The Most Informative Guide on How to Prepare for the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam

How to Prepare for the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam

The AP Spanish Language and Culture exam is a test designed to check how you use and interpret the language. The test contains four sections which are:

Section IA: Multiple Choice on Reading Comprehension

ap spanish exam

30 questions | 40 minutes | 23% of score

This section consists in reading authentic print materials. After reading the print materials, which can be students will be asked to:

  1. Identify main ideas and supporting details of a text.
  2. Determine the meaning of words used in a specific context.
  3. Identify the author’s point of view and/or target audience

Make sure to visit our guide on how to get a perfect score in the reading comprehension section of the AP Spanish exam.

For this section, the approximate AP score, based on the number of questions answered correctly is as follows:

Number of questions answered correctly Approximate AP Score
24-30 5
21-23 4
18-20 3
16-17 2
15-0 1

Section IB: Multiple Choice on Listening Comprehension

35 questions | 55 minutes | 27% of score

This section consists in listening and interpreting a variety of audio materials. The students may listen to audio twice. This section contains two parts:

  1. Print and audio texts combined (2 sets of audio paired with texts). Students will need to identify main ideas and supporting details of the text. As in the previous section, they will also need to identify the author’s point of view and target audience
  2. Audio texts (3 sets of audio texts). Students will need to identify main ideas and supporting details of the audio. Some questions may include the understanding of cultural information in the audio.

Make sure to visit our guide on how to get a perfect score in the listening comprehension section of the AP Spanish exam.

For this section, the approximate AP score, based on the number of questions answered correctly is as follows:

Number of questions answered correctly Approximate AP Score
29-35 5
25-28 4
20-24 3
17-19 2
16-0 1

Section IIA: Free Writing Ability

2 questions | 1 hour and 10 minutes | 25% of score

This section consists of two parts:

  1. Read and reply to an email (15 minutes).
  2. Write an essay (55 minutes). The student will receive 3 sources of information (audio and print). Based on these 3 sources, the student will need to write an argumentative essay on the topic. The student will receive 15 minutes to review the sources and 40 minutes to write the essay.

Make sure to visit our guide on how to get a perfect score in the writing section of the AP Spanish exam.

AP Spanish Language and Culture – Email Reply Scoring Guidelines

For the section on the email reply, some of the scoring guidelines are as follows:

Score 5

  • The student is able to respond to all the questions in the email in a detailed manner.
  • The email reply is fully comprehendible.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used a variety of simple and compound sentences, including some complex sentences.

Score 4

  • The student is able to respond to all the questions in the email with only a few supporting details.
  • The email reply is understandable and errors do not play a role in the ability to understand the text.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student was able to use simple, compound and a few complex sentences.

Score 3

  • The student is able to respond to all questions in the email, without adding any extra details.
  • The email reply is understandable. Some errors affect the understanding of the text. 
  • The student used appropriate, but basic vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used simple sentences and a few compound sentences.

Score 2

  • The student was able to answer only some of the questions in the email, without adding any extra details.
  • The email reply is not very understandable. Some parts need interpretation on the side of the reader. 
  • The student used a limited vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used only simple sentences and phrases.

Score 1

  • The students was unsuccessful in responding to the questions in the email.
  • The email reply is not understandable with significant errors.
  • The student had no variety in vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used only very simple sentences.
AP Spanish Language and Culture – Argumentative Essay Scoring Guidelines

For the section on the argumentative essay, some of the scoring guidelines are as follows:

Score 5

  • The student demonstrated a high degree of understanding of the sources’ perspectives.
  • The student included and integrated content from all three sources.
  • The student demonstrated all viewpoints with clarity and coherence.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used a variety of simple and compound sentences, including some complex sentences.

Score 4

  • The student understood all the sources’ viewpoints, with some minor inaccuracies.
  • The student included content, yet did not integrate the content from all three sources.
  • The student demonstrated all viewpoints with clarity and coherence.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student was able to use simple, compound and a few complex sentences.

Score 3

  • The student had a general understanding of all the sources’ perspectives. The essay included some inaccuracies. 
  • The student included content from, at least, two sources.
  • The student was able to present arguments in a fairly coherent manner.
  • The student used appropriate, but basic vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used simple sentences and a few compound sentences.

Score 2

  • The student demonstrated a low understanding of the sources’ viewpoints.
  • The student included content from, at least, two sources, but they did not necessarily support the argument.
  • The student presented an unpersuasive argument in a somewhat incoherent manner.
  • The student used a limited vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used only simple sentences and phrases.

Score 1

  • The student did not comprehend the sources’ viewpoints. There were significant inaccuracies in the essay. 
  • The student mostly repeats sentences from sources or did not make any references to all three sources.
  • The essay is barely understandable with many errors.
  • The student had no variety in vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used only very simple sentences.

Section IIB: Open Conversation and Presentational Speaking

2 questions | 18 minutes | 25% of score

This section consists of two parts:

  1. Open conversation (20 seconds for each response). The student will receive a conversation outline. Based on this conversation outline, the student will take part in a conversation.
  2. Presentational speaking (2 minutes). The student will need to make a presentation on a topic. The student will need to compare his or her experience with that of someone living in the Spanish world.

Make sure to visit our guide on how to get a perfect score in the speaking section of the AP Spanish exam.

AP Spanish Language and Culture – Open Conversation Scoring Guidelines

For the section on the open conversation, some of the scoring guidelines are as follows:

Score 5
  • The student provides the required information. The student elaborates in responding with details.
  • The student’s response is clear and coherent. Errors do not affect understanding.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student used the correct pronouns to address the other party.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response understandable.

Score 4

  • The student provides the required information. The student elaborates with only a few details.
  • The student’s response is clear and coherent. Errors do not affect understanding.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • The student made a few mistakes using pronouns in the conversation.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response mostly understandable.

Score 3

  • The student provides most of the required information.
  • The student’s response was generally understandable. Some errors affect comprehension of the responses.
  • The student used appropriate, but basic vocabulary and grammar.
  • The pronouns to address the other party may be inappropriate for the conversation.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response mostly understandable. Errors affect comprehension.

Score 2

  • The student provides some of the required information.
  • The student’s response was not very understandable. Errors force interpretation and cause confusion.
  • The student used a limited vocabulary and grammar.
  • The pronouns to address the other party are inappropriate for the conversation.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response difficult to understand. Errors affect comprehension.

Score 1

  • The student provides little of the required information.
  • The student’s response is not understandable. Errors are frequent and cause confusion.
  • The student had no variety in vocabulary and grammar.
  • The pronouns to address the other party are used at random.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response difficult to understand. Errors affect comprehension.
AP Spanish Language and Culture – Presentational Speaking Scoring Guidelines

For the section on the cultural comparison, some of the scoring guidelines are as follows:

Score 5

  • Compares the student’s own community with the target culture. The student uses a variety of supporting details.
  • The response is clear and coherent. Errors do not affect understanding.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response understandable.

Score 4

  • Compares the student’s own community with the target culture. The student uses some supporting details.
  • The student’s response is clear and coherent. Errors do not affect understanding.
  • The student was able to use a varied and appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response mostly understandable.

Score 3

  • Compares the student’s own community with the target culture. The student uses a few supporting details.
  • The student’s response was generally understandable. Some errors affect comprehension of the responses.
  • The student used appropriate, but basic vocabulary and grammar.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response mostly understandable. Errors affect comprehension.

Score 2

  • Information was presented on the student’s own community and the target culture. No comparison was made between them.
  • The student’s response was not very understandable. Errors force interpretation and cause confusion.
  • The student used a limited vocabulary and grammar.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response difficult to understand. Errors affect comprehension.

Score 1

  • Information was presented only on the student’s own community or the target culture. No comparison was made between them and did not include examples.
  • The student’s response is not understandable. Errors are frequent and cause confusion.
  • The student had no variety in vocabulary and grammar.
  • Pronunciation and pacing made the response difficult to understand. Errors affect comprehension.

AP Spanish Language and Culture Themes

The test is designed around six general themes. The general idea is that in all topics, students mustn’t only focus on their perspective of each topic. It is ideal to understand each topic from the side of a Spanish-speaking country. Moreover, the student should compare and contrast all viewpoints in each topic. The six general themes covered in the AP Spanish Language and Culture test are:

  1. Families and Communities (Las familias y las comunidades): This theme may deal with customs, values and family structure, among other things.
  2. Personal and Public Identities (Las identidades personales y públicas): This topic includes lessons on identity on a personal and social context. It is important to develop an idea on how identity develops over time. Also, the student’s should learn how language and culture influence that identity.
  3. Science and Technology (La ciencia y la tecnología): This theme covers topics like the influence of technology in our lives. The student’s should develop an idea of how innovation works and what will be the future of society.
  4. Contemporary Life (La vida contemporanea): The lessons that may be covered in this theme are quality of life, cultural festivities and life as we know it.
  5. Global Challenges (Los desafíos mundiales): This section covers the major global challenges affecting society today. The idea is to develop an opinion on solutions and how to deal with the challenges as we solve them.
  6. Beauty and Aesthetics (La belleza y la estética): This topic includes lessons on how we can define beauty. It also allows the students to see how this definition affects their daily lives and the influence of art in society.