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AP Human Geography Study Guide

Welcome to Elevate AP Exams! This study guide is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of the concepts and key content areas in Human Geography. The focus of APHG is on understanding the spatial relationships and patterns in human activities, as well as the interactions between people, places, and environments.

Overview of AP Human Geography Exam

The AP Human Geography exam consists of two main sections:

  1. Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions (50% of Exam Score)
    • 60 questions testing your knowledge of key concepts, terms, and spatial patterns. The questions will cover the material from the 7 units of the AP Human Geography curriculum.
  2. Section II: Free-Response Questions (50% of Exam Score)
    • 3 questions: One required Document-Based Question (DBQ) and two long essay questions (LEQs). These require analysis of geographic data and concepts, and the ability to write essays that demonstrate critical thinking and historical/geographic reasoning.

Key Topics and Concepts

1. Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives

  • Geography as a Field of Study: Understand the definition and scope of geography as the study of places, spaces, and human-environment interactions. Be familiar with both physical geography (climate, landforms, ecosystems) and human geography (population, migration, urbanization).
  • Types of Maps: Study different types of maps (e.g., physical, political, thematic) and how they are used in spatial analysis. Focus on map scales, projections, and the importance of latitude and longitude.
  • Geographic Models: Be familiar with important models used to explain geographic patterns, such as Von Thünen’s Model of Agricultural Land Use, Demographic Transition Model (DTM), and Malthusian Theory.

2. Population and Migration

  • Population Distribution: Study the global patterns of population density and concentration, understanding why some areas are heavily populated and others are sparsely populated. Focus on the relationship between population and physical geography.
  • Population Growth and Decline: Study factors that influence population growth and decline, including fertility rates, mortality rates, and migration. Understand the Demographic Transition Model (DTM) and the Epidemiologic Transition Model (ETM).
  • Migration Patterns: Focus on the different types of migration (e.g., voluntary, forced, internal, international). Understand the causes of migration, such as push and pull factors, and study the impacts of migration on both sending and receiving countries.

3. Cultural Patterns and Processes

  • Cultural Landscapes: Learn how human activity transforms the natural environment into cultural landscapes. Focus on the importance of language, religion, ethnicity, and place in shaping cultural landscapes.
  • Language: Study language families, branches, and groups, and how language diffusion has occurred historically (e.g., Indo-European language family, lingua franca).
  • Religion: Understand the major world religions (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) and their geographic distributions. Learn about religious landscapes, sacred places, and the role of religion in cultural and political conflicts.
  • Ethnicity and Identity: Explore the relationship between ethnicity, race, and identity, and how these concepts influence human geography. Study topics like ethnic enclaves, genocide, and multiculturalism.

4. Political Organization of Space

  • State vs. Nation vs. Nation-State: Understand the distinctions between these concepts and be familiar with examples of each (e.g., Japan as a nation-state, Somalia as a failed state).
  • Territoriality: Learn about territorial boundaries, disputes, and the ways in which states control and regulate space. Study concepts like sovereignty, exclusive economic zones (EEZ), and border conflicts.
  • Geopolitics and Political Theories: Study key geopolitical theories such as Heartland Theory and Rimland Theory. Understand the role of international organizations (e.g., United Nations (UN), European Union (EU)) in global politics and economic cooperation.
  • Supranational Organizations: Be familiar with the role of supranational organizations in political geography. Learn how organizations like the UN, EU, and NATO influence global governance and territorial conflicts.

5. Agriculture and Rural Land Use

  • Agricultural Revolutions: Study the history of agricultural developments, including the First Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic Revolution), the Second Agricultural Revolution, and the Green Revolution.
  • Types of Agriculture: Learn about the various agricultural systems (e.g., subsistence farming, commercial agriculture, pastoralism, shifting cultivation), and how these systems vary across regions.
  • Agricultural Models: Study important models of agricultural land use, such as Von Thünen's Model of agricultural land use and how distance from markets affects land use patterns.
  • Food Security and Sustainability: Understand the challenges of feeding a growing global population, including issues like food security, the environmental impacts of agriculture, and sustainable agricultural practices.

6. Cities and Urban Land Use

  • Urbanization: Study the causes and consequences of urbanization, including migration to cities, the rise of megacities, and the growth of urban sprawl.
  • Urban Models: Learn about different models of urban structure, such as the Concentric Zone Model, Sector Model, and Multiple Nuclei Model. Focus on the factors that influence urban form and structure.
  • Global Cities: Be familiar with the concept of global cities (e.g., New York, London, Tokyo) and understand their roles as centers of finance, culture, and power.
  • Urban Issues: Understand the challenges cities face, such as housing shortages, gentrification, urban decay, poverty, and environmental sustainability.

7. Industrialization and Economic Development

  • Economic Development Models: Study models of economic development, such as Rostow’s Stages of Growth, World-Systems Theory by Immanuel Wallerstein, and Dependency Theory.
  • Industry and Manufacturing: Learn about industrial location theories (e.g., Weber’s Least Cost Theory, Losch’s Model of Profit Maximization) and how industrialization affects economic landscapes.
  • Globalization: Understand the concept of globalization, how it leads to economic interconnectedness, and its effects on trade, culture, and development.
  • Development Indicators: Be familiar with measures of development, such as GDP, HDI (Human Development Index), Gini Coefficient, and literacy rates, and how these indicators help assess economic development.

Study and Test-Taking Strategies

  1. Review Key Terms and Definitions:
    • Make flashcards or study guides for key vocabulary and definitions. Understanding terms like agglomeration, diffusion, cultural landscapes, and urbanization will help you answer both MCQs and FRQs.
  2. Practice MCQs:
    • Practice multiple-choice questions to familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions you may encounter. Use review books, online resources, or past exams to test your knowledge.
  3. Analyze FRQ Prompts:
    • Practice writing essays that address FRQs. Focus on making clear arguments, providing relevant examples, and using geographic reasoning to explain your points.
  4. Use Case Studies and Examples:
    • Refer to specific case studies when writing your essays. For example, you could use examples of specific cities, countries, or regions to illustrate concepts like urbanization, economic development, or cultural diffusion.
  5. Mind Maps and Diagrams:
    • Create mind maps or diagrams to visually represent relationships between key concepts. This will help you understand how various topics are connected.

Final Exam Checklist

  • Know key geographic models and theories (e.g., Von Thünen, Rostow, World-Systems Theory)
  • Master the causes and consequences of population growth, migration, and urbanization
  • Be familiar with the geographical and cultural factors that shape human landscapes
  • Practice writing essays that demonstrate geographic reasoning
  • Study geographic terms and practice using them in context