AP Human Geography Exam: Your Ultimate Guide 2024

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Looking for all the answers to your AP Human Geography exam questions? Dive into our ultimate AP Human Geography guide for the upcoming 2024 exam. We’ll cover all the basics of the exam, and provide ten practical study tips that will set you up for success.

What is AP Human Geography?

The AP Human Geography exam offers a comprehensive assessment of students' understanding of how humans have interacted with the Earth's surface. It requires the ability to think critically with spatial processes and utilize the tools of geographers to analyze patterns of human population, migration, and land use.

When is the AP Human Geography exam in 2024?

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 7th, 2024—the date of the AP Human Geography exam. This crucial assessment spans a total duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes, testing your knowledge and analytical skills in human geography.

How much is the AP Human Geography exam?

For students within the mainland United States and its territories, Canada, or a U.S. Department of Defense Dependents School, the exam fee is $96. However, outside these areas, the fee is $126. Don't forget about the financial aid program, offering a $36 fee reduction for eligible candidates. Be sure to apply by April 30th to take advantage of this opportunity. For more information, check out the details here.

When should you take AP Human Geography?

The AP Human Geography exam is one of the few AP exams that do not have prerequisite course requirements. This means that the exam does not build upon prior foundational skills as much as other AP courses. As such, many students choose to take the AP Human Geography exam during 9th or 10th grade. Not only is it a great introduction to the world of AP exams, but it also helps students develop skills in time management and structured testing methods required to successfully pass other AP courses.

Is AP Human Geography worth it?

Absolutely! Beyond honing test-taking skills, mastering AP Human Geography content provides valuable insights applicable across various disciplines, including economics, history, anthropology, and politics. Moreover, many colleges accept AP Human Geography credits, offering students a head start in their academic journey. Students armed with the knowledge taught in this course have a stronger ability to provide high level analysis on contemporary problems.

Do colleges accept AP Human Geography?

Additionally, several colleges accept AP Human Geography towards college credit, saving students time and money as they continue their education. Find out if a college you are interested in provides AP Human Geography credit here.

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AP Human Geography Exam Structure

The exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long, and consists of two parts: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section.

How many questions are on the AP Human Geography exam?

The multiple-choice section comprises 60 questions to be answered within 60 minutes, while the free-response section features three questions to be completed in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Within the free response section, there are three types of questions. One no stimuli question, one singular stimuli question, and one two stimulus question.

AP Human Geography Topics

The topics are split into 7 units, which are generally evenly distributed across the questions in the exam. Here is a brief description of each unit:

Thinking Geographically: This unit introduces the fundamental tools and methods geographers use, with a particular focus on spatial analysis at different scales.
Population and Migration Patterns and Processes: Various aspects of population and migration are covered in this unit, including population density, population growth and decline, and the causes and effects of migration.
Cultural Patterns and Processes: Language, religion, and other cultural practices are studied in this unit.
Political Patterns and Processes: This unit focuses on understanding the political organization of the world, including types of political entities and forms of government.
Agricultural and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes: This unit ranges from the origin of agriculture to the challenges facing farmers today.
Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes: Similarly, this unit ranges from the origin of urbanization to the factors shaping urban design today.
Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes: Finally, this unit covers the origin of industrialization and the role it plays in shaping economic development.

Read the full breakdown of each topic on the College Board’s website here.

What should I bring to the AP Human Geography exam?

All you need to bring is a pencil with an eraser, and perhaps a spare pencil, just in case. A watch that does not have access to the internet is also handy. While not absolutely necessary, we always recommend that students bring a drink and snack. You can’t bring food and drinks into the exam room, but you can fuel up in the 10 minute break between sections.

AP Human Geography Scoring

The AP Human Geography exam has straightforward scoring with no point deductions for incorrect answers. It is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 (like all AP tests), with 5 being the highest score you can get. On the free response, each question is worth 7 points total.

How hard is the AP Human Geography exam?

With approximately 47% of students scoring a 2 or lower in 2022, the AP Human Geography exam is considered relatively challenging compared to other AP exams.

How to pass the AP Human Geography exam

The AP Human Geography exam has a pass rate of 59%, which means scoring a 3 or higher. As compared to other AP exams, the average AP exam has a pass rate of 71%. This makes the AP Human Geography exam appear to be more difficult than average, and in order to make sure you pass, be sure to follow the tips below.

What is the average score on the AP Human Geography exam?

The average score for the 2023 AP Human Geography exam was a 2.75, with a total of 247,043 students taking the exam.

What percentage is a 5 on the AP Human Geography exam?

Typically, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. Around 15% of students scored a 5 in 2022.

What happens if you fail the AP Human Geography exam?

If you fail the exam, don’t fret! You can always retake the exam the following year. Failing the exam does not have significant consequences beyond the inability to acquire college credit. The AP Exam does not impact your high school GPA, and unless you choose to send the score to colleges, it will not impact your college admissions.

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10 Tips on How to Study for AP Human Geography

Connect topics through discussion: Engage in discussions with classmates, study groups, or a tutor to deepen your understanding of how different concepts in AP Human Geography relate to each other. Sharing perspectives and insights can help solidify your knowledge.
Master Free Response Questions (FRQs): Familiarize yourself with the format of FRQs and ensure your responses are straightforward and directly address the prompts. Reviewing scoring guidelines can help you understand what examiners are looking for.
Review key regions: Understand the economic, political, and cultural climates of different regions worldwide over time. Being able to identify regions on a map and their key countries is essential for contextualizing geographic concepts.
Master key terms and concepts: Use flashcards to memorize key terms and concepts of the course. Understanding and being able to recall these terms will be crucial during the exam.
Connect concepts to contemporary scenarios: Practice connecting geographic concepts to real-world situations and contemporary events. This can help you apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios effectively.
Stay updated on current events: Stay informed about basic current events facts, as many questions may relate to contemporary scenarios. Ivy Tutors can provide valuable resources to help you stay up-to-date.
Understand geographic models: Familiarize yourself with different geographic models and their applications. Questions may ask about various models or comment on data sets, so understanding these concepts is essential.
Improve visual interpretation skills: Practice reading and interpreting maps, tables, charts, graphs, infographics, images, and landscapes. Visual stimuli questions are increasingly common, so honing these skills is vital.
Take official practice exams: Utilize practice exams available on the AP Central website from the College Board. These resources provide valuable insight into the exam format, types of questions, and areas to focus on during your study sessions. Additionally, you can find free response examples up to 2023 and purchase practice tests to further enhance your preparation.
Utilize resources like Ivy Tutors Network: Preparing for one of the most challenging AP Exams while managing other commitments can be daunting. A robust study plan, consistent use of practice materials, and simulation through mock exams are crucial. Leverage the specialized support offered by Ivy Tutors, which equips AP Human Geography students with extensive study materials, practice tests, and personalized expert guidance. Instead of spending time finding materials and tracking you're progress, a tutor can streamline your study process with custom feedback and curated resources. This tailored approach with a tutor will simplify your test preparation process so that you can focus on building the knowledge required to succeed.