Last Updated: January 10, 2025
The AP French Language and Culture exam assesses your proficiency in French through multiple choice questions and free response tasks. The exam is scored on a scale of 1 - 5, with a 5 being the highest possible score.
The scores in this calculator are estimates based on previous scoring curves. The actual scoring curve may vary year to year.
Instructions
Enter your scores for each section using the sliders below to calculate your estimated AP score.
Section IA: Multiple Choice (Print)
Section IB: Multiple Choice (Audio)
Email Reply
Argumentative Essay
Simulated Conversation
Cultural Comparison
PREDICTED AP® SCORE
0 | Score range: 1 - 5
SECTION SCORES
Multiple Choice Score
0 / 80
Free Response Score
0 / 80
Combined Composite Score
0 / 160
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The AP French Language and Culture exam consists of four main sections:
| Section | Question Type | Time | Questions | Exam Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section IA | Multiple Choice (Print) | 40 minutes | 30 questions | 23% |
| Section IB | Multiple Choice (Audio) | 55 minutes | 35 questions | 27% |
| Section IIA | Free Response Written | 1 hour 10 minutes | 2 tasks | 25% |
| Section IIB | Free Response Spoken | 18 minutes | 2 tasks | 25% |
Total exam time: ~3 hours
Section IA: Multiple Choice (Print)
Tests comprehension of authentic French texts
Includes various print materials like articles, advertisements, and charts
Focuses on main ideas, details, vocabulary, and cultural context
Section IB: Multiple Choice (Audio)
Tests comprehension of spoken French
Includes audio materials like interviews, podcasts, and conversations
Some questions combine audio with print materials
Audio played twice for each set of questions
Section IIA: Free Response Written
Email Reply (15 minutes)
Argumentative Essay (55 minutes)
Based on three sources (print and audio)
Requires synthesis and comparison of viewpoints
Section IIB: Free Response Spoken
Simulated conversation with 5 exchanges
Cultural comparison presentation (2 minutes)
The AP French Language and Culture exam combines your performance across all sections. The multiple-choice sections account for 50% of your score (23% print + 27% audio), and the free-response sections make up the other 50% (25% written + 25% spoken).
Your raw scores from each section are converted into a composite score, which is then converted to the final AP score of 1-5. The distribution of scores from the most recent exam was:
| AP French Score | Percentage of Students |
|---|---|
| 5 | 6.0% |
| 4 | 21.7% |
| 3 | 32.9% |
| 2 | 24.9% |
| 1 | 14.5% |
A score of 3 or higher is generally considered passing, though many top colleges only award credit for scores of 4 or 5. For college admissions purposes, a 4 or 5 is considered a strong score.
To earn a high score (4 or 5), students typically need to demonstrate:
Strong comprehension of written and spoken French
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and speaking
Cultural knowledge of French-speaking communities
Skills in comparing cultural perspectives
Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources
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