AP Exam Preparation Webinar

AP Human Geography: Strategies That

Help Students Pass The AP Exam

This one hour webinar session will:

1. Share review and study strategies2. Give participants insight to using study guides &

test prep materials3. Share how to read into multiple choice questions4. Share how to best prepare for Stimulus Based

Questions

AP Human Geography ExamDate:Date: May 13Format:Format: Multiple Choice (M/C) - 50%

75 questions/60 MinutesFree Response (Essay) 50%

3 questions/75 Minutes

Units of Study & Weight:Units of Study & Weight: 5-10% Geography (least)13-17% Population, Culture, Political Organization of Space, Industrialization & Econ. Dev., Cities & Urban Land Use

1. Share review and study strategiesReview Schedule

Things to ConsiderThings to Consider• Spring Break• Know Your Students• Work With Other AP Teachers & Coaches• AP Saturday AcademyPacing Pacing • Diagnostic Test Administration– 1-2 Session(s)• Reviewing Diagnostic Test Results – 1 session• Unit Practice Tests (7)• Mock Exam Plan Structured Reviews & Create a CalendarPlan Structured Reviews & Create a Calendar

Study Strategies

• Thoroughly study content• Practice, practice, practice answering

questions similar to those on the test• Review, review, review the answers on

practice tests, AND students should be able to explain why an answer is correct or incorrect

Sample CalendarSunSun MM TT WW ThTh FF SS

April3

Initial Meeting•Homework – students convert the course outline into questions and respond; define terms, and concepts use flashcards as needed

Saturday Academy9:00-12:00Diagnostic Test • Review Results •Examine Results

10 Unit 2M/C-7:30-8:30FR- 3:30-5:00•Timed practice test questions•Integrate test taking skills/Strategies

Class ReviewUnit ______M/C amt. of timeFR amt. of timeTime to review answers

Unit 3 Saturday Academy9:00 – 12:00

•M/C – 75 questions •FR --3 questions

17 Unit 4 Unit 5

24 Unit 6 Unit 7 Saturday Academy9:00 – 12:00

Mock Exam

May1

Saturday Academy9:00 – 12:00

Mock Exam

EXAMEXAM

Get The Word OutGet The Word Out !!• AnnouncementsAnnouncements

– Fall Semester Students– Post Time/Dates of Reviews

• Incentives Incentives – Notify Parents/Guardians

• Get them on board!!!– $$$ College Tuition– Quality Points & GPA

• Follow-up – Attendance– Results of Diagnostic test

• Help with Saturday Academy – Snacks– Transportation– Furnish extra Test Prep Books

• They are Teacher’s Too!!– Teach vocabulary– Watch Power of Place videos as a family—case studies– Time practice tests with No Distractions

– Extra Credit• Homework/AssignmentsHomework/Assignments

– Examine results of diagnostic test and target needs of individual students

√ Share review and study strategies 2. Give participants insight to using

study guides & test prep materials3. Share how to read into multiple choice

questions4. Share how to best prepare for

Stimulus Based Questions

2. Give participants insight to using study guides & test prep materials

• Select Test Prep BookSelect Test Prep Book– Diagnostic test

• Results driven– Review Content – Re-teach/Homework – 30 minute

PPT reviews for each unit on website– Vocabulary– Models– Theories– Integration of Geographic Tools– Case studies (Examples)– Practice Tests – An Outline (of Content Areas)

√ Share review and study strategies √ Give participants insight to using study

guides & test prep materials3. Share how to read into multiple choice

questions4. Share how to best prepare for

Stimulus Based Questions

3. Share how to read into multiple choice questions

• Format– 75 multiple-choice questions– Answer choices: A – E

• Start with easy questions (why?)• Start with 5-10 questions (timed, 1.25 minutes)

• Context clues• Word association• Eliminating answer choices• Scoring—guessing verses leaving blank

– Narrow to 2 answer choices – First response – “Go with what you know”

Sample Multiple Choice Questions

Roman Catholics are clustered in the U.S. southwest mainly because of migration of

a. Roman Catholics from Latin Americab. Roman Catholics from Northeast United Statesc. Roman Catholics from Irelandd. Protestants to the Northe. Protestants to the East

Answer: AQuestion Source: Rubenstein, 9e

1.1. What do you What do you know about know about the SW?the SW?

2.2. What ethnic What ethnic group is group is concentrated concentrated there?there?

3.3. Encourage Encourage students to students to write on the write on the test/scrap test/scrap paperpaper

Apply Apply U.S. HistoryU.S. History or or Civics & Civics & EconomicsEconomics: : Colonial PeriodColonial Period

Encourage Encourage students to students to apply prior apply prior knowledgeknowledge

A minisystem is a society witha. a single cultural baseb. a modern economyc. an extensive physical infrastructured. extensive urbanizatione. all of the above

What is the key word in the question?Simply by identifying the key word, which answer choices were eliminated?How did you eliminate “B”?What is the answer?

Tips & Suggestions: 1. The answer is often in the question.2. Assure students who do not know the answer immediately, that they have the skills to

find the answer.3. Eliminate similar answer choices

Question Source: Knox/Marston, 8e

Answer is less than 1.25 minutes

The first phase of the internal geographic expansion and regional integration of core regions was based on this transportation technology

a. railroadsb. aircraftsc. tractorsd. truckse. canals

Answer: E

Why is “E” the correct answer?

Suggestions & Tips• Allow time during study sessions to discuss correct answers• Encourage students to share how they “figured-out” the correct

answer

Retired practice test questions:– http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/

repository/ap-human-geography-course-description.pdf

– Practice exams, available to authorized AP teachers through their AP Course Audit accounts

– Main page• http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/humangeo

√ Share review and study strategies √ Give participants insight to using study

guides & test prep materials√ Share how to read into multiple choice

questions4. Share how to best prepare for

Stimulus Based Questions

4. Share how to best prepare for Stimulus Based Questions

What are stimulus based questions?What are stimulus based questions?Read and interpret information contained on– Maps – Charts– Graphs– Models

Free ResponseGo to:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_questions/2004.html?type=print

Select 2010: Free-Response Questions1. Review the question2. Review the rubric/scoring guide

From the review of the retired test questions, should students

1. pace themselves and use the time wisely?2. spend time “dissecting” the question?3. spend time outlining responses?4. define terms?5. demonstrate mastery of concepts by using

examples found in case studies?6. draw from current events for examples

and case studies?7. ensure that they answer the question?8. attempt to answer the question?

√ Share review and study strategies √ Give participants insight to using study

guides & test prep materials√ Share how to read into multiple choice

questions√ Share how to best prepare for

Stimulus Based Questions

Open Discussion Questions

1. What strategies will you use to make sure that your students know that they will score a level 5?

2. How do you plan to get them to your reviews?

3. How do you plan to partner with parents?4. How do you plan to partner with other AP

teachers at your school?

References

• http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/humangeo

• Human Geography in Action, Knox, Marston (8e)

• Human Geography in Action, Rubenstein, 9e.

Contact Information

haithe@gcsnc.comrerh@aol.com Register for the AP Human Geography

listserve via discussion board http://apentral.collegeboard.com/humangeo

Apply to be an AP Reader - go to above address

End