Geographers use specific tools, technologies, and concepts to analyze spatial patterns, define regions, and understand the relationship between humans and their environment.
Respond to parts A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
A.
Define the concept of a formal region.
B.
Describe one method geographers use to collect qualitative data.
C.
Describe the spatial concept of distance decay.
D.
Explain how changing the scale of analysis from national to local can alter the interpretation of data.
E.
Explain how a government agency might use a Geographic Information System (GIS) to make a decision regarding public services.
F.
Explain how the theory of possibilism differs from environmental determinism in explaining human settlement patterns.
G.
Explain the degree to which map projections distort spatial relationships. (Response must indicate the degree [low, moderate, high] and provide an explanation.)
What the No-Stimulus FRQ asks
The no-stimulus FRQ is FRQ 1 on the AP Human Geography exam. It sets up a geographic scenario in words alone and asks seven 1-point parts that move from defining a concept to explaining how and why it works.
Explain how or why something happens, with cause and effect
1 pt
E
Part E: Second explanation
Explain a related cause, effect, or consequence
1 pt
F
Part F: Third explanation
Explain another process or impact in the scenario
1 pt
G
Part G: Degree
Explain the degree to which an idea holds
1 pt
How No-Stimulus FRQ practice works
Each question follows the exam’s format, from the full prompt to a score on every part.
1
Read the full question
The scenario and all seven parts, A through G, laid out the way the exam shows them.
2
Write on a 25-minute timer
The time to plan for on exam day. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
3
Submit for a score out of 7
Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.
Feedback on every part
A summary at the top tells you what to work on next. Below it, each part shows whether you earned the point and what the scoring guidelines were looking for.
Did not earn the point. You did not give a definition of subsistence agriculture (farming mainly to feed the farmer/household with little or no surplus sold). Your response does not clearly state the “for own consumption, not for sale” idea.
Part C: 1/1 point
Earned the point. You described an environmental consequence of shifting cultivation by explaining that slash-and-burn can cause deforestation/habitat loss when forests are cleared to create temporary fields.
Part D: 1/1 point
Earned the point. You explained biotechnology’s effect on yields by linking a specific trait (like pest resistance/drought tolerance) to higher yields because fewer crops are lost and more survive to harvest.
Detailed feedback on a practice No-Stimulus FRQ
Questions about the No-Stimulus FRQ
How many responses can I get scored?
You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.
What does a question with no stimulus look like?
A short scenario in words, with no map, chart, or image. The parts build from a definition to descriptions and explanations, and part G asks the degree to which an idea holds.
How is FRQ 1 different from FRQs 2 and 3?
FRQ 2 adds one map, chart, data table, or image, and FRQ 3 adds two. FRQ 1 tests the concepts on their own.
How long should each part be?
Match the task verb. Define takes one or two sentences, describe names the pattern, and explain shows cause and effect in a few sentences. Each part is worth 1 point.
Can I write my answer by hand?
Yes. You can type, or switch the editor to handwrite, write on paper, and add a photo of your page. The exam itself is typed, so typing is good practice.
More AP Human Geography practice
One-Stimulus FRQ practice
One-stimulus FRQs with the full source and all seven parts.
