Exam graders test a student’s level of reading comprehension using multiple-choice reading questions and free-response writing tasks. To prepare for these assignments, have students read a variety of foreign language sources, including newspapers, magazines and books. Emphasize materials that focus on global challenges, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, families and communities, personal and public identities and contemporary life – themes covered on the AP exam. As they read, students should practice identifying the main idea and the writer’s point of view.
Students must be able to process auditory information to complete numerous multiple-choice questions and speaking tasks. Help students work on their listening comprehension by playing various audio clips inside the classroom. Use podcasts, video clips and TV or radio broadcasts from websites such as Broadcast Live. Test preparation companies such as Barron’s and Princeton Review are additional resources that offer practice exam questions accompanied by listening sources.
Students must demonstrate the ability to communicate through speech and writing during the exam. During the interpersonal writing task, they are asked to write a short response to emails or digital chat messages published on the exam. To prepare, students should understand and practice using correspondence-related vocabulary. During the interpersonal speaking activity, students engage in a conversation by recording their responses to clips from a simulated phone call. The best way to practice verbal exchanges is to engage students in class conversations whenever possible.
The foreign language AP exams include a presentation task that must be prepared and recorded by test takers. Students are given several minutes to put together a short speech about foreign culture. The subject of the presentation will be based on common AP themes, such social norms or foreign cuisine. Students will need to draw information from materials covered throughout the year because sources are not provided. To help students develop a focused essay on the assigned topic, organize exam study materials into cultural themes.