With so many resources to use to study for your AP class, it can be a little overwhelming to decide which one to use. Thankfully, Quizlet is an easy to use website with so many study decks to choose from. But, it can be a little tricky to find just the right one. That’s we've compiled the best Quizlet to use for each unit on the AP Human Geography Exam. Bookmark this page to use throughout the year!

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Unit 1 Key Terms (8-10%): Thinking Geographically

AP Human Geography Unit 1 focuses on different methods geographers use to study their surroundings. It covers different maps, projections, regions, and spatial relationships and patterns. Use these 75 terms to have a thorough understanding of this unit.

Beck Quizlet Deck: AP Human Geography Unit 1 by kshi94033

Key terms:

• Place—The physical characteristics of a place.
• Site—The absolute location of a place.
• Situation—The location of a place relative to other places.
• Friction of Distance—The idea that as time and cost increases, distances increases.
• Environmental Determinism—The idea that human actions depend on the physical environment.
• Quantitative data—Information obtained by statistics.
• Qualitative Data—Information obtained by observation.

Note: Be sure to know your maps and projections!

Unit 2 Key Terms (12-17%): Population and Migration Patterns and Processes

The second unit is all about human population dynamics and this is where you’ll get to sharpen your math skills! There are important models, formulas, and people this unit covers. 

Best Quizlet Deck: AP Human Geography Unit 2 by carriebowman

Key Terms:

• Malthusian Theory—The theory that population grows faster than food supply and will surpass it at the critical point.
• Population pyramid—A graph representing the distribution of population by age and sex.
• Demographic Transition Model—A model describing the change in natural increase of a country over time.
• Chain Migration—Pattern of migration that develops when migrants move after a group of people, usually their relatives; by choice.
• Forced Migration—Pattern of migration caused by internal conflicts that forces people to move.

Unit 3 Key Terms (12-17%): Cultural Patterns and Processes

Unit 3 tackles different cultures, languages, and religions, and the ways they have spread out. 

Best Quizlet Deck: AP Human Geography Unit 3 by kswoboda

Key Terms:

• Popular culture—Large culture that incorporates heterogeneous populations and changes quickly.
• Folk/local culture—Small and isolated culture that has its own set of customs. 
• Lingua franca—A language created the purposes of trade and commerce. 

Most important terms:

• Pidgin language—A mixture of two different languages.
• Universalizing religion—Actively seek converts because they view themselves as offering belief systems that unite everyone.
• Ethnic religion—Adherents are born into the faith.: A mixture of two different languages.

Unit 4 Key Terms (12-17%): Political Patterns and Processes

Focusing on political structures around the world is what Unit 4 is all about. Different political entities, forms of government, political boundaries, and historical disputes will be studied here. 

Best Quizlet Deck: AP Human Geography Unit 4 Flashcards by Jordyn_Jenkins67

Key Terms:

• Sovereignty—Supreme authority of a state over its own affairs.
• State—An internationally recognized politically administered territory.
• Nation—A group of individuals sharing a common belief system. 
• Devolution—The movement of power from the central government to smaller authorities. 
• Gerrymandering—The process of manipulating voting district boundaries to give an advantage to a particular political group or party.

Unit 5 Key Terms (12-17%): Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes

Revolving around physical geography and agriculture is Unit 5. This unit introduces farming practices, origins, effects on the environment, and the Green Revolution. 

Best Quizlet Deck: AP Human Geography Unit 5 by jrdbnntt

Key Terms:

• Subsistence agriculture—Farming for oneself or others.
• Agribusiness—Highly mechanized farming usually under corporate ownership.
• Intensive agriculture—More labor and capital on a piece of land to increase its productivity.
• Extensive agriculture—Less labor and capital to increase agricultural productivity.
• Green Revolution—A period that saw the introduction of new technology that increased agricultural yield. 

Unit 6 Key Terms (12-17%): Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes

Moving away from rural areas, Unit 6 is all about urbanization and its effects. Here you’ll encounter factors that drive urbanization, globalization, and city infrastructure and planning. 

Best Quizlet Deck: Urbanization by Samara_Goodson

Key Terms:

• Central business district (CBD)—The nucleus of a city where most activities take place.
• Squatter settlements—Clustered areas of poverty near large cities.
• New Urbanism—A movement using mixed-use zoning to promote sustainable development.

Note: There are some important models in this unit, so make sure to have a clear understanding of them.

Unit 7 Key Terms (12-17%): Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes

Finally, Unit 7 covers industrialization and how it ties to world economics. 

Best Quizlet Deck: AP Human Geography Industrialization and Urbanization Unit Flashcards by marymdewitt95

Key Terms:

• Agglomeration—The clustering of firms from the same industry.
• Globalization—The idea that the world is becoming more interconnected because of increased interaction. 
• Industrial Revolution—Focused on manufacturing and factories that stimulated a tremendous population group.
• Transnational corporation—A firm that conducts business in different countries to take advantage of poor conditions there.

Closing Thoughts

These decks will be able to help you study for your tests and ultimately, the AP exam. The best feature about Quizlet is the option to play games and use the flashcards wherever you are 🤝

As long as you review these flashcards at least once a day a few days before your test, you should be good to go. Make sure to take advantage of starring flashcards you struggle with! Before a test, it's great to quickly look over the starred ones and then feel more confident about them.

You got this! Now go get this 5!