AP CHINESE
LANGUAGE AND
CULTURE
AP Chinese Language and Culture – Student Guide
AP Chinese Language and Culture - Exam Overview
The AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam will test your ability to apply communication skills developed in the course, including interpreting different types of written and audio texts, writing to and speaking with others, and presenting your ideas in written and spoken Chinese. Throughout the exam, you will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of Chinese-speaking cultures.
The exam is administered in schools on computers. On exam day, you will read text on the screen, listen through a headset, type using the keyboard, and speak into a microphone.
Chinese text on the screen can be displayed in simplified characters or in traditional characters, and you may toggle between the two versions if necessary. When typing your responses in the Writing part of the exam, you may choose from the following three input methods: Pinyin Simplified, Pinyin Traditional, and Bopomofo. The display and input options will have no effect on your exam score.
Here, is where you can Review the 2022 AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam Overview.
Exam Duration
2 hours
Exam Components
Section IA: Multiple Choice Listening - 25–35 questions | 20mins | 25% of Score
This section consists of a variety of audio materials, including transportation announcements, voice messages, school conversations, radio reports, instructions, and dialogues. It is divided into 2 subsections:
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The first consists of rejoinders. You will listen to a series of brief conversations and after listening to each one, you will select the most logical next response in the conversation from the choices offered. (10-15 questions; 10 minutes; 10% of exam score)
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The second includes a range of listening selections. (15–20 questions; 10 minutes; 15% of exam score)
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Questions will test your ability to:
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Identify the main ideas and supporting details in the audio material
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Determine the meaning of a variety of vocabulary and deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words
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Decide the meaning of a text based on cultural and/or interdisciplinary information
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Infer implied meaning through context
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Section IB: Multiple Choice Reading - 35–40 questions | 1hr | 25% of Score
This section consists of a variety of written materials (e.g., journalistic and literary texts, announcements, advertisements, signs, brochures, and posters). Questions will test your ability to:
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Identify the main ideas and supporting details in the written material
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Determine the meaning of a variety of vocabulary and deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words
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Decide the meaning of a text based on cultural and/or interdisciplinary information
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Infer implied meaning through context
Section IIA: Free Response Written - 2 questions | 30mins | 25% of Score
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Presentational Writing: Narrate a story suggested by a series of pictures (15 minutes; 15% of exam score)
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Interpersonal Writing: Read and answer an email message (15 minutes; 10% of exam score)
Section IIB: Free Response Spoken - 2 tasks, 7 questions | 11mins | 25% of Score
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Interpersonal Speaking: Respond to a series of 6 thematically linked questions as part of a simulated conversation (4 minutes; 10% of exam score).
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Presentational Speaking: Deliver a presentation on a given aspect of Chinese culture. You’ll have 1 minute to read the prompt, 4 minutes to prepare, and 2 minutes to present (7 minutes; 15% of exam score).
AP Chinese Language and Culture – Scoring
For the first section (multiple-choice), for every question you answer correctly, you will get one point each. There is no negative marking. It means that even if your answer is wrong or left blank, no points are deducted.
Next is the free response section. Its scoring system is a bit complicated. Rather than being graded by AI, it is reviewed by AP graders and scored following these guidelines for AP Chinese Language and Culture.
For more information about AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam and scoring, you can visit the College Board’s website.
AP Chinese Language and Culture – Credit
Keep in mind, credit and advanced standing based on AP scores vary widely from school to school. Though a score of 3 is typically considered passing, it is not always enough to receive credit. Regulations regarding which APs qualify for course credits or advanced placement depend on the policy that your desired college or university has for AP exams.
AP Chinese Language and Culture - Study Resources
• College Board Classroom Resources
• AP Chinese Language and Culture + Online Audio (Barron's Test Prep) Third Edition
• Gimkit
• Learning Chinese Through Stories
• STARTALK Classroom Activities
• 真实语料学中文
• 儿童资源网
• Chinese Extensive Listening 汉语泛听
• Overseas Chinese Language and Culture Education Online 中国华文教育网
AP World Language and Culture Exam Tips
In today's global community, competence in more than one language is an essential part of communication and cultural understanding. Your study of another language not only provides you with the ability to express thoughts and ideas but also gives you access to perspectives and knowledge that are only available through the language and culture. Language learning offers social, cultural, academic, and workplace benefits that will serve you throughout your life.
Developing Your Communication Skills
As you develop language proficiency, you learn to use your language skills within the three modes of communication.
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In Interpersonal Communication, you engage in conversations and discussions, express ideas, and exchange opinions using both spoken and written language.
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In Interpretive Communication, you understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
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In Presentational Communication, you present information and ideas to an audience using spoken and written language.
Interpersonal Communication
Take every opportunity to use the language as much as you can. Participate actively in class discussions, get to know exchange students or other advanced students of the language, or connect with students from around the world using technology. Don’t worry about making mistakes, just use the language. If you find yourself struggling to remember a word, think about another way of expressing your idea.
In this mode of communication, you’ll need to be able to ask and answer a variety of questions, exchange information and ideas, and state and support your opinions. You’ll also need to interact appropriately in formal and informal situations with adults and peers.
Interpretive Communication
You should read, listen to, and watch a variety of materials from countries where the language you are studying is spoken. Explore your personal interests and find podcasts, websites, and videos that are especially interesting. Learn about current events by watching the news or reading online newspapers and magazines. For enjoyment, watch movies or cartoons, read stories, or listen to music. The important thing is you are using your language skills—and learning something about the cultural products, practices, and perspectives of the places where the language is spoken.
In this mode of communication, you’ll need to be able to understand the main ideas and some details; recognize the purpose, points of view, and audience; and think about perspectives different from your own. You don’t have to understand every word to be successful.
Presentational Communication
Being able to present your ideas in an organized way to various audiences is an important aspect of communication. Presentational Communication includes responding to text-chat messages, making a speech, writing an article that compares and contrasts two given topics, and making a presentation to your classmates or members of the community. No matter what the situation, you’ll need to prepare your thoughts and ideas in an organized fashion to reach your audience effectively.
In this mode of communication, you’ll need to be able to organize your presentation around the main idea and develop it in a logical fashion with relevant details and support. Depending on the goals of your presentation, you’ll need to be able to elaborate, describe, explain, compare/contrast, or justify your opinions.
Task Verbs
Pay close attention to the task verbs used in the free-response questions. Each one directs you to complete a specific type of response. Here are the task verbs you’ll see on the exam:
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Choose: Select a topic among provided choices.
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Compare/Highlight: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.
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Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.
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Explain: Provide information about how or why a specific perspective is significant.
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Hear: Listen to directions and an audio source
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Imagine: Visualize ideas related to a stimulus.
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Make a presentation: Orally respond to a prompt.
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Make a speech: Deliver a speech.
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Narrate: Describe or recount a complete story (with a beginning, middle, and end) as suggested by the pictures.
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Participate in a conversation: Respond to spoken prompts (such as providing a greeting; offering details, explanations, opinions, or perspectives; accepting or declining an invitation or suggestions; proposing solutions; and/or concluding a conversation).
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Prepare: Plan your response.
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Read: Look at or view printed directions and information.
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Record: Capture spoken responses digitally.
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Respond: Reply to a question or prompt.
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Speak: Express ideas verbally in response to a specific question or prompt.
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Type: Use a keyboard to type answers in the target language.
Best Ways to Study for the AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam
Assess Your Skills
It’s important to start your studying off with a good understanding of your existing knowledge. Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge of the material. Although the College Board does not provide a complete practice test, you can find sample questions with scoring explanations included in the course and exam description. You may also find practice or diagnostic exams in many of the commercial study guides.
Know what to expect
A good place to begin is The College Board’s AP Chinese Language and Culture course and exam description, which covers everything from learning objectives to sample questions.
You can find a variety of Chinese texts at multiple comprehension levels available from Chinese Breeze and you can find news stories written for student-level Chinese comprehension at The Chairman’s Bao. You can also prepare for the exam by reviewing the College Board’s AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam Past Exam Questions.
For a more specific idea of where to focus your studying, you may consider using a commercial study guide. Because the AP Chinese Language and Culture course has not been updated in over five years, many study materials are available. AP Chinese Language and Culture + Online Audio (Barron's Test Prep) Third Edition provides a very comprehensive guide to the exam.
Practice Multiple-Choice Questions
Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. You could also try taking the multiple-choice section of another practice exam.
The College Board Course and Exam Description includes many practice multiple choice questions along with explanations of their answers. As you go through these, try to keep track of which areas are still 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.
Practice Free-response Questions
You can begin your preparations for the free-response section by brushing up on your vocabulary and grammar. Make sure you have a solid selection of verbs to fall back on in both conversational and formal tones, and practice using them in multiple contexts. Although you won’t officially be scored on your grammar, you’ll still need to be able to communicate effectively, so make sure you can get your point across. Look through AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam Past Exam Questions for sample responses and scoring commentary.
This oral portion of the free response is perhaps the hardest to prepare for, since it can be difficult to gauge your own speaking abilities. One suggested practice method is to record your own sample answers using the past exam prompts, and then replay them for yourself after you’ve reviewed the scoring criteria. You might also team up with a classmate to compare responses and offer each other some constructive criticism. Another less direct method of preparation is simply to make sure you are hearing and speaking as much Chinese as possible on a daily basis.
Take another practice test
Once you’ve put some studying in, take another practice test. You should see a steady progression of knowledge you’ve accumulated, and it’s likely that you will see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement. If you have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.
Conclusion
Students who are interested in gaining proficiencies in the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of Chinese communication are best suited for this line of study. If you are interested in taking the AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam—whether you have taken the class, are a native speaker, or have self-studied, remember that the quickest way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it as much as possible. Have a positive mindset and always look forward to your goal, this will give you motivation. On exam day, if you make little mistakes, it's okay! If you’ll succeed, then you’ve proven that you are indeed talented in being a multi-lingual individual. If you fail, do not be afraid to try again. Good luck!