Are You Ready for AP Human Geography?
“Colorful Watercolor World Map”. Source: Irina Sztukowski, 2017.
How is the AP Human Geography test formatted?
The Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography test format will update starting with the 2020 exam. In Section 1, students need to answer 60 multiple choice questions (MCQs) in the first hour. The MCQ section takes up 50% of the test score. In Section 2, there are free response questions (FRQs), with three (3) questions in paragraph format. The FRQ section takes up the other 50% of the test score. Students need to write the FRQs in 75 minutes. Due to the difficulty level of the AP Human Geography exam, starting training at least six (6) months in advance is recommended. Besides learning the subject material, good writing skills are required for the FRQs. Therefore, getting training from someone who can provide rigorous feedback on written responses is beneficial for the test-taker!
Section 1: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Multiple choice questions (MCQs) basically check if students know the material well. Students need to pick one answer out of five (5) answer choices. The questions test basic concepts, definitions and specific cases. The latter one is relatively harder, since rather than just remembering concepts, students need to fully understand and apply them with the data provided on the test. For the MCQs, I recommend answering all in order and just marking in the test booklet which questions the student should go back and check if there is time. Remembering names, dates, concepts and locations can be torturous. Since the cases being tested in the exam are unexpected, learning a wide range of locations, including land layout and topography, is necessary.
Section 2: Free Response Questions (FRQs)
In the free response question (FRQ) section, I recommend students to write paragraphs based on the geographical information and human geography concepts. Responses are written to introduce definitions, provide examples and analyze content. If not asked about a specific geographical area, examples should be about places all around the world to show well-rounded geographical ideas. Except for the content itself, proper grammar is required for a good FRQ response. Managing time for the FRQ section is also significant, since 75 minutes are barely enough for well-organized paragraphs. Each of the three (3) main questions can branch off into multiple smaller questions. Thus, the FRQ section is considered the harder part of the AP Human Geography test.
AP Human Geography Exam Description. Source: College Board, 2020.
My Favorite Topic: Migration
Migration is a human geography topic that interests me. The topic covers the migration patterns of people all around the world and the reasoning for their movements. In order to prepare for this topic, I need to know about the main migration routes of people around the world. In FRQ questions, rather than just providing information related to the topic, I still need to explain why people move in a certain way instead of another. Therefore, other than memorizing the material, I need to fully understand the concepts and be able to apply them in my responses.
Final Thoughts
AP Human Geography is harder and takes more effort than the subject seems. In order to get a satisfying score on the exam, test takers need to learn the subject material and know how to apply the information with strong examples and analysis. I would recommend this subject to students who love humanities, geography and are willing to work hard for their scores.
