FRQ Cheat Sheet - This is the Breakdown of the FRQ

FRQ Cheat Sheet 1. FRQ stands for Free Response Question. 2. On the AP exam, there will be three FRQs you are required to answer a. Writing something on the paper is better than writing nothing. 3. On the exam, you will have 75 minutes to answer the 3 questions. 4. Each FRQ is worth 7 points and the FRQs make up ½ of your AP exam grade. 5. FRQs will have a stimulus, chart, map or other information to help guide your answer (except for 1 question). Use that information to your benefit. 6. Avoid pronouns – it, they, them a. This is not specific enough for the AP Reader. 7. Answer the question with a complete sentence. DO NOT USE BULLET POINTS. a. Each subsection should be answered in multiple sentences. 8. Do not answer the question you wished they had asked you. Answer the question given to you. 9. FRQs should always be labeled as following – use the exact same lettering they give you. Lettering your FRQ will make it easier for the AP reader to grade. a. Response b. Response … 10. Answer all parts of the question. 11. Readers are looking to award you the points. If you have an example you are sure of, use the example – do not put an example of that you are not sure about. a. Use the best examples you can think of, but do not use more examples than they ask for 12. Do not contradict yourself. The reader cannot award you a point if you contradict yourself. 13. Ask yourself afterwards, does my response show that I’ve taken a human geography class? 14. Annotate the question. 15. Write clearly. If it is illegible than it will just get a zero. YOU DON’T LOSE POINTS FOR WRONG INFORMATION; YOU ONLY GET CREDIT FOR RIGHT INFO. SO WRITE THE ENTIRE TIME. The following task verbs are commonly used in the free-response questions. Verbs Definition, Example Prompt, and Example Answer Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences. Compare Prompt: Compare the theories of environmental determinism and possibilism. Answer: Environmental determinism is different from possiblism in that E.D. credits variations in the physical landscape for developmental and cultural differences between human societies. Contrarily, possibilism... Provide a specific meaning for a given word or concept. Define Prompt: Define the term “diffusion.” Answer: “Diffusion is the process by which a feature spreads from one place to another over time.” Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified trend. Describe Prompt: “Describe the changing demographic structure of Japan since 1990.” Answer: “The demographic structure of Japan is changing as the birth rate decreases and life expectancy increases.” Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning. Explain Prompt: Explain why deforestation has been increasing in tropical regions. Answer: “One reason that deforestation is occurring in tropical regions is that commercial farmers in the region need more land as consumer demand increases.” Indicate or provide information about a specified topic, without elaboration or explanation. Identify Prompt: Identify one example of a unitary state. Answer: “China is one example of a unitary state.” The following adjectives are commonly used as descriptors for certain things that you must identify, explain, etc. Descriptor Definition and Interpretation Example Social Relating to human society or its organization. “Identify and explain one social consequence of suburbanization.” How is this trend/event/change affecting the ways in which people interact and relate to one another? Political Relating to the government, public affairs, or electoral system of a territory (state, province, city, municipality, etc.) “Describe how political reforms have promoted democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1960s.” How is this trend/event/change affecting the ways in which civic affairs are being carried out within or between sovereign territories? Economic That which pertains to financial (monetary) value. “Explain two economic changes resulting from supranationalism in Europe.” How is this trend/event/change affecting the ways in which financial value is produced, earned, shared, or exchanged? Environmental That which describes the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition (or vice versa). Demographic How is this trend/event/change affecting nature? How is nature affecting this trend/event/change? “Identify and explain one environmental consequence of climate change on human settlement patterns.” Relating to the structure of human populations. “Explain the demographic changes that developing countries have been experiencing in recent decades.” How is this trend/event/change reflected in population increase, decrease, movement, etc.? Spatial “Identify and explain one environmental consequence of green energy technology.” Describing the relationship or geographic features within a space or between multiple locations. “Explain the spatial arrangement of dairy farms in the northeastern United States.” How does the distribution or pattern of a feature change across this region or between place A and place B? “Compare the spatial distribution of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts in New Jersey.”