Bonjour à tous! I'm gearing up for the AP French exam later this year, and I could use some advice. How is the test structured? What areas should I focus on to do well? Thanks a ton!
Salut! The AP French Language and Culture exam is divided into two sections: multiple choice and free-response.
The multiple-choice section makes up 50% of your total score and it's divided into two parts: Part A is Interpretive Communication - Print Texts, and Part B is Interpretive Communication - Print and Audio Texts (combined). These sections test your reading and listening skills, respectively, and consist of a mixture of authentic sources, such as newspapers, articles, or scripts.
The free-response section also accounts for 50% of your total score and it's divided into four tasks: Persuasive Essay, Interpersonal Email Response, Conversation, and Cultural Comparison Presentation. The written portions will assess your writing skills in an Interpersonal Email and a Persuasive Essay, while the spoken portions evaluate your speaking skills through a Conversation and a Cultural Comparison.
As for areas of focus, while it's important to practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking in French, you should also consider studying various French-speaking cultures. The AP French Language and Culture exam is very heavily culture-based, with cultural underpinnings in every task. If you're able to understand and interpret a French article, sure that's great, but if you can provide insightful thoughts in French about the societal implications of the content of the article in a broader cultural sense, you're on your way to a good score.
I've seen students achieve scores of 3 to 5 on this exam by interacting with a variety of French language media resources like newspapers (Le Monde, Le Figaro), films, podcasts, or websites daily. Look to apply what you encounter in these resources to help you understand the broader French and Francophone cultures.
Practicing your French with a native or fluent speaker would also be an immense help, as it gives you firsthand experience on conversational French which is part of the test.
Bonne chance avec votre préparation!
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