Ap French Language and Culture Combined Reading-listening Selections
The AP French Language and Culture exam is one of the most popular AP language exams, second only to Spanish. In 2019, over 23,000 students took the exam—about 75% of which were standard foreign linguistic communication students, with the residual being students who regularly spoke or heard the strange language exterior of school, or who studied away for more than one calendar month.
Students who are interested in gaining proficiencies in the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of French communication are best suited for this line of study. If y'all are interested in taking the AP French Linguistic communication and Culture exam—whether you accept taken the form, are a native-speaker, or have self-studied—read on for a breakdown of the test and CollegeVine'southward advice for how to best set up for it.
When is the AP French Language and Culture Exam?
On Fri, May 15, at 8 am, the Higher Board will administer the 2020 AP French Language and Culture examination. For a comprehensive AP exam schedule, along with written report tips and more, check out our blog post 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything Y'all Demand to Know.
Most the AP French Language and Culture Exam
The AP French Language and Culture exam aims to promote both fluency and accuracy in French language use. To accomplish this, the AP French Language and Culture class is taught primarily in French, and students volition read and mind to authentic texts from the francophone world throughout the form. The course focuses on the three foundational modes of advice as divers in the Standards for Strange Language Learning in the 21st Century: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational.
Though it is easy to go caught up in grammatical nuances when learning a foreign language, the AP curriculum explicitly seeks not to overemphasize grammatical accurateness at the expense of communication. As such, while grammar is tested on the exam in the context of written and oral responses, a higher weight is placed on general communication skills.
A spelling reform known as La Nouvelle Orthographe is currently underway in France. The new spelling is officially encouraged but not required by the French regime. The AP French Evolution Commission notes that students volition not exist penalized for using the new spellings in the writing portion of the AP French Language and Civilisation test.
AP French Language and Culture Form Content
In that location are no formal prerequisites for the AP French Linguistic communication and Civilization class; even so, most students who take it are in their 4th year of high school-level French report. Native speakers or students with exceptional exposure to the French language may take a unlike course of study leading to the AP French Language and Culture class, or might completely self-written report for the test.
The framework of the AP French Linguistic communication and Civilization grade is made up of six units, and contained within those six units are five to seven contexts. Through the exploration of these units and their contexts, you'll gain a deeper understanding of French language and culture and engage with it in a variety of ways. Below are the vi units and their contexts:
| Unit of measurement | Contexts |
| Families and Communities |
|
| Personal and Public Identities |
|
| Beauty and Aesthetics |
|
| Science and Technology |
|
| Contemporary Life |
|
| Global Challenges |
|
Throughout the AP French Linguistic communication and Culture course, you lot'll develop and strop 8 language and communication skills. Beneath is a listing of the viii course skills, a description of each, and the weight given to each skill on the multiple-selection department of the AP French Language and Culture examination:
| Course Skill | Description | Percentage of Exam Score (Multiple-Choice Section) |
| Embrace Text | Comprehend written, audio, audiovisual, and visual text (text, pictures, and numbers). | twenty%-30% |
| Make Connections | Make interdisciplinary and cultural connections. | 30%-twoscore% |
| Interpret Text | Interpret the content of written or audio text (words). | 30%-forty% |
| Make Meanings | Brand meanings from words and expressions. | 10%-15% |
| Speak to Others | Communicate interpersonally by speaking with others. | Not directly assessed in the multiple-choice section. |
| Write to Others | Communicate interpersonally by writing to others. | Not directly assessed in the multiple-pick section. |
| Present Orally | Communicate through spoken presentations. | Not directly assessed in the multiple-choice section. |
| Present in Writing | Communicate through written presentations. | Not direct assessed in the multiple-choice section. |
AP French Language and Culture Exam Content
The AP French Language and Culture exam is one of the longer exams, consisting of 2 sections, and clocking in at three hours and three minutes. The first section takes one hour and 35 minutes to consummate, contains 65 multiple-pick questions, and accounts for 50% of your total score.
The multiple-choice section of the AP French Language and Culture exam is ii parts. In the first part, you volition spend 40 minutes completing 30 multiple-pick questions based on printed texts. In the second function, you will have 55 minutes to complete 35 multiple-selection questions based on audio or combination audio and print texts.
Section 1(a): Multiple-Option Text
xl minutes | 30 questions | 23% of score
The first multiple-choice section of the test uses print materials—such as journalistic and literary texts, announcements, advertisements, messages, charts, maps, and tables—as a stimulus. The questions require you determine the primary thought and details of the stimulus, determine the significant of words in context, identify the author'due south point of view or target audition, and demonstrate cultural knowledge or interdisciplinary information contained in the stimulus.
Examples of text-based multiple-option questions:
Answers – one: C | 2: B | 3: D
Section 1(b): Multiple-Option Sound
55 minutes | 35 questions | 27% of score
The 2nd office of the multiple-choice section uses sound textile—interviews, podcasts, PSAs, conversations, and cursory presentations—every bit a stimulus. In this function of the test, students will meet two subsections of questions. One set up of questions uses sound files in combination with print materials as the stimulus, and the other set of questions uses simply audio fabric every bit the stimulus.
Examples of audio-based multiple-selection questions (click on the question for audio):
Answers – 12: B | 13: D
The costless response department of the AP French Linguistic communication and Culture exam is also broken down into two parts. The commencement role of the complimentary response section is focused on writing, the other part is centered on speaking.
Section 2(a): Free Response Written
ane hour 10 minutes | 2 questions | 25% of score
The get-go role of the gratuitous response questions consists of two questions. The first question requires you lot to read and answer to an email. You're alloted fifteen minutes to reply this question and it accounts for 12.5% of your total score. The 2d question tasks you with writing an argumentative essay based on three provided sources. You're given 55 total minutes—15 to review sources and xl minutes to write—to course your essay. This question besides accounts for 12.5% of your exam score.
Example of an email free response question:
Section two(b): Free Response Spoken
18 minutes | 2 questions | 25% of score
During the 2d role of the free response section, you will listen and respond orally to prompts. You will first demand to consummate v exchanges (xx-second responses) in a simulated chat. You will so deliver a ii-minute presentation comparing a cultural feature of a French-speaking community to some other community you're familiar with.
Example of a spoken free response question:
AP French Language and Culture Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate
| Examination | five | 4 | 3 | two | 1 |
| AP French Language and Civilization | sixteen.ane% | 25.iii% | 35.seven% | 18.ii% | iv.seven% |
In 2019, students generally did quite well on the AP French Language and Culture exam. Of all test takers, more than 77% received a score of three or higher, including 73.ix% of standard grouping students (excluding native or heritage speakers). Only 16.1% of all students received the pinnacle score of 5, while less than 5% scored a 1 on the exam.
Proceed in mind that credit and avant-garde standing based on AP scores varies widely from college to higher. While a iii is generally considered passing, y'all may need a iv or 5 to receive credit. Some schools don't grant credit at all, and but use AP exams for placement. Yous tin discover regulations regarding which AP exams qualify for course credits or advanced placement at specific colleges on the College Lath's website .
A total course description that can help to guide your studying and understanding of the cognition required for the test can be found on the College Board AP French course website . If you're curious about other score distributions, see our mail service Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .
Best Means to Written report for the AP French Language and Culture Test
Step 1: Assess Your Skills
Take a exercise test to assess your initial noesis of the fabric. Although the Higher Lath does non provide a complete practice test, y'all tin find sample questions with scoring explanations included in the class description . Additionally, there are free practice exam questions available on practiceexam.com . You lot may too find practice or diagnostic exams in many of the commercial study guides.
Step 2: Study the Theory
To really devote yourself to this study, y'all should endeavour to immerse yourself as much as possible in French language and culture. You should heed to, speak, and read French as much as you can. Yous can find interesting books in French, watch Youtube videos in French, read the French news (similar Le Monde) , follow French blogs, or mind to French podcasts. Endeavor to find engaging sources of information presented in French and use them as much equally possible. You lot will be amazed by how much your own listening, spoken language, and written French will improve simply from exposing yourself to the linguistic communication more often.
You lot can also ready for the examination past reviewing the Higher Board's AP World Linguistic communication Practice Tips and by previewing the exam's sample AP French sound files .
For a more specific idea of where to focus your studying, you may consider using a commercial study guide. Barron'due south AP French Language and Civilisation with MP3 CD offers a comprehensive guide to the exam content, including two full-length practice exams with all questions answered and explained, along with an MP3 CD containing exemplary conversations and oral presentations. Barron's is the meridian-rated choice for AP French Language and Civilization study guides.
Some other solid option is the AP French Language & Culture All Admission w/Audio: Book + Online + Mobile , which receives good reviews for the volume of practice cloth it includes, though some users annotation that information technology contains some typos and should exist used but in conjunction with other study materials to reinforce existing skills.
In add-on, there are tons of study resource available online, including many from AP teachers who have posted comprehensive outlines and study guides. This AP French website , created by a long-time teacher, has a host of links, references, and courses. Best of all, it's free!
Another convenient way to study is to employ one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams.. The FluentU app has a free version with basic video content that is highly rated for foreign language acquisition, just picket out for in-app purchases—the "Plus" version tin can set you back between $30 and $240.
Step iii: Practise Multiple-Option Questions
Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You tin find these in nigh study guides or through online searches. Y'all could also try taking the multiple-choice section of another practice exam.
The College Lath Course Description includes many practice multiple selection questions along with explanations of their answers. Equally y'all go through these, try to go along rails of which areas are even so tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Focus on understanding what each question is asking and keep a running list of any vocabulary that is still unfamiliar.
Step 4: Do Free Response Questions
Your preparations for the free response section of the AP French Language and Culture exam will differ from the preparations for those of other AP exams. Although you'll still need to practise some writing responses, you'll also need to practice your listening skills and oral responses.
Regardless, you should begin your preparations for the costless response section past brushing up on your vocabulary and grammar. Quizlet and Brainscape both have good online flashcards available for gratuitous. Make sure you have a solid option of verbs to fall back on in both conversational and formal tones, and exercise using them in multiple contexts. Although you won't officially be scored on your grammar, you'll all the same demand to be able to communicate effectively, so brand sure you can become your point across.
Your best training for the written prompts is simple: repeated practice prompts. You tin notice tons of past test prompts dating back to 2012 on the College Board'south AP French Linguistic communication and Culture test homepage . While you're there, also cheque out the Student Operation Q&A links, which give you insights from the Main Reader of the AP Examination. This effigy compiles feedback from members of the reading leadership to describe how students performed on the free response questions, summarize typical student errors, and address specific concepts with which students have struggled the nearly that particular twelvemonth.
The oral portion of the free response section is perhaps the hardest to prepare for, since it can be difficult to judge your own speaking abilities. One suggested practise method is to record your own sample answers using the past examination prompts, then replay them for yourself after you've reviewed the scoring criteria. You might besides team upward with a classmate to compare responses and offer each other some effective criticism. Some other less direct method of preparation is merely to make certain you are hearing and speaking as much French as possible on a daily basis.
Footstep 5: Take Another Practise Test
Every bit yous did at the very beginning of your studying, have a practice examination to evaluate your progress. You should see a steady progression of knowledge yous've accumulated, and it's probable that you volition see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement.
If you lot have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.
Step 6: Test Mean solar day Specifics
If you're taking the AP course associated with this examination, your teacher will walk you lot through how to register. If you're self-studying, bank check out our blog post How to Self-Register for AP Exams .
For data nearly what to bring to the exam, see our post What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Habitation)?
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For more than information about APs, check out these CollegeVine posts:
- 2020 AP Test Schedule
- How Long is Each AP Test?
- Easiest and Hardest AP Exams
Source: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-ap-french-language-and-culture-exam/
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