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About the Exam
The AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam will test your ability to apply communication skills developed in the course and ask you to demonstrate your understanding of Japanese-speaking culture.
This is a fully digital exam. You’ll complete multiple-choice and free-response questions in the Bluebook testing app, with all responses automatically submitted at the end of the exam. For the speaking part of the exam, you’ll hear audio prompts and record your responses directly in Bluebook.
You’ll complete a project prior to exam day to prepare for two authentic speaking tasks on the exam: Project Presentation and Project Q&A.
The input method for typing Japanese is the Google Japanese IME, which allows you to type in different modes including hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Instructions are provided on the exam screens.
Approximately 2hrs
Exam Dates
Deadline: Submit Your Personalized Project Reference (PPR) through the AP Digital Portfolio
AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam
This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam.
Exam Components
Section I: Free Response
4 questions 50% of Score
For Questions 1 and 2, you will answer prompts based on the research you completed for the project topic released in January of the exam year. Questions 3 and 4 are independent of the project topic.
- Question 1: Project Presentation: 20% of Score
Deliver a presentation in response to the project prompt about what you learned through your research. (3 minutes to prepare; 3 minutes to present.) - Question 2: Project Q&A: 15% of Score
Participate in a simulated question-and-answer exchange about your project and research by responding to 4 pre-recorded questions that are not known to you ahead of the exam. (40 seconds for each response.) - Question 3: Story Narration: 7.5% of Score
Write a story based on four provided pictures. - Question 4: Email Response: 7.5% of Score
Compose an email in response to an email received from a friend or member of the community.
You’ll have 30 minutes to complete both writing tasks (Questions 3 and 4).
Section II: Multiple Choice
55 questions 50% of Score
- Part A: Listening: 25 questions; 25 minutes; 25% of Score
- Part B: Reading: 30 questions; 40 minutes; 25% of Score
Exam Essentials
Exam Preparation
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AP Classroom Resources
Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access course project materials along with any assignments from your teacher and your assignment results in AP Classroom. Sign in to access them.
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Free-Response Questions and Scoring Information
Go to AP Central to review free-response questions and scoring information from past AP Japanese Language and Culture exams.
Download
AP Japanese Language and Culture Course and Exam Description
This is the core document for this course. Unit guides lay out suggested thematic content and skills as well as recommend sequencing. The included project manual provides suggested pacing and activities to guide students through the project component of the course. Note: Audio icons in this CED are temporarily inactive; audio is available in AP Classroom and will be restored once this PDF issue is resolved.
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Practice on Bluebook
Download the Bluebook app and log in with your College Board account information to access test previews for the digital AP Exams.
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Guidance for Artificial Intelligence Tools and Other Services
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Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations for the through-course assessment and the end-of-course exam. If you’re using assistive technology and need help accessing the PDFs in this section in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected]. For information about taking AP Exams, or other College Board assessments, with accommodations, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website.
Credit and Placement
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