American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Which assessment technique often yields accurate estimates for large, whole communities when projecting for a near-future target year?

1. The Cohort Survival Method

2. The Symptomatic Method

3. The Graphic Technique Method

4. The State Population Extension Method

The correct answer is: The State Population Extension Method

The State Population Extension Method is considered effective for projecting population estimates for large communities, especially when looking at a near-future target year. This technique relies on historical population data and trends at the state level, which can then be extrapolated to predict future growth in local areas. By using state-level population figures as a baseline, planners can account for broader economic and demographic trends that affect entire regions, ultimately yielding more reliable projections for local populations. The method's strength lies in its ability to leverage existing data from government sources, ensuring that the projections take into consideration past growth patterns and demographic shifts, which are often reflective of larger trends. This makes it particularly useful when working with large and diverse communities, where other methods may not provide the same level of accuracy. In contrast, while other methods such as the Cohort Survival Method focus on specific demographic groups within a community over time, or the Symptomatic Method analyzes specific indicators of change, they may not capture the entirety of a community's dynamics as effectively as the State Population Extension Method can. The Graphic Technique Method, too, may involve visual representations that could be subjective or less reliant on hard data, thus making it less precise for large-scale projections.