AP® Human Geography · Free response

Very large cities, city size and the urban hierarchy

write it first, then score yourself point by point

Q3: Two stimuli · no calculator · 7 points · about 25 minutes

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The question

Name: ______________________   Date: ____________   Very large cities, city size and the urban hierarchy (7 points)

Map

Source 1: Population of selected very large cities, 2025

Graduated symbol map of seven very large cities in 2025, five of them in Asia (Jakarta, Tokyo, New Delhi, Shanghai, Manila), one in Africa (Cairo) and one in South America (Sao Paulo)

Urban area population, 2025

  • 102040million people (circle area shows the value)
Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects 2025 (2025 estimates, Degree of Urbanisation method). Borders follow Natural Earth’s de facto lines (public domain data); they show no position on any disputed territory. Base map: Natural Earth. Open the map full size

Data

Source 2: The five largest cities of Country Z

Country Z, an invented country (invented data for practice). Offices of global firms: offices of the world's 100 largest finance, law and advertising firms.
CityPopulation (millions)Offices of global firms
Z1 (capital and main port)10.085
Z22.09
Z31.64
Z41.22
Z51.01

Invented data for practice.

  1. (A) Identify Using Source 1, identify the world region where most of the very large cities shown are located. [1 point]

    Identify means: Give the information asked for: a word or short phrase can earn the point, with no reasons needed.

  2. (B) Describe Using Source 1, describe the difference between a megacity and a metacity, using one city shown as an example. [1 point]

    Describe means: Give the relevant characteristics: what it is like, where and how much. A name alone earns nothing.

  3. (C) Explain Explain why most of the very large cities shown in Source 1 are in lower- and middle-income countries. [1 point]

    Explain means: Say how or why, with every link of the chain: a cause, then because or so, then its effect, tied to the place or data asked about.

  4. (D) Explain Explain one limitation of Source 1 for comparing the populations of the world's very large cities. [1 point]

    Explain means: Say how or why, with every link of the chain: a cause, then because or so, then its effect, tied to the place or data asked about.

  5. (E) Explain Using Source 2, explain whether Country Z's cities fit the rank-size rule or show a primate city. [1 point]

    Explain means: Say how or why, with every link of the chain: a cause, then because or so, then its effect, tied to the place or data asked about.

  6. (F) Explain Using Source 2, explain how Z1's position in the urban hierarchy can affect smaller cities in Country Z, linking the global and national scales. [1 point]

    Explain means: Say how or why, with every link of the chain: a cause, then because or so, then its effect, tied to the place or data asked about.

  7. (G) Explain the degree Using Source 2, explain the degree to which a primate city such as Z1 benefits the economic development of the whole country. [1 point]

    Explain the degree means: State the degree first (to a high, moderate or low degree), then explain why with evidence.