AP Human Geography Course and Exam Description

Overview

• Effective Fall 2020
• Includes course framework, instructional section, sample exam questions
• Periodically updated; check AP Central for the latest version

College Board Mission

• Founded in 1900 to expand access to higher education
• Connects students to college success through programs like SAT and AP
• Advocates for equitable access and opportunity in education

AP Equity and Access Policy

• Encourages equitable access to AP courses for all academically prepared students
• Aims to eliminate barriers for underrepresented students
• Advocates for challenging coursework prior to AP classes

Course Framework

Structure

• Organized into units, each focusing on specific geographic themes
• Units include Thinking Geographically, Cultural Patterns, Political Patterns, etc.
• Emphasizes skills and conceptual understandings

Skills

• Concepts and Processes
• Spatial Relationships
• Data Analysis
• Source Analysis
• Scale Analysis

Big Ideas

1. Patterns and Spatial Organization
2. Impacts and Interactions
3. Spatial Processes and Societal Change

Unit Breakdown

• Unit 1: Thinking Geographically
• Unit 2: Population and Migration Patterns
• Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes
• Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes
• Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns
• Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns
• Unit 7: Industrial and Economic Development Patterns

Instructional Approaches

• Use diverse materials: maps, data, texts, visual sources
• Encourage critical thinking and spatial analysis
• Develop student skills through structured activities
• Provide formative assessments and feedback

Exam Information

• 50% multiple-choice, 50% free-response
• Covers all units with a focus on skills and big ideas
• Free-response questions assess ability to apply geographic concepts in real-world scenarios

Scoring and Assessment

• Exam scores reflect student achievement and readiness
• AP scoring involves college faculty and experienced AP teachers
• Scores are criterion-referenced; no grading curve

Resources and Support

• AP Classroom provides tools for progress tracking and assessment
• Digital activation connects students with AP resources and exam registration

Course Goals

• Enhance geographic literacy
• Foster engagement with global issues
• Promote understanding of diverse cultural perspectives
• Encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills using geographic tools

Conclusion

• AP Human Geography prepares students for college-level coursework
• Encourages a deeper understanding of the world through the lens of geography
• Aims to develop informed global citizens