AP Human Geography (APHUG) is usually one of the first AP classes that freshmen can take in high school. It can be extremely difficult to figure out without much experience in difficult classes but sets you up for great success in future AP classes. In this blog, We will be discussing brief unit aspects of the class, FRQ’s, MCQ’s, AP score breakdown, skills you’ll learn, and tips.
Units
As described by the College Board…
Unit 1: Thinking Geographically
Some aspects include:
Unit 2: Population and Migration Patterns and Processes
Some aspects include:
Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes
Some aspects include:
Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes
Some aspects include:
Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes
Some aspects include:
Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land
Some aspects included:
Unit 7: Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes
Some aspects include:
FRQ’S
FRQ’s stand for Free Response Questions. On the AP Exam, there will be 7 parts to each question, with 3 questions in total. 21 parts. This may sound threatening and unrealistic but with practice, you will realize that it is completely doable. To preface, the point of an FRQ is to show that you can have the same thought process as a geographer.
These parts to the question often require one, two, or three sentences each depending on the task verb. There are three different types of task verbs in AP Human Geography.
You must restate the question and answer. If there is a stimulus attached to identify, make sure to reference it.
You must utilize a definition and provide characteristics. Often has two to three sentences.
Ex: In the image, it is evident…
You must use CER. Claim, evidence, and reasoning. For reasoning, you use evidence.
See the AP score breakdown below for details.
MCQ’S
MCQ’s stand for multiple choice questions. The best method to getting as many multiple choice questions done in an accurate manner is only spending a maximum minute on a question. Some may be more difficult than others so you could also spend additional time on a question but be warned that it means less time for another question. See the AP score breakdown below for details.
AP Score Breakdown
Section 1: Multiple Choice
Multiple choice percentage of score:
Section 2: Free response
Skills you will learn
As AP Human Geography is an introductory AP course, you can expect to learn a couple of distinct skills that will help you in future AP classes and even later in life no matter what your career is!
Maps are commonly found throughout the course’s content so you will be familiar with the skill of reading maps on many different levels. This includes from city state to global levels.
In AP Human, you will learn how to analyze charts, graphs, pictures, infographics, and other aspects. This includes stimuli from all units like seeing cultures in a picture and making distinctions between those cultures.
You will likely practice timed trials for FRQ’s and MCQ’s that you'll have to do within strict time constraints on the test. You'll learn to watch the clock and get your work done as efficiently as possible in the limited amount of time.
AP Human Tips
This is the first AP class I took as a freshman. Here is what I would advise to an AP human kid!
Even if you do not have vocabulary tests, vocab is extremely useful during the AP exam. Even if you don't understand the question, by just knowing one definition you can have a context clue and it will help you figure out an answer. Not all teachers provide the vocabulary but there are many sets on the quizlet for you to study periodically.
This tip is specific to FRQ’s. Designate 10 to 15 minutes to male a brief plan for all your Free response questions. This will help you outline your ideas and know what parts you can answer with one hundred percent confidence and get your ideas down on paper before you forget.
2 resources for review videos I recommend are the ones on the official College Board website and Mr. Sinn on youtube. Each has their advantages.
The College Board videos are well structured and go over all concepts that you will likely learn in class. They are great to binge watch at the end of a unit before the unit test and even the AP exam. They have visual aspects tied in, definitions, and even practices that are similar to what you will see on the AP exam
Mr. Sinn’s videos on Youtube are extremely fast paced! If you prefer to get information at a faster pace, his videos would be for you. They are also structured well and he has review videos for cumulative unit tests and a very long video for the entire AP exam.
Some people dropped this class in the first week, second, or even halfway through the course. Even though it's tempting as you will undoubtedly struggle, the end result is so very worth it. AP Human will push you past your beliefs and teach you so much that you can’t get out of an honors or regular class.
Try your best to persevere and good luck! :)
PS: AP Human memes are hilarious. Definitely take a look at them sometime.
Works Cited
“AP Human Geography – AP Students | College Board.” Apstudents.collegeboard.org, apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-human-geography. Accessed 17 Mar. 2023.
