AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY EXAM TIPS AND HINTS

Exam Basics
● Multiple Choice - 60 Questions - 1 hour - 50% of overall grade
● Free Response Questions - 3 Questions - 1 hr 15 min - 50% of overall grade

Pre-plan your responses

● Do not just start writing, take a minute to organize your thoughts
● Carefully analyze the question! Answer the question that is being asked, you don’t want to make the
mistake and answer the wrong question
● Make note of any key points you want to address before you even start writing

Integrate Evidence into your response

● If the free response question contains data, make sure you directly reference specifics in your answer
● Incorporate in vocabulary terms and themes from related units
● Mention concepts and be specific!

Elaborate on the Evidence

● Do not make your answers too short, make sure you answer in complete sentences.
● Discuss the evidence and highlight specific trends by referencing specific pieces of data.
● Talk about how the data helps answer the question, and discuss how corresponds to specific
geographic concepts

Practice
● Check out the resources available on the College Board©’s website for Human Geography especially
past exams
● Take sample Multiple Choice tests online and time yourself
● Use practice guides and Apps to improve your content knowledge and recall

Pay Attention to the task verbs.

(From the College Board © Website – https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-human-geography/exam-tips)
● Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.
● Define: Provide a specific meaning for a word or concept.
● Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.
● Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, or outcome
occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning.
● Identify: Indicate or provide information about a specified topic, without elaboration or explanation.

General Exam Advice

● Do not bullet point your answers, but answer them in such a way that your reader knows exactly which
question you are answering
● Don’t freak out, when you see a question just breath and start dissecting what it is asking. Start by
answering the questions or parts of questions you know and working from there.
● Get a full night of sleep before the exam, DON’T CRAM! You have been preparing for this for a year. A
good night and a healthy breakfast will do more good than cramming.

2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha

Vocabulary Needed to Know for the AP Human Geography Test

Unit I – Thinking Geographically

1. Absolute distance 15. Land use 30. Scale (local, national,

2. Absolute location 16. Map distortion (shape, regional, global)
3. Clustering area, elevation, direction) 31. Space
4. Direction 17. Map projections 32. Spatial Information
5. Dispersal 18. Natural resources Sources (Travel narratives,
6. Distance decay 19. Online mapping and Policy documents, Media
7. Elevation visualization reports, Field
8. Environmental 20. Pattern Observations, Landscape
determinism 21. Perceptual/vernacular analysis, Photographic
9. Environmental possibilism region interpretation, Personal
10. Flows 22. Place Interviews
11. Formal regions 23. Reference maps 33. Sustainability
12. Functional region 24. Regional boundaries 34. Thematic maps
13. Geographic information 25. Regions 35. Time-space compression
systems (GIS) 26. Relative distance
14. Geospatial and 27. Relative location
geographical data (ex. 28. Remote sensing
Census data, satellite 29. Satellite navigation
imagery) systems (including GPS)

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 Unit II – Population and Migration Patterns and Processes

1. Age Structure 16. Human factors 25. Population Distribution

2. Agricultural population influencing population 26. Population growth
density distribution (eg. Culture, (reasons for)
3. Anti-natalist Population economics, history, 27. Population pyramids
Policies politics) 28. Population-doubling time
4. Arithmetic population 17. Immigration Policies 29. Pro-natalist Population
density (promote or discourage Policies
5. Carrying Capacity population growth) 30. Pull Factors (Migration)
6. Changing gender roles 18. Life Expectancy 31. Push Factors (Migration)
7. Contraception 19. Malthusian Theory 32. Rate of Natural Increase
8. Crude Birth Rate (CBR) 20. Migration 33. Ravenstein’s laws of
9. Crude Death Rate (CDR) 21. Mortality Migration
10. Demographics 22. Physical Factors 34. Sex ratio
11. Dependency Ratio Influencing Population 35. Voluntary Migration
12. Education Rates Distribution (eg. climate, (transnational,
13. Employment Rates landforms, water bodies) transhumance, internal,
14. Fertility 23. Physiological population chain, step, guest worker,
15. Forced Migration density rural-to-urban)
(slavery/human 24. Population decline
trafficking, Refugees, (reasons for)
Internally displaced
persons, asylum seekers)

Unit III – Cultural Patterns and Processes

1. Acculturation 13. Cultural Relativism 27. Language Dialects

2. Assimilation 14. Cultural traits 28. Language Families
3. Centrifugal Forces 15. Culture 29. Media
4. Centripetal Forces 16. Ethnic Cultures 30. Multiculturalism
5. Colonialism 17. Ethnic Neighborhoods 31. Placemaking
6. Communication 18. Ethnic Religions 32. Regional Patterns
technologies (internet) 19. Ethnicity 33. Religion
7. Contagious Diffusion 20. Expansion Diffusion 34. Relocation Diffusion
8. Cultural Convergence 21. Gender Roles 35. Sense of Place
9. Cultural Divergence 22. Global cultural landscape 36. Stimulus expansion
10. Cultural expression (eg. 23. Hierarchical Diffusion Diffusion
Creolization, Lingua 24. Imperialism 37. Syncretism
Franca) 25. Indigenous Communities 38. Toponomy
11. Cultural Hearths 26. Language 39. Universalizing Religions
12. Cultural Landscape 40. World Religions

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Unit IV – Political Patterns and Processes

1. Antecedent boundaries 23. Geometric boundaries 44. Sovereignty

2. Autonomous region 24. Gerrymandering 45. State
3. Borders 25. Imperialism 46. Stateless nation
4. Boundaries 26. Independence 47. Subnational Political
5. Centralization movements Territorial Units
6. Centrifugal forces 27. International Agreement 48. Subsequent boundaries
7. Centripetal Forces 28. Irredentism 49. Superimposed
8. Choke points 29. Maritime Boundaries boundaries
9. Colonialism 30. Member States 50. Supranational
10. Consequent boundaries 31. Military Alliances Organizations (Eg. EU,
11. Cultural Cohesion 32. Multinational state UN, NATO, ASEAN, Arctic
12. De-Centralization 33. Multistate nations Council, African Union)
13. Demarcation 34. Nation 51. Supranationalism
14. Demilitarized Zone 35. Nation-State 52. Territorial Seas
15. Democratization 36. Nationalist Movement 53. Territoriality
16. Devolution 37. Neocolonialism 54. Terrorism
17. Economies of Scale 38. Redistricting 55. Trade Agreements
18. Ethnic Cleansing 39. Relic boundaries 56. Unitary States
19. Ethnonationalism 40. Self-determination 57. United Nations
20. Exclusive Economic Zone 41. Semiautonomous region Convention on the Law of
21. Failed State 42. Separatism the Sea (UNCLOS)
22. Federal States 43. Shatterbelts 58. Voting District

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Unit V – Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes

1. Adverse weather/natural 21. Fertilizers 40. Monoculture

disasters 22. First Agricultural Revolution 41. Nomadic Herding
2. Agricultural Hearths 23. Food deserts 42. Organic farming
3. Aquaculture 24. Food insecurity 43. Pastoral nomadism
4. Bid-rent theory 25. Genetically modified 44. Pesticides
5. Biodiversity organisms 45. Plantation agriculture
6. Biotechnology 26. Global supply chain 46. Pollution
7. Climate Zones 27. Green Revolution 47. Ranching
8. Columbian Exchange 28. Herbicides 48. Rural Settlement Patterns
9. Commercial Agriculture 29. High-yield seeds 49. Second Agricultural
10. Commodity chains 30. Infrastructure Revolution
11. Community-supported 31. Intensive Farming 50. Shifting cultivation
agriculture (CSA) 32. Irrigation 51. Slash-and-burn agriculture
12. Conservation efforts 33. Land cover change 52. Soil salinization
13. Deforestation 34. Local-food movements 53. Subsistence agriculture
14. Desertification 35. Market Gardening 54. Suburbanization
15. Dietary Shifts 36. Markets 55. Terraces
16. Draining wetlands 37. Mechanized farming 56. Third Agricultural Revolution
17. Export commodities 38. Mixed crop/livestock system 57. Transportation networks
18. Extensive farming 39. Monocropping 58. Urban farming
19. Fair trade 59. Value-added specialty crops
20. Fertile Crescent

Unit VI Cities and Urban Land-Use and Patterns

1.Bid-Rent Theory 14. Greenbelts 25.Smart-growth policies

2. Blockbusting 15. Mixed land use 26. Sprawl
3. Boomburbs 16. New Urbanism 27. Squatter Settlements
4. Brownfields 17. Primate City Rule 28. Suburbanization
5. Christaller’s Central Place 18. Public Transportation 29. Transportation-oriented
Theory 19. Rank Size Rule development
6. City Infrastructure 20. Redlining 30. Urban Hierarchy
7. City Segregation 21. Rural/Farming Protection 31. Urban Renewal
8. Disamenity zones Policies 32. Urbanization
9. Edge cities 22. Sanitation 33. Walkability
10. Exurbs 23. Site and Situation 34. Zones of abandonment
11. Food Deserts 24. Slow-growth cities 35. Zoning
12. Gentrification
13. Gravity City

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Unit VII Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes

1. Agglomeration 21. Gender Roles 42. Microloans

2. Break-of-Bulk Points 22. Global Financial Crisis 43. Multiplier Effects
3. Climate Change 23. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 44. Natural Resources
4. Colonialism 24. Gross National Income (GNI) 45. Neoliberal Policies
5. Commodity Dependence per capita 46. New International Division of
6. Complementary and 25. Gross National Product (GNP) Labor
Comparative Advantage 26. Growth Poles 47. Newly Industrialized Countries
7. Core, Periphery, and 27. Health care 48. Organization of Petroleum
Semi-Periphery 28. High Technology Industries Exporting Countries (OPEC)
8. Dependency Theory 29. Human Development Index 49. Outsourcing
9. Economic Interdependence (HDI) 50. Pollution
10. Economies of Scale 30. Imperialism 51. Post-Fordism
11. Ecotourism 31. Income distribution 52. Renewable energy
12. Equity 32. Industrial Revolutions 53. Sectors of the Economy
13. European Union (EU) 33. Industrialization (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary,
14. Export-processing zones 34. Infant mortality rates Quanterary, Quinary)
15. Fertility rates 35. International Monetary Fund 54. Service Sector
16. Formal and informal Economy (IMF) 55. Special economic zones
17. Fossil fuels 36. Microlending 56. Standard of Living
18. Free Trade Agreements 37. Just-In-Time Delivery 57. Sustainability
19. Free-trade zones 38. Least Cost Theory 58. UN Sustainable Development
20. Gender Inequality Index (GII) 39. Literacy rates Goals (SDGs)
40. Mass Consumption 59. World Trade Organization
41. Mercosur (WTO)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY MODELS AND THEORIES

“Need to Know” “Nice to Know”

Central Place Theory (VI) Borchert’s Epochs (VI)

Demographic Transition Model (II) Cultural Diffusion Models (III)
Epidemiological Transition Model (II) - Expansion-Contagious
Global City Models (VI) - Expansion-Hierarchical
- Africa - Expansion-Stimulus
- Latin America - Relocation
- Southeast Asia Heartland Theory (IV)
North American City Models (VI) Rimland Theory (IV)
- Concentric-Zone Model Ratzel’s Organic Theory (IV)
- Sector Model Migration Transition Model (II)
- Multiple-Nuclei Model Boserup’s Cornucopian Theory (V)
- Galactic City Model Domino Theory (IV)
Population Pyramid (II) Hardin’s First Law of Ecology (V)
Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration (II) Lee’s Migration Theory (II)
Rostow’s Stages of Economic Growth (VII) Tobler’s First Law of Geography (I)
Rural Settlement Patterns (V) Weber’s Least Cost Theory (VII)
- Clustered
- Dispersed
- Linear
- Metes and Bounds
- Township and Range
- Long Lot
Von Thunen Model of Agricultural Land Use (V)
Wallerstein’s World System Theory (VII)

UNITS AND APPROXIMATE WEIGHT

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Model Taxonomy
Unit Models/Theories
I. Thinking Geographically

II. Population and Migration Patterns

and Processes

III. Cultural Patterns and Processes

IV. Political Patterns and Processes

V. Agriculture and Rural Land-Use

Patterns and Processes

VI. Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and

Processes

VII. Industrial and Economic Development

Patterns and Processes

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 MAP PROJECTIONS

Representing our three-dimensional planet using a two-dimensional drawing requires that mapmakers either
lose some detail or distort some features. Thus, all flat maps are somewhat distorted in their representation of
shape, area, distance, or direction.

Conformal projections, such as the Mercator or Lambert projections, are used when relationships between
points based on angles are needed, such as in navigational charts. The Mercator projection (left) shows the
directions of places accurately near the equator, but distorts the size of continents, particularly near the poles.
The Lambert projection (right) is good for showing areas near the North or South pole, but distorts distance
and shape.

When directional relationships from a given central point (called an azimuth) are important, azimuthal
projections are typically used. These provide different perspectives. Below are several examples.

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Fuller’s projection accurately depicts the size and shape The Peters projection is an equal-area projection
of landmasses, but rearranges direction. centered on Africa in order to treat all regions
equally.

The Eckert IV projection is another equal-area map. It

shows size accurately, but distorts shape near the
poles. This is called shape distortion.

The Robinson projection attempts to balance projection

errors. It is not accurate in its display of area, shape,
distance, or direction, but minimizes errors in each.

Goode’s homolosine projection shows the size of

continents accurately for comparison, but distorts the
shape and size of oceans.

Thank you to Mr. Aaron McLaughlin, Benson Magnet Schools, Omaha Public Schools for compiling the information about projections

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 SELECTED MODELS
Demographic Transition Model (Thompson, Warren, 1929)

Examines the effect on Total Populations by Crude Birth Rates, Crude Death Rates, and the Rate of
Natural Increate and different stages of economic development.
(Image Source: https://populationeducation.org/what-demographic-transition-model/)

Epidemiological Transition Model (Omran, Abdel, 1971)

Examines the transition populations go through as they increase in development, as measured by the
main causes of sickness and death

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Population Pyramid

A graph showing population characteristics for a country or area. Typically divided between males and
females and age ranges as a percentage (or numerical value).
(Image Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ct.html)

Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration (Ravenstein, Ernst, 1885)

1. Every migration flow generates a return or counter-migration.

2. The majority of migrants move a short distance.
3. Migrants who move longer distances tend to choose major sources of economic activity.
4. Urban residents are often less migratory than inhabitants of rural areas.
5. Families are less likely to make international moves than young adults.
6. Most migrants are adults.
7. Large towns grow by migration rather than natural population growth.
8. More long-distance migrants are male.
9. More long-distance migrants are adult individuals rather than families with children.
(Source: Wikipedia)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Rural Settlement Patterns: Clustered/Nucleated, Dispersed, Linear, and Isolated

Different types of village setups in rural areas. Typically connected to economic or social norms.

Rural Settlement Patterns: Metes and Bounds

Method of surveying land to determine land ownership through the usage of landmarks and markers.
(Metes and Bounds survey method courtesy of the San Francisco Estuary Institute.)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Rural Settlement Patterns: Long Lot

Rural settlement pattern which grows out from a central linear feature (typically a road, river, or
railroad).
(Image Source: http://geo.msu.edu/extra/geogmich/long_lots.html)

Rural Settlement Patterns: Township and Range/Public Land Survey System (PLSS)

Method of subdividing land into townships, and then further subdividing them into sections, for
distribution to land owners.
(Image Source: https://web.gccaz.edu/~lynrw95071/Township%20Range%20Explanation.html)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Von Thunen Model of Land Use (Von Thunen, Johann, 1826)

Model examining relationship between agricultural practices with rent and transportation.
(Image Source: https://transportgeography.org/?page_id=4898)

Christaller’s Central Place Theory (1933)

Representing relationship between size of city and services provided

(Image Source Transportationgeography.org)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Burgess Concentric-Zone Model (1929)

Represents the growth of the city out from the Central Business District (CBD)
(Image Source Transportgeography.org)

Hoyt Sector Model of Urban Development (1939)

Changes in urban structure reflecting developments of transportation networks

(Image Source Coolgeography.co.uk)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Harris and Ullman Multiple-Nuclei Model (1945)

Development of suburbs and outlying business and industrial districts

(Image Source Wikipedia.com)

Harris’ Galactic city Model (1960s)

Post-War Suburbanization and decentralization of the Central Business District

(Image Source: https://urbanprojectization.com/2018/08/31/galactic-city-model/)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Ford Griffin Latin America City Model

Growth out from Central CBD/Market with modern zones of development and Squatter Settlements
(Image Source: https://open.lib.umn.edu/worldgeography/chapter/5-1-introducing-the-realm/)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 McGee Southeast Asia City Model

Modern Development from Port Area with newly industrialized center along periphery
(Image Source: https://line.17qq.com/articles/hhlkkklpv_p3.html)

de Blij’s Sub-Saharan Africa City Model

Multiple CBDs reflecting different era’s of colonization and development

(Image Source:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/de-Blijs-model-of-a-typical-sub-Saharan-African-city-based-on-Fou
berg-et-al-1977_fig8_283648245)

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Borchert’s Epochs

Development of transportation networks, based on the United States

Rostow’s Stages of Economic Development

Based on assumption that highest form of development is modern capitalist democracy

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha
 Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory

Based on assumption world economic structures are interdependent

Weber’s Least Cost Theory

Based on the assumption that businesses choose location based on minimizing transportation costs to
maximize profits

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2023 Human Geography Study Session – University of Nebraska-Omaha