Last Updated: January 4, 2025
The AP German Language and Culture exam assesses your proficiency in German 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 Texts)
Section IB: Multiple Choice with Audio
Email Reply Score
Argumentative Essay Score
Simulated Conversation Score
Cultural Comparison Score
PREDICTED AP® SCORE
0 | Score range: 1 - 5
SECTION SCORES
Multiple Choice Score
0 / 100
Free Response Score
0 / 100
Combined Composite Score
0 / 200
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The AP German Language and Culture exam consists of two 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)
Interpretive communication through authentic print materials
Includes journalistic texts, literary texts, announcements, advertisements, letters, and charts
Tests comprehension of main ideas, supporting details, vocabulary, and cultural context
Section IB: Multiple Choice with Audio
Interpretive communication through authentic audio materials
Includes interviews, podcasts, announcements, conversations, and presentations
Audio texts are played twice
Section IIA: Free Response Written
Email Reply (15 minutes)
Argumentative Essay (55 minutes)
Based on three sources (article, chart/graph, and audio)
15 minutes to review materials, 40 minutes to write
Section IIB: Free Response Spoken
Simulated conversation with 5 exchanges
Cultural comparison presentation (2 minutes)
The AP German Language and Culture exam uses a weighted scoring system that combines your performance on 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 out of 200, which is then converted to the final AP score of 1-5. The distribution of scores from the most recent exam was:
| AP German Score | Percentage of Students |
|---|---|
| 5 | 26.1% |
| 4 | 20.3% |
| 3 | 23.4% |
| 2 | 20.1% |
| 1 | 10.1% |
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 German
Ability to interpret authentic materials in various formats
Clear and effective written communication
Strong speaking skills in both interpersonal and presentational modes
Cultural knowledge and understanding of German-speaking communities
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