AP Human Geography

INTRODUCTION

This course introduces students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their research and applications.

The AP Human Geography course is equivalent to an introductory college-level course in human geography.

COURSE PATHWAY

There are no pre-requisites for taking this course. This class is an elective credit, meaning you do not have to take it to graduate high school. This course is available to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, meaning it can be quite a diverse class in terms of grade level.

COURSE BREAKDOWN

AP Human Geography Units.pdf

Above, you can access a more in-depth overview of the AP Human Geo units.

AP Human Geography consists of 7 different units:

Thinking Geographically
Population and Migration Patterns & Processes
Cultural Patterns & Processes
Political Patterns & Processes
Agriculture and Rural Land-Use & Processes
Cities and Urban Land-Use & Processes
Industrial and Economic Development Patterns & Processes

There are 3 Big Ideas that are taught in this course:

Patterns and Spatial Organizations
Impacts and Interactions
Spatial Process and Societal Change

Each unit is weighed almost equally on the AP Exam, for the exception of Unit 1. This means that each unit is equally important to study when preparing for the AP Exam.

EXAM OVERVIEW

SECTION I - MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS [50% OF EXAM]

There are 60 multiple choice questions in the first section of the exam. You will have a total of 60 minutes to complete this section of the exam, meaning you will have an average of 1 minute per question.

You will be tested on your ability to analyze concepts, processes, spatial relationships, data, scale, and visuals.

SECTION II - FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS [50% OF EXAM]

In this section, you will be given three FRQ (free-response question) questions in which you will have to write a response to answer each part. Each FRQ is weighed equally.

FRQ 1: No Stimuli
FRQ 2: One Stimuli
FRQ 3: Two Stimuli

You will have a total of 75 minutes to complete this section of the exam.

REVIEW MATERIALS

Below, you can access review videos from the amazing Mr. Sinn for AP Human Geography!