AP Human Geography FRQs

Kaelee Kessee
Managing Editor

                 In social studies Eric Gross’s AP Human Geography class, students have been learning the skill of answering essay questions that will be seen on the AP tests this May.

                The questions are known as Free Response Questions or FRQs for short. The questions are centered on the material learned in the class throughout the semester. The most recent FRQ pertained to the information learned in the second unit of the book over population and migration.

                The students had the opportunity to take their first FRQs home to work on them overnight.

                “I thought that for the first one it would be good to do a take home assignment to gently get [them] into it. Next we’ll be doing one in class and eventually as a test,” said Gross.

                When grading the tests, Gross looks at the responses the way any AP grader would when looking at them this summer.

                “I look for: Did you answer all parts of the question? Did you bring in examples to make it a stronger argument? Mostly I look at how well you answered the question, though,” said Gross.

                According to Gross, the national average on the test is a 52% and his goal is to get his students to above the average grade and to pass the test with a three or higher.

                Junior Savana Schneider looks at the FRQs as a learning opportunity. She is taking the class to learn about different cultures and for the added benefit of college credit.

                “[They’re] a pain in my butt. I’m just kidding…sort of. They can be hard but I think it’s helpful for AP tests.