AP Human Geography

Northern Secondary SchoolToronto, Ontario

Merilyn McKelvey

Geography and Civics

Writing and Reading

• Why write the AP Human Geography exam?

• Unit Review

• Exam Format

• Exam Reading

• Sample Questions

• Practice Exam

Quotes from Students

• “I’m ‘aceing’ my first-year Geography course. We’re using the same text that we used in your class last year. Thanks a lot!”

• “My university gave me a first-year credit because of my good standing on the AP exam. I now have more time to concentrate on my other courses.”

• “Even though my school doesn’t accept AP standings, I was much less nervous during my first university exam.”

AP Human Geography Outline

1.Nature and Perspectives2.Population3.Cultural Patterns and

Processes4.Political Organization of Space5.Agricultural and Rural Land

Use6. Industrialization and Economic

Development7.Cities and Urban Land Use

AP Human Geography Exam

• 2.25 hrs; multiple choice and free response

• 39,878 exams written in 2008• 112,500 exams in 2013

• Credit accepted at SFU, UBC, Victoria, Calgary, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Brandon, York, Carleton, Guelph, Toronto, Brock, Ottawa, Queen’s, McMaster, Waterloo, Western Ontario, Wilfred Laurier, Laurentian, McGill, Concordia, Bishop’s, St. Mary’s, Memorial

Canadian Exam Statistics

• AP in Canada

– 17,000 exams written in 2012

– 438 Human Geography exams in 2013

• AP in Ontario

– 137 Human Geography exams

• 2014 exam Tuesday noon, May 13

Pass Another Pile

• Follow the rubric!• Consistency

checks• Readers,

Table Leaders and Question Leaders

• Sample Responses• Suggestions for

Students

Suggestions for Students

• Read the question• Read the question again, looking for

– Stimulus material (graphs, maps, charts, diagrams)– Key words

• Follow question structure when answering– Blank line between sections

• Each question on a new page• Write legibly• Use key terms• Explain ideas and/or process

AP Exam

Multiple Choice

• 75 questions • 1 hour• Only one student out of

112,500 got 100%

3 Free-Response questions

• Marks for content• 1 hour and 15 minutes• No penalty for guessing

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-human-geography/exam-practice

http://www.mrsgoldsteinsclass.com/uploads/1/8/5/9/18597726/frqs_2000-2010.pdf

Multiple-Choice Question

1. As an academic discipline, geography is principally concerned with the

A. nature and meaning of place names.

B. impact of the environment on human understandings and activities.

C. evolving character and spatial organization of Earth’s surface.

D. absolute location of places, peoples, and processes on Earth’s surface.

E. construction of maps that depict places, peoples, and processes as accurately as possible.

Answer: C

Multiple-Choice Question

OPEC is an example of a(n)

a)Supranational organization

b)Commonwealth

c)Confederacy

d)International organization

e)National organization

Answer: d

Free-Response Question 2007

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap07_human_geo_q1.pdf

Von Thünen’s Agricultural Model

The drawings reflect agricultural activities in the hinterland of a large urban area.

a)Apply the underlying principles of von Thünen’s agricultural land-use model to predict the locations of the activities shown in X and Y relative to a large urban area.

X is located closer to the city and Y is located further from the city. 1 Point

Von Thünen’s Agricultural Model

http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/6/2/9.html

Von Thünen’s Agricultural Model

The drawings reflect agricultural activities in the hinterland of a large urban area.

b)Choose either activity X or activity Y and apply the underlying principles of von Thünen’s agricultural land-use model to explain the location of that activity.

Von Thünen’s Model

X represents intensive agriculture, higher-value land, perishable goods, accessibility to market, where the farmer can maximize profit

Y represents extensive agriculture, lower-value land, fewer perishable goods, less accessibility to market, where the farmer can maximize profit

1 point for identifying the concept

1 point for explanation

Von Thünen’s Agricultural Model

The drawings reflect agricultural activities in the hinterland of a large urban area.

c)Discuss two factors that explain why agricultural land-use patterns today differ from those developed by von Thünen’s model in 1826.

Von Thünen’s Agricultural Model

Changes to model since 1826:•Refrigeration and food preservation•Improved transportation•Regional, global markets•Corporate decision making•Government policies•Agricultural products used for purposes other than food•Forests no longer occupy a zone close to the market

4 points:

1 point for the identification of each of two factors

1 point for each of the two discussions

Free-Response Question

In many cities in the Midwest United States, abandoned and dilapidated warehouses and factories can be found throughout the Central Business District (CBD).

a)Describe the processes leading to the abandonment of these facilities. What are the likely current locations for the businesses previously occupying these spaces?

b)Discuss at least two negative ramifications of the deindustrialization process that led to these kinds of urban landscapes.

Free-Response Question

Describe the processes leading to the abandonment of these facilities.

1. Deindustrialization – moving to where labour and other costs are cheaper

2. Suburbanization

3. Globalization – improved transportation and communications technologies

2 points

Free-Response Question

What are the likely current locations for the businesses previously occupying these spaces?

EPZs – Export Processing Zones in Middle America and Southeast and East Asia where there is duty- and tariff-free production of manufactured goods

SEZs – Special Economic Zones in China

1 point

Free-Response Question

Discuss at least two negative ramifications of the deindustrialization process that led to these kinds of urban landscapes.•Unemployment•Loss of tax base•Brownfields•Racial segregation

•2 points for identification of negative ramifications•2 points for correct discussion of ramifications

Practice Exam

• Available online and in workbooks

AP Scores

Your score is a weighted combination of your scores on the multiple-choice section and on the free-response section. The final score is reported on a 5-point scale as follows:

5 = extremely well qualified4 = well qualified3 = qualified2 = possibly qualified1 = no recommendation

Reading AP Human Geography

• June 2001– 17 readers

• June 2009– 200 readers in

Lincoln, Nebraska

1. Nature and Perspectives

Dorling Cartograms of 2008 Summer Olympics http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/20080804_MEDALCOUNT_MAP.html

Dorling Cartograms of 2008 Summer Olympics http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/20080804_MEDALCOUNT_MAP.html

1896 GamesAthens

1912 GamesStockholm

http://2010games.nytimes.com/medals/map.html

Dorling Cartograms of 2010 Winter Olympics

Dorling Cartograms of Obesity in the United States1995 - 2008

http://hci.stanford.edu/jheer/files/zoo/ex/maps/cartogram.htmlColour shows % of population who are obese by stateSize of circle shows absolute number of obese people by stateAnimated.

Enjoy the World!