Exam structure

Total time: 2 hours 15 minutes

MCQSection I: Multiple Choice
60 Qs·60 min·50%

5 answer choices (A–E). Mix of standalone and stimulus-based (maps, charts, data). 30–40% reference stimulus material.

FRQSection II: Free Response
3 Qs·75 min·50%

FRQ 1: No stimulus (7 parts). FRQ 2: One stimulus — data, image, or map (7 parts). FRQ 3: Two stimuli (7 parts). Each FRQ = 7 points.

Scoring

Scored 1–5. Each FRQ has exactly 7 parts worth 1 point each. Total: 60 MCQ + 21 FRQ points.

Tips
  • 1 minute per MCQ on average
  • 25 minutes per FRQ recommended
  • FRQ verbs matter: Define (what), Describe (what it looks like), Explain (why/how)
  • No penalty for guessing on MCQ — answer everything

What's on this exam

Unit 1: Thinking Geographically

9%
  • Introduction to Maps
  • Geographic Data
  • Spatial Concepts
  • Human-Environmental Interaction
  • Scales of Analysis
  • Regional Analysis

Unit 2: Population and Migration

14%
  • Population Distribution
  • Population Composition
  • Demographic Transition Model
  • Malthusian Theory
  • Population Policies
  • Migration Causes and Effects

Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes

14%
  • Introduction to Culture
  • Cultural Landscapes
  • Types of Diffusion
  • Diffusion of Religion and Language
  • Effects of Cultural Diffusion

Unit 4: Political Patterns and Processes

14%
  • Political Geography Concepts
  • Political Boundaries
  • Forms of Governance
  • Devolution
  • Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces

Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use

14%
  • Introduction to Agriculture
  • Agricultural Revolutions
  • Green Revolution
  • Von Thünen Model
  • Global Agricultural System
  • Challenges in Agriculture

Unit 6: Cities and Urban Land-Use

14%
  • Origin and Growth of Urbanization
  • Cities and Globalization
  • Urban Models (Concentric Zone, Sector, Multiple Nuclei)
  • Infrastructure and Urban Sustainability
  • Challenges of Urban Changes

Unit 7: Industrial and Economic Development

14%
  • Industrial Revolution
  • Economic Sectors and Patterns
  • Measures of Development
  • Theories of Development
  • Trade and the World Economy
  • Sustainable Development