every other week. Taking AP® Human Geography tests is an effective way to build a foundation in the course.
5. Don’t spend too much time on any one question
Think about it this way: if you manage to answer all 75 multiple-choice questions, within the time-limit, and get most of them right, you can end up with the same score as if you answered only 60 questions and got all of them right. Using this logic, make sure you’re not spending too long on any one question.
Your goal is to answer every single question, which can be difficult in the 60-minute time limit. Don’t get stuck choosing between two options. Rule out answers, look at your remaining options, and take an educated guess. The goal here is to be efficient, without sacrificing accuracy.
To hone this strategy, keep a timer near you when taking a practice test and set it for one minute per question. After each minute beeps, move on to the next question. This will train you to start approaching the exam with pacing in mind.
6. Know the types of multiple-choice questions
It’s important that you familiarize yourself with the types of questions on the AP® Human Geography exam. There are several types of multiple-choice questions you will encounter, which are detailed in the following table:
| Type of Question | Example from Albert’s HUG Review Course |
| Definitional | Which of the following would be helpful to a geographer trying to determine the number of farmers in an area? |
| Cause and Effect | In many American cities, public transportation and emergency services will need to be improved over the next 25 years due to which demographic trend? |
| Sequencing | Romance languages evolved most directly out of which of the following languages? |
| Generalization | Which of the following regions has the lowest agricultural density? |
| Solution | A country like China has a large population of men and women between the ages of 15 and 64. Which of the following is an economic benefit for a population pyramid of this shape? |
| Hypothetical Situations | To evaluate the impact that people have on the Florida Panthers, a human geographer would most likely ____? |
| Comparing/Contrasting | China has a population of over a billion, Monaco has a population just over 37,000. Why does Monaco have a higher crude population density? |
| Multiple Correct Answers | Which conclusion BEST illustrates the impact of both human and physical factors on population distributions? |
| Graph/Chart/Map | According to the chart above, which country has very high psychological density and more moderate or low arithmetic density? |
Understanding the different types of questions will help you approach the test with a more critical eye, and it will make the multiple-choice section much more manageable. The more you break up and categorize the AP® World Geography multiple-choice questions, the easier the exam will be.
7. Know how to interpret graphs, maps, charts, and illustrations
More than likely, there will be at least one multiple-choice question on the APHG exam that deals with a graphic of some sort. Questions with graphics can sometimes seem overwhelming since you have to look at both the visual element and the question and relate them. As long as you practice answering these types of questions, know how to interpret graphs and maps, and have a good understanding of the concept in question, you should do well on these types of questions.
Take a look at our example:
Based on the map above, which of the following statements is not accurate?
- There are higher percentages by country of Native Americans in the West than in the Midwest.
- There are more Indian reservations in the West than in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Native Americans are present in each of the 50 states.
- The lowest percentages of Native Americans by country are found in the Southwest.
- Alaska has the higher percentages of Native Americans by country than the Northeast.
8. Take good notes using a tried and true note-taking system
Reading textbooks and review books is not enough to actually learn the material. On the multiple-choice section, you absolutely have to know your stuff. Because of this, you need to actively, not passively, learn the material. As you’re reading your text or review book, take meaningful notes.
Try using a tried and true note-taking method like Cornell notes.See an example of these below.
By using this system, you can develop a clear organizational method which will then allow you to take the best notes you possibly can. When taking notes, think about the overall significance of the piece of information you’re recording. Think about the context, action, purpose, and effect behind the information in the note. Avoid simply scribbling down information for the sake of doing so. Keep your notes in a large binder, sorted by theme. You’ll be thankful you did it when it comes time to review in the weeks before the exam.
9. Teach concepts to your friends or family members
When you come across a particularly tough concept while learning the material, jot the theme/concept/vocab word down. Find a way to dumb it down so that a friend (who is not taking the course), or a family member, can understand it. By doing this, you can pinpoint which parts of the concept you’re not understanding and find ways to explain them. You could even make a Jeopardy game of the terms and teach your friends and family members material through Jeopardy. By teaching others, you’re making the information stick and learning a lot about your strengths and weaknesses.
10. Write your own multiple-choice questions
This can be a helpful trick to give you a better understanding of certain key terms and concepts. Pick an area that you’re struggling with, or need to know more about, and create questions based on vocabulary words within that area.
Have your friends or classmates write questions, too, so that you can take each other’s tests. The act of writing out questions helps the information stick and the more practice tests you take (even if they’re written by a classmate!) can only help. By reversing the roles of student and test-maker, you can put yourself in the shoes of those who build the tests and begin to think like them.
However, don’t write wishy-washy or too simple of questions. Avoid questions that merely gloss over topics and key phrases, and don’t write questions that are too wordy, too complicated, or unanswerable. We recommend that you mimic the AP® Human Geography questions that you see on practice tests.
11. Use the information provided by the questions to your advantage
Sometimes the AP® Human Geography multiple-choice questions can actually sort of answer themselves. By this we mean that some questions can actually be used to answer others. Say MCQ #20 asks a question which describes the nature of relocation diffusion, and then MCQ #42 asks you to define relocation diffusion. Use the information in #20 to your advantage when answering #43. These moments of overlap do occur on the exam, and they should be taken advantage of. Read the questions with a critical eye and remember when they give free information.
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AP® Human Geography Free Response: 11 Tips
1. Work through previous free-response essay questions
Practice makes perfect. The single most important FRQ tip for the AP® Human Geography exam is to practice, practice, practice. The College Board website has valuable resources to help you do just that. There, you will find past free-response essay questions, scoring guidelines, and sample responses. Then, start practicing.
Set a timer to 25 minutes per FRQ and begin practicing. After you finish, go back and reread your writing. Take note of your strengths and your weaknesses. Then, compare your essay to the sample responses and look through the scoring guidelines. Measure your essay against the rubric. Have your teacher or classmate objectively grade your practice essays for you. It’s okay to start practicing without a time limit at first, but make sure you’re writing essays under time limits, too.
2. Reread the question several times and mark it up
One of the biggest mistakes students made on the 2019 exam involved misreading the question and, therefore, providing incorrect or wishy-washy answers that ultimately missed the mark.
For example, on a question involving urbanization and pollution, many student responses discussed the link between increased urbanization and increased pollution in too general of terms, and without referring to edge cities. Better responses noted how edge cities lead to more sprawling, less compact urban areas where there once was farmland or wilderness. These errors of generalization can be avoided by spending more time with the prompt!
So, do not start writing immediately! Too often, students jump right into writing, without really understanding what the prompt is asking you. You need to carefully read and reread the question to make sure you know what’s being asked. Spend a good 5 minutes planning out each essay, always referring back to the question to make sure you’re staying on topic.
Additionally, while reading the prompt, mark it up with your pen. Underline, circle, or highlight key verbs like “analyze,” “explain,” “demonstrate,” and so on. This will help you break the prompt down into something much more manageable, and it will let you tackle the essay with more clarity. The first step to acing the FRQ is firmly understanding the prompt.
3. Locate the verb in the question
To piggyback off of the previous tip: locating the verbs in FRQ questions can really help you understand which action you should take when forming your response. The following verbs and their explanations are common on AP® Human Geography FRQs
- Analyze: Using at least 2 sentences, find the relationship between two events or concepts. Explain this relationship and come to a conclusion using solid evidence, details, and specifics.
- Assess/Evaluate: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of something using specific examples.
- Identify/Define: Using examples, craft a simple list (in narrative form) of factors or characteristics, or give well thought out definitions.
- Explain: Using specific details, discuss the logical connections or cause and effects of concepts, themes, or events.
- Discuss: Taking both points of view, debate about something using details. Use at least 3 sentences in your response.
As you can see, no matter what the question asks you to do, always use specific details and supporting evidence.
4. Create a common list of geographic themes you can incorporate into your FRQ
Before even taking the AP® Human Geography exam, you should have a solid understanding of at least the five basic themes of human geography: location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region. You should be able to use these themes as starting points to make complex, multi-faceted arguments, so we recommend you keep a list of them in a journal or review book as you take the course.
Now, back to exam day: once you’ve read and reread the question and have a full understanding of the prompt, start to consider what geographic themes you can use in your response. You must remember that the exam is a Human Geography exam, which means you have to use geographic themes in your response, and they will make your essay much more academic, professional.
We’ll help you get started with the five basics:
| Theme | Definition |
| Location | Location can be absolute or relative. Absolute location provides a definite reference to locate a place. The reference can be latitude and longitude, a street address, or even the Township and Range system. Relative location describes a place with respect to its environment and its connection to other places. |
| Place | Place describes the human and physical characteristics of a location. Physical characteristics include a description such as the mountains, rivers, beaches, topography, and animal and plant life of a place. Human characteristics include the human-designed cultural features of a place, from land use and architecture to forms of livelihood and religion to food and folk ways to transportation and communication networks. |
| Human-Environment Interaction | This theme considers how humans adapt to and modify the environment. Humans shape the landscape through their interaction with the land; this has both positive and negative effects on the environment. |
| Movement | Humans move, a lot! In addition, ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication all travel distances. This theme studies movement and migration across the planet. |
| Region | Region divides the world into manageable units for geographic study. Regions have some sort of characteristic that unifies the area. Regions can be formal, functional, or vernacular. Formal regions are those that are designated by official boundaries, such as cities, states, counties, and countries. For the most part, they are clearly indicated and publicly known. Functional regions are defined by their connections. For example, the circulation area for a major city area is the functional region of that paper. Vernacular regions are perceived regions, such as “The South,” “The Midwest,” or the “Middle East;” they have no formal boundaries but are understood in our mental maps of the world. |
5. Answer the question and nothing more
As tempting as it is to write everything you know about a given topic, this can hurt more than help. For the 2019 exam, students made the mistake of writing responses that referenced generic arguments and examples.
One way to only answer the question and nothing more. If a question asks for two examples, do not give three in your response. The AP® Human Geography FRQ is not about adding flowery language and opinions (do not include “I think” or “in my opinion” in your response). You need to be succinct, while still making sure you’re answering the question fully. Do not merely dump all the information you know out onto the page; strategically organize your thoughts into a cohesive argument.
6. Remember that AP® Human Geography FRQs are NOT 5-paragraph essays
It can be sort of confusing to refer to FRQs as essays. In reality, AP® Human Geography FRQs are more like short-responses—sort of. While you don’t need to write a huge, AP® English-type essay with a thesis, body, and conclusion, you still must offer a solid, thick response of at least 3-4 paragraphs.
This also does not mean that you don’t have to be analytical. Quite the opposite, really. With less room for discussion, you must make all of your points as detailed, specific, and effective as possible. One way to achieve this is by using specific, concrete examples and evidence in your argument to support your point. Avoid generalizations.
7. Approach the FRQs with AP-AP® in mind
AP-AP® is an acronym which can be used as a guiding principle to unpack the FRQ. It stands for this:
- A – Analyze the prompt
- P – Plan your essay
- A – Attack the essay
- P – Proofread
First, analyze the prompt by marking it up, underlining key phrases, words, and action verbs. Then plan out your essay using an outline, brainstorming web, or essay map. After you plan, attack the essay—write it out. Then, finally, when you’ve finished your draft, read through it again and proofread. This step-by-step method, AP-AP, is a tried and tested approach to the FRQ.
8. Review previous AP® Human Geography FRQ responses
In addition to taking practice tests, one way to develop your writing skills is to read other students’ FRQ essays. College Board offers a collection of samples from previous years that prove super useful to review. They’re organized by strong scores, average scores, and low scores, so you will be able to see writing from all different levels. This will show you clear examples of what to do and what not to do. Additionally, College Board offers commentary from the readers which details strengths, weaknesses, possible improvements, and more. Reading others’ responses is a great way to develop your own writing skills.
9. Make it easy for the reader to follow your thoughts by following a logical method of sentence sequencing
Remember that AP® readers have to go through large volumes of FRQ responses. Make it easy for them to follow your answer by following a logical sequencing method. After you write your topic sentence, stop, and reread. Then, ask yourself what comes next?
If your topic sentence makes an assertion about how rapid industrialization in New England has led to a crisis in maintaining public infrastructures, then follow your claim with the logical next step. This would likely be an elaboration of your claim, some evidence to back it up, or further clarification of your argument. Whatever it is, follow your topic sentence with a logical next-step.
Moreover, be sure to label and number each part of your response in the margins of your answer booklet. Underline key terms and words you are defining. When using maps or charts in your response, use corresponding labels in your answer. Keep things organized. It’s also extremely important to keep your handwriting neat and legible. If the AP® reader cannot read your response, you won’t get the points, regardless of whether or not your answer is correct.
If you really want, you can skip lines when writing your FRQ to break things up and keep you sequenced. This gives you space if you need to go back and add additional information.
10. Practice pacing
Since you’re given a large block of 75 minutes to complete 3 essays, it is imperative that you manage your time effectively. When you work through sample FRQ’s set a timer while you write. We recommend that you give yourself 5 minutes to prewrite and 20 minutes to write each essay. This model of time will squarely fit within the 75 minute time limit, and practicing within these constraints will adequately prepare you for the exam.
On test day, make sure you bring a watch to monitor your time. Do not be tempted to spend more time on any one exam. It may be helpful to write the essays you’re most comfortable with first because you might be able to write those faster, leaving more time for essays that are more difficult. Whatever you do, don’t get caught up on one specific essay, squander your time, and neglect one of the essays. That’s a sure sign of a low score.
11. Use SPEED to organize your analysis
SPEED is an acronym integral to AP® Human Geography that can be used to organize your thoughts, ideas, and arguments. Here it is spelled out;
- S – Social
- P – Political
- E – Environmental
- E – Economy/Economical
- D – Development
The various progresses and processes of human geography can be largely lumped into one of these main categories. Use SPEED to break up your reading, organize your arguments, and make AP® Human Geography more manageable.
Start your AP® Human Geography test prep here
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Study Tips by AP® Human Geography Teachers
Overall AP® Human Geography Tips
1. Participate in class discussions
By speaking up during class discussions and listening to what your classmates and teacher have to say, you are opening yourself up to higher level thinking and can integrate yourself with the material on a richer and more meaningful level. AP® Human Geography offers all kinds of nice ways to speak up, share your opinion, hear what others have to say, and critically engage with big questions. Thanks to Mr. Z. at Windermere Preparatory School for the tip!
2. Read daily and go above and beyond when completing coursework
Read and reread all of your reading assignments, using both your textbook and a review book. Additionally, develop a daily reading schedule of material from sophisticated publications like The New York Times, The Economist, The New Yorker, etc. A daily reading schedule will keep your sharp and help you hone your reading.
Venture out into current books about culture, economics, and politics. Examples of interesting books to read during the APHG course are:
- Confucius Lives Next Door by T.R. Reid
- Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
- Collapse by Jared Diamond
- The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas L. Friedman
- The City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre
- The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz
- Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream by Andres Duany, et al.
- Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt
Thanks to Ms. Whitney W. from Lafayette High School for the tip and reading list!
3. Keep a yearlong media journal
Each week, find a current event news story that relates to human geography. In your journal, summarize the news story (who, what, when, where, why, how, etc.). Then, ask yourself, “How does this connect to Human Geography?” Try to explain this by using appropriate vocabulary words. Next, think about your opinion on the story. Try to make a personal connection to the story, beyond just “I liked it.” Overall, media journals give you a better insight into what is going on in the world and can give you a wealth of examples to use in your APHG essay responses. Thanks to Mrs. M. from Kellam High School for the tip!
4. After a test or quiz, write out the questions you missed with the correct answers
If you miss questions on a test or quiz, grab a sheet of notebook paper and write out the questions, the correct answer, and why it’s correct. It may seem like overkill but, really, developing this pattern will help fully engage with the mistakes you make, and, thus, lead to correct answers. Also, this can help you understand why you got the question wrong and make sure you don’t get it wrong again. Thanks to Ms. W. from South Effingham High School for the tip!
5. Write out definitions in your own words
If you can’t put something in your own words, you essentially don’t know what it means. When you come across difficult words in your reading, try and define them in your own words before simply copying the definition down from the glossary. Glossaries are, of course, helpful but they give you definitions without context or examples. This is not helpful for learning or understanding the word. Instead, use the text to learn the meaning of vocabulary words. Thanks to Ms. Leslie G. at Vandergrift High School for the tip!
6. The main event, of course, is to know the vocab
By this I don’t mean just memorizing terms, but using and relating those terms to the world. For each chapter, keep a journal of vocabulary words, the bolded words, big concepts, etc. so when it comes time for you to take the exam, you’ll have a solid foundation. Also, a less obvious tip would be to listen to NPR (Public Radio) in particular a show called “The World”. And a show that I continue to watch and learn from is Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN on Sunday’s mornings. Thanks for the tip from Pam H.
AP® Human Geography FRQ Tips
1. Focus on content in your FRQ responses
AP® readers do not deduct points for spelling or grammar errors that do not detract from the meaning of the writing. Feel free to cross things out if necessary. The overall attractiveness of your essays is not as important as what you’re saying. Focus on content, not proper grammar and spelling. Integrate appropriate geographic terms whenever possible! But also: don’t blow off grammar or spelling or punctuation, of course! Just don’t spend ten minutes wondering if you’ve put a comma in the correct spot. Thanks to Sara D. at Stillwater Junior High School for the tip!
2. Answer the FRQ question in the same format that it’s written
For the FRQ, make sure you are answering the question in the format that the prompt lays out for you. For example, if the question has three parts labeled A, B, and C, write your response in the same format. If the question asks you to analyze something, then analyze it. If it asks you to assess something, then assess it, so on and so forth. Carefully read the prompt and do what it asks! Thanks to Mr. Robert C. from Pearland High School for the tip!
3. Be sure to outline your FRQs using graphic organizers
By doing this, you will ensure that you at least answer every part of the FRQ.
For example:
From the 2018 FRQ. A. Explain TWO ways that gentrification may positively impact neighborhoods. B. Explain TWO ways that gentrification may negatively impact neighborhoods.
- The outline should be a T chart with A on one side and B on the other.
From the 2018 FRQ. Identify TWO specific means by which new expressions in popular culture are diffused globally.
- Students should also do a T chart with an example of expression on one side and a description of how it is diffused on the other.
Lastly, from the 2018 exam. For each of the following THREE categories, describe ONE obstacle that may prevent women working in agriculture from achieving greater equality and empowerment.
- Economic
- Cultural
- Political
For this, students should create a four squared ESPN (economic, social, political, environmental) chart and jot down some economic, social, and political consequences and pick one from each category so they don’t overlap, therefore losing points for double-dipping.
Thanks for the tip from Justin H.
4. When in doubt on a written response, use the Demographic Transition Model
Since AP® Human Geography is so “human”-oriented, talking about the finer points of the DTM— population growth, distribution, diffusion—could help you achieve a higher score. Be sure to work analysis of these into your essay. Thanks for the tip from Jonathan S. from Somerset College Preparatory School.
Are you a teacher? Do you have an awesome tip? Let us know!
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Wrapping Things Up: The Ultimate List of AP® Human Geography Tips
The AP® Human Geography exam is not a walk in the park. The test’s abundance of AP® Human Geography regions, themes, concepts, and vocabulary words make for a grueling, difficult test-taking experience. There’s a reason so few students score a 5.
Try and approach your preparation for the AP® Human Geography exam in three ways:
Overall:
Develop a regular, scheduled study routine filled with a good review book, flashcards, study groups, and monthly or bi-weekly practice exams. The key to acing this text, and really any test, is preparation.
AP® Human Geography Multiple-Choice:
Know the specific types of questions asked on the MCQ section, and refer to our table above which lists and defines these types during your preparation. The key to answering the AP® Human Geography MCQs is understanding the various types of questions you will encounter.
AP® Human Geography Free Response:
Remember AP-AP® as a general rule of thumb in tackling the AP® Human Geography FRQ. This is a simple way to stay organized and focused on the FRQ.
Keep this review close, and use it as a guiding principle. Also, check out our entire unit on AP® Human Geography where we offer practice on free response, critical reading, MCQs, and more! You’ve got this!
Start your AP® Human Geography test prep here
