Transcript Slide 1

AP Test Preparation – Some Hints!
The AP Exam!
- 2 hours 15 minutes long – 2 Parts (Sections)- equally
marked 75 minutes each.
Part 1 – Multiple Choice – 75 questions – 1 hour – spend
less than 1 minute on each.
- Negatively marked, so don’t guess! Wrong – ¼ mark off,
blank – 0 mark off
- No true or false
- 5 choices – Your tests had 4
- base some questions on a graphic (photo, map, graph,
chart or diagram)
- Which of the following statements is true regarding…
- All of these are true but one….
Part 2 Free Response Questions (FRQ) – sometimes
called Constructed Response Questions (CRQ) – 1 hour
and 15 minutes long – 3 Questions.
- Rare that they center in on one unit. Usually they want
you to interrelate between two units. Sometimes analyze
and evaluate geographical concepts
- Sometimes a graphic will accompany the question
- There is no choice, but a question may have choice
inside it.
- No mark break down is given
- You will see all three questions right away
- Some answers are common knowledge
- Do the easy ones first. If you cannot answer the whole
question answer the parts you know
The free-response section usually includes:
One question that tests a specific concept in
geography and its application to real-world
situations – EG. Define models or theories and
relate them to each other or to the real world
One question that tests your ability to pull
together and synthesize material from across the
course – EG. A map and you relate the map to
Urban patterns, Development patterns and
Migration patterns
One question that tests your depth of knowledge of a
topic and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate
your ability to apply and analyze geographic
concepts across geographic contexts – EG. A
question on Migration and how it relates to
movement in the U.S. and its regions (in and out
migration). Using theories and rules about
migrations to answer the question.
• This
is important – The AP readers do not want:
• a thesis
• an introduction
• a conclusion
• do not give an opinion – each question has a right or
wrong answer
• Don’t waste your time with these!
• The structure is given to you – usually there is an A, B
and maybe C part. Answer the parts in order and clearly
mark the part.
• You are looking to score points by answering the key
concepts, themes or terms – the markers use a rubric
Further examples of CRQ questions:
1. Definition and Illustration
Define the meaning of
a. A nation
b. A State
c. A nation-state
Illustrate your understanding of the above with actual
examples.
2. Geographic Model
Explain Rostow’s model on Economic Development.
3. Topic in Depth
What was the Green Revolution and how did it
help both the rich and the poor farmer?
4. Case Study
Describe China’s one Child Policy. Was it a
success?
5. Synthesis (bringing two units together)
How did population growth effect food production
in the Less Developed world?
Example 1 (CRQ)
Lee proposed a model of migration,
based on push and pull factors,
which describes conditions in
regions involved in migration.
Ravenstein postulated a series of
“laws” which he believed described
the immigrants themselves.
The photograph here shows a potential Mexican immigrant at the US border.
1. How does the situation seen in the photograph illustrate Lee’s model of
migration in terms of
a. the source region
b. the destination region
c. any intervening obstacles
2. To what degree does the Mexican man illustrate Ravenstein’s “laws” of
migration?
Example 2 (CRQ)
A. Identify and explain ONE way that tourism has diminished regional landscape
distinctiveness.
B. Identify and explain ONE way that tourism has enhanced regional landscape
distinctiveness.
Example 1:
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is true of the architectural shape shown above?
a. It represents the dominant religion of all of Indonesia except for the
island of Bali.
b. It signifies a major religion that originated in India but is now found in
Thailand and other parts of Asia.
c. It symbolizes houses of worship for monotheistic religions that hold
Jerusalem sacred.
d. It represents religions especially common in sub-Saharan Africa.
e. It symbolizes denominations of a Western religion that divided first in
Europe.
Answer: B
Example 2
Multiple Choice
The Sector model of city structure assumes that typical spatial
behaviour involves people moving primarily
a. Around the outer belt.
b. In and out of downtown.
c. Within downtown.
d. Within neighbourhoods.
e. Everywhere all the time.
Answer: B
The AP exam is marked out of 5!
AP Grade
Qualification
5
Extremely well qualified
4
Well Qualified
3
Qualified
2
Possibly qualified
1
No recommendation
Our goal is to get you a 4 or a 5.
As you may or may not know I belong to an AP Geography List
server and the following are a collection of comments relating to
the preparation and writing of the final exam. Each comment will
have a different coloured background.
Please read them carefully and I hope they help!
Okay.....#1 Don't Panic--when the student sees the question
their first response will probably be "Ms. Lange did not teach
us this...." That may be true but she did teach you some of the
elements...read the question....break it down...what can you
answer.....
#2 Always remember to "THINK GEOGRAPHICALLY". This is
a geography test not a history test. Location, Scale, and Time
are important.
#3 Practice--Go to the College Board Web Site and look at the
previous questions. Notice how they can be approached from
different subject areas (they usually cover more than one
topic). Have them outline answers (or answer them if you
have the time). Then look at the rubric and see if they hit the
right points. Grade their own or peer grade their outlines.
#4 Assume the reader is tired....it is the end of the day...they
have been grading since 8:00....Help the reader find the
answer. Label the different sections or at least start a new
paragraph for each part of the question. Underline appropriate
terms. For example if the question asks
for the definition of a nation......then underline the word nation
so the reader can see...oh yes here is the definition.
#5 One last hint---and this comes up at every reading--ANSWER THE QUESTION--don't ramble....yes it is better to try
to answer the question instead of leaving it blank....but don't
show off....if you have answered the question don't keep writing
in order to tell the reader everything you have learned in APGH
this year.
Which goes back to # 1 Break the FRQ down. Answer each
part from the geographic perspective (#2) and help the reader
know that this is your answer (#4).
General Guidelines for the students:
1. ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!!!
This is the major problem - I once had an instructor tell us, that
students don't give wrong answers, they just answer different
questions. And while that may tell where they are, it doesn't help
evaluate what they know. So I tell them to simply answer the
question. I also give them a list of "AP Verbs" which I sent as
another email. I give the students sample essay questions and have
them focus on the operative words in the question. What is their task?
How many parts does the question have? If you are stuck for questions,
many AP history questions can be used for this exercise. The subject is
not as important an having the students to focus on and understand the
question.
2. Clarity! Clarity! Clarity!
3. The Quiz - I have yet to have a student get 100%
if they have not seen it before. It is both a test of reading as well
as the nuances of English. I did provide the answers. It is the beginning of
a very thought provoking discussion about how well we read -- and
understand.
1. Do they have a 4th of July in England?
2. How many birthdays does the average man have?
3. Some months have 31 days; how many have 28? all of them
4. A woman gives a beggar 50 cents; the woman is the beggar's
sister, but the beggar is not the woman's brother. Why?
5. Why can't a man living in the USA be buried in Canada?
6. How many outs are there in an inning?
7. Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister?
8. Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same
number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.
9. Divide 30 by half and add 10. What is the answer?
10. A man builds a house rectangular in shape. All sides have southern
exposure. A big bear walks by. What color is the bear?
11. If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?
12 I have two US coins totaling 55 cents. One is not a nickel. What
are the coins?
13. If you have only one match and you walked into a room where there
was an oil burner, a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, which one
would you light first?
14. How far can a dog run into the woods?
15. A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half
hour. How long would the pills last?
16. A farmer has 17 sheep and all but 9 die. How many are left?
17. How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?
18. A clerk in the butcher shop is 5' 10" tall. What does she weigh?
19. How many two cent stamps are there in a dozen?
20. What was the President's name in 1950?
The Answers!
1. Do they have a 4th of July in England?
yes
2. How many birthdays does the average man have? one
3. Some months have 31 days; how many have 28? all of them
4. A woman gives a beggar 50 cents; the woman is the beggar's
sister, but the beggar is not the woman's brother. Why? It's her sister
5. Why can't a man living in the USA be buried in Canada? He's alive
6. How many outs are there in an inning? 6
7. Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister?
No Why? He's dead
8. Two men play five games of checkers. Each man wins the same
number of games. There are no ties. Explain this. They are not
playing each other.
9. Divide 30 by half and add 10. What is the answer? 25
10. A man builds a house rectangular in shape. All sides have southern
exposure. A big bear walks by. What color is the bear? white Why?
Has to be at the north pole for all sides to face south.
11. If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have? 2
12 I have two US coins totaling 55 cents. One is not a nickel. What
are the coins? a fifty cent piece and a nickel
13. If you have only one match and you walked into a room where there
was an oil burner, a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, which one
would you light first? the match
14. How far can a dog run into the woods? until he runs out
15. A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half
hour. How long would the pills last? one hour
16. A farmer has 17 sheep and all but 9 die. How many are left? 9
17. How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark? Moses
didn't take any animals on the Ark
18. A clerk in the butcher shop is 5' 10" tall. What does she weigh? meat
19. How many two cent stamps are there in a dozen? 12
20. What was the President's name in 1950? George W. Bush
Effective answers to essay questions depend in part upon a clear
understanding (and execution) of the meanings of important directive
words. These are the words that indicate the way in which the material
is to be presented.
For example, if students only describe when they are asked to compare,
or if they merely list causes when they have been asked to evaluate
them, their responses will be less than satisfactory. An essay can only
begin to be correct if it answers directly the question that is asked.
Individual teachers can provide what AP Examinations cannot — help with
the meanings and applications of some key terms like these:
1. Analyze: determine their component parts; examine their nature and
relationship
2. Assess/Evaluate: judge the value or character of something; appraise;
evaluate the positive points and the negative ones; give an opinion
regarding the value of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
3. Compare: examine for the purpose of noting similarities and points of
similarity (if used alone can include differences).
4. Contrast: examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of
difference
5. Describe: give an account of; tell about; give a word picture of
6. Discuss: talk over; write about; consider or examine by argument or
from various points of view; debate; present the different sides of
7. Explain: make clear or plain; make clear the causes or reasons for;
make known in detail; tell the meaning of
The test has been 75 multiple choice questions and three essay questions. 1 hr.
for the first section and this year 1 Hr and 15 minutes for the second. The extra
fifteen is to encourage five minutes of prep before writing each essay
Are students required to write in complete sentences when answering the
short answer section of the AP Human Geog exam? I have noticed that
some of the questions don’ seem to require a great deal of
elaboration…Is this correct?
Questions that ask students to "name" or "list" do not
require complete sentences. For all other answers, I
recommend that students use complete sentences
(unless they are just running out of time) simply
because they are likely to provide more complete
answers in that format. All too often, incomplete
sentences result in incomplete thoughts. However, as
has been emphasized in other messages, a formal
essay, with introduction, transitions, conclusion, is not
necessary. Likewise, students are neither rewarded
not penalized for sentence or paragraph structure as
long as the ideas are solid.
The following slides come straight out of the AP Central site
about this year’s exam (2005)
The Exam
The AP Human Geography Exam tests your knowledge of the patterns and
processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of
Earth's surface. You have a chance to earn college credit in geography before
you ever begin your formal college studies!
About the Exam
The two-and-one-quarter-hour exam includes a 60-minute, 75-question
multiple-choice section and a 75-minute three-question free-response section.
The multiple-choice section accounts for half of the examination grade and the
free-response section for the other half.
Section I: Multiple-Choice
The multiple-choice section is designed to measure your knowledge of
human geography through a broad range of topics and types of questions.
You should expect questions that test your ability to use and think about
maps and spatial data, your understanding of how the world looks from a
spatial perspective, your ability to interpret patterns and processes at
different scales, your understanding of regions, and finally, your ability to
characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places. The topic
outline for AP Human Geography details the percentage of the course -- and
the exam -- devoted to each content area.
Since no two AP Human Geography classes are exactly alike, you are not
expected to know the answer to every question. Although haphazard or
random guessing is unlikely to improve your score, if you have knowledge of
the topic in a question and can eliminate one or more answer choices, you
might find it advantageous to select an answer from the remaining choices.
Section II: Free-Response
In the free-response section, you will be asked to write cogent answers to three
constructed response questions. The questions may require you to interrelate
different topical areas and to analyze and evaluate geographical concepts.
Questions may be based on stimulus material such as verbal description,
maps, graphs, photographs, and diagrams. You are expected to use your
analytical and organizational skills to formulate answers in writing your essays.
The free-response section usually includes one question that tests a specific
concept in geography and its application to real-world situations, one question
that tests your ability to pull together and synthesize material from across the
course, and one question that tests your depth of knowledge of a topic and
gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to apply and analyze
geographic concepts across geographic contexts.
Remember to answer each question in the way it is structured. Points are
allocated for sub-parts of the question and not for the overall answer. Your
answer should be in essay form. Outlines and unlabeled diagrams and maps
are not acceptable final answers. Learn to think outside of the box, and you will
have the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts in
geography.
Scoring the Exam
The multiple-choice and free-response sections each account for one-half of
your final exam grade. The three questions in the free-response section are
weighted equally.