AP Human Geography Exam Review

Exam Overview

• Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes
• Sections:
  • Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
    • 60 minutes
    • 75 questions
  • Section 2: Free Response Questions (FRQs)
    • 75 minutes
    • 3 questions
• Scoring:
  • 50% MCQs
  • 50% FRQs

Section 1: Multiple Choice Tips

• Answer every question; no penalties for wrong answers.
• Strategies:
  • Read questions carefully.
  • Eliminate incorrect answer choices.

Section 2: Free Response Questions

• Allocate 25 minutes per question.
• Write in complete sentences, not in bullet points.
• Follow the structure of the question parts (e.g., A, B, C).

Practice FRQ Example (2010)

• Part A: Demographic characteristics discussion using the demographic transition model.
• Part B: Positive economic impact of population structure.
• Part C: Negative economic impact of population structure.

Exam Scores Interpretation

• 5: Extremely Well Qualified (A in college)
• 4: Well Qualified (B in college)
• 3: Qualified (C in college)
• 2: Possibly Qualified (D)
• 1: No recommendation

Unit 1: Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives

• Themes: Location, Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Movement, Regions
  • Location: Absolute, Relative
  • Place: Toponyms, Site, Situation
  • Movement: Migration, Communication, Trade
  • Regions: Formal, Functional, Perceptual

Important Geographical Concepts

• Scale: Small scale (less detail), Large scale (more detail)
• Lines of Latitude: Equator, Tropics, Arctic/Antarctic Circles
• Lines of Longitude: Prime Meridian, International Dateline
• Time Zones: 15 degrees = 1 hour

Geographic Information System (GIS)

• Analyzes spatial data layers.

Space-Time Compression & Distance Decay

• Space-Time Compression: Reduced travel times due to transport improvements.
• Distance Decay: Diminishing contact with increasing distance.

Maps

• Types: Dot map, Cartogram, Cloropleth, Isoline, Proportional symbol, Flow line

Spatial Distribution Features

• Density, Concentration, Pattern
• Diffusion: Relocation and Expansion

Unit 2: Population

• Density Types: Arithmetic, Physiological, Agricultural
• Population Pyramids: 90% live north of the equator, concentrated in East/South/Southeast Asia, Western Europe
• Demographic Transition Model: Four stages, rapid growth in Stage 2

Theories of Population Growth

• Thomas Malthus: Population grows faster than food supply (Exponential vs. Linear Growth)

Migration

• Patterns: From Asia to Europe/North America, South America to North America
• Types: Interregional, Intraregional
• U.S. Patterns: Colonization, European emigration, Post-WWII immigration

Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes

• Schools of Thought: Environmental Determinism, Possibilism, Cultural Determinism
• Concepts of Culture: Acculturation, Assimilation, Transculturation
• Language & Religion: Major languages and religions, universalizing vs. ethnic religions

Unit 4: Political Organization of Space

• State Shapes: Compact, Prorupted, Elongated, Fragmented
• Theories: World's System, Dependency, Geopolitical
• Supranational Organizations: UN, NATO, EU, NAFTA, OPEC

Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land Use

• Agricultural Revolutions: 1st (Domestication), 2nd (Enclosure), 3rd (Industrialization)
• Von Thunen's Model: Agricultural land use based on distance to market
• Green Revolution: Hybrid seeds, higher yields

Unit 6: Industrialization and Economic Development

• Economic Activities: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary, Quinary
• Industrial Revolution: 1750s-1850s in England; coal, steel, textiles
• Human Development Index (HDI): Life expectancy, education, GDP

Unit 7: Cities and Urban Land Use

• Urban Models and Theories: Central Place, Rank Size Rule, Megacities
• Borchert’s Model: Urban evolution epochs
• Urban Structures: Concentric Zone, Sector Model, Multiple Nuclei, Urban Realms

These notes provide a structured overview of key topics and concepts for AP Human Geography exam review, helpful for focused study sessions.