How to Approach AP® Human Geography Free Response Questions (FRQs)

In this article, we’ll discuss everything about the AP® Human Geography free-response questions (FRQs), including the exam format, example questions, and a few tips on how to achieve top scores.
Map of world with neon connection lines demonstrating the interconnectedness of the world.

Format of AP Human Geography FRQ section

A frequently asked question is, "How many FRQs are on the AP Human Geography exam?" On the AP Human Geography exam, there are three FRQs: question 1 has no stimuli, question 2 has one stimulus, and question 3 has two stimuli. The stimuli can be a set of data, maps, and/or images. You have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete all three questions, which is 25 minutes per question, though you may spend more or less time on each.

Each essay is graded on a scale of 0 to 7. The FRQ section accounts for 50% of the exam score, with each question weighted equally.

Visual of digital & print APHUG study guides showing streamlined study materials designed for fast success.
Visual of digital & print APHUG study guides showing streamlined study materials designed for fast success.

How to Answer AP Human Geography Free Response Questions

Here are some general tips for approaching the AP Human Geography free-response questions:

  1. Before you get started, look over all the questions and begin with the one that seems easiest.

    Starting with the easiest question can boost your confidence that you will pass this exam. Look for a topic you have covered in class and feel confident discussing it. This will also help bring other theories to mind, which will help with subsequent questions.

  2. Address all parts of the question (A-G).

    Read each part of the question and make sure you are responding directly to it. For example, if the task verb used in the question is “describe,” you only need to provide the relevant information. However, if the task verb is “explain,” you must provide the relevant information and explain why it is relevant to the question.

  3. Use evidence from the stimuli to support your response.

    To score well on the FRQs, refer to the stimulus material in questions two and three (there is no stimulus material for question one). Focus on specific data and details that support what you are saying. Be sure to explain how the evidence supports your idea.

  4. Don’t worry about making spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes.

    The graders understand that you are writing under time constraints and that your response is more like a rough draft. If you make a mistake or change your mind, simply draw a line through it and continue.

Boost your chances of a high score with our AP HUG prep course, offering a study guide with comprehensive coverage of concepts and a QBank with hundreds of practice questions to ensure you're fully prepared for exam day.

How can I practice AP Human Geography free-response questions?

The best way to prepare for the AP Human Geography FRQs is to use previously released questions from the College Board®’s exams.

Here are some AP Human geo FRQ examples from past exams to illustrate the questions you will see on the exam. These questions come directly from the College Board Course Description Guide and are an excellent resource to practice with.

Women’s working conditions in formal and informal economies vary throughout the world.

  1. Define the concept of the informal economy.
  2. Describe ONE way that cultural attitudes or social norms may act as a barrier to women obtaining employment in the formal economy.
  3. Describe ONE limitation of using the gross national income (GNI) per capita to analyze women’s contributions to economic productivity in less developed countries.
  4. Explain ONE relationship between women’s economic empowerment and a decrease in the rate of natural increase in a more developed country.
  5. Explain the likely outcome on rural to urban migration as women gain greater access to education.
  6. Explain ONE likely obstacle for highly educated women who are employed in the formal economy.
  7. Explain the degree to which granting microloans to individual women in less developed countries may be an effective strategy for economic development.

Let’s look at these sample questions to see how you should approach them.

Part A is a straightforward definition. You should give the definition of “informal economy” in your own words. You might write that an informal economy exists alongside the typical productive sector of a country but it is not regulated by the government and is therefore difficult to measure, and is also not included in official measurements of economic activity, such as GNI per capita.

Note that there is no need to provide any examples, although you may include them if you are struggling to make your thoughts clear.

Part G requires you to argue for or against a certain position. You need to state whether microloans to women are a useful way to create economic development or not. To justify your position, you need to explain what makes the statement valid by providing evidence for (or against) the use of microloans to promote economic development.

Note that you shouldn’t argue both sides of the issue.

Source: College Board

The availability of food in the context of a growing world population is influenced by many social, environmental, and economic factors.

  1. Define the concept of carrying capacity.
  2. Describe ONE way that humans have altered the environmental sustainability of agricultural lands.
  3. Explain how transportation technology has increased economies of scale in the agricultural sector of less developed countries.
  4. Explain a likely negative economic outcome of Green Revolution agricultural practices on rural communities.
  5. Explain ONE weakness of Malthusian theory in predicting the relationship between food production and population growth in contemporary society.
  6. Explain how surplus food production has changed the global market for local agricultural products.
  7. Explain the degree to which Green Revolution agricultural practices were effective in reducing hunger in less developed countries. (Response must indicate the degree [low, moderate, high] and provide an explanation.)

Source: College Board

The interaction of people contributes to the spread of cultural practices that change over time and vary between places. Interactions among cultures can lead to new forms of cultural expression.

  1. Describe ONE type of diffusion by which culture traits spread.
  2. Describe the process of creolization of language.
  3. Describe how the globalization of foods has influenced cultural patterns of food consumption.
  4. Explain ONE way that agricultural land use practices may have negative environmental effects.
  5. Explain how a new style of music may be created as a result of cultural diffusion from different regions.
  6. Explain how toponyms may result from the diffusion of religion across the cultural landscape.
  7. Explain the degree to which the use of indigenous languages has been influenced by colonialism. (Response must indicate the degree [low, moderate, high] and provide an explanation.)

Source: College Board

AP Human Geography is hard. We make it easy.
Practice tough concepts and see them click.
Unlock Your Success!
Visual of AP HUG question bank displaying exam-level questions & comprehensive explanations on laptop, tablet, & mobile phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

The AP Human Geography exam includes three FRQs: one with no stimuli, one with one stimulus, and one with two stimuli.
The FRQs are graded by high school AP Human Geography teachers and college professors who teach college freshman-level geography courses. The College Board provides rubrics that tell graders what to look for in successful essays. Essays are graded primarily on the quality of their ideas rather than their grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
Students have one hour and fifteen minutes to complete the FRQ section of the exam. They may use the time in whatever manner they choose.
You can find released questions from past exams on the AP Central website.

References

  1. AP Human Geography: About the Course. (2024). apcentral.collegeboard.org. Retrieved December 12, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-human-geography/exam
  2. AP Human Geography Course and Exam Description. (Fall 2020). apcentral.collegeboard.org. Retrieved December 12, 2024, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-human-geography-course-and-exam-description.pdf
Get A’s and 5’s in AP Human Geography!
Our interactive AP HUG prep course focuses on the key concepts you must master.
Start Your Prep!
Visual of the AP Human Geography prep course product suite showing streamlined study materials designed for fast success.

Read More About AP Human Geography

How To Approach AP Human Geography MCQs

AP Human Geography multiple-choice questions come in a variety of forms, so familiarize yourself with all of them. To learn how to master each type of question, click on our hands-on guide.

How to Study for AP Human Geography

Getting a perfect score on the AP HUG exam is possible with the right strategies. Our comprehensive guide and extensive study materials list will help you ace the AP Human Geography exam!

AP Human Geography Exam Format

An easy-to-read explanation of the AP Human Geo exam format is what you need. Learn more about what to expect on the AP HUG Exam with our guide to the test's format & question types.

How to Self-Study for AP Human Geo

Want to ace AP Human Geo on your own? Follow this expert self-study guide with tips, tricks, and tools to prepare effectively for the exam.

Best AP Human Geo Study Guide Comparison

Compare the best AP Human Geo study guides! See how Kaplan, Barron's, and Princeton Review stack up against UWorld for comprehensive exam prep.

Best AP Human Geo Prep Course Review

Searching for top AP Human Geo prep courses? Read this review to compare the best courses and choose the perfect one for your success.

Quick Links
View More...
Scroll to Top