AP Spanish Language and Culture · Exam guide
AP Spanish Language Argumentative Essay Explained: Using Three Sources to Earn 10 Points
The argumentative essay is the last task of Section I. You have 55 minutes to write in Spanish, using three sources: two printed (usually an article and a chart or table) and one audio, which is played twice. It is worth 10 points. The sources below are made up for practice.
The rubric in one table
| Row | Points | What earns it |
|---|---|---|
| A. Postura (position) | 1 | A position that answers the question directly. A position with a condition counts. |
| B. Uso de las fuentes (sources) | 2 | All three sources are used, named by title, author or number, and commented on to support your argument. |
| C. Argumentación | 2 | Reasons that are developed and well linked, and a different point of view that you acknowledge and answer. |
| D. Organización | 2 | An introduction, one idea per paragraph, a conclusion, and connectors. |
| E. Control de la lengua | 3 | Sustained control of tenses and moods, agreement, vocabulary and spelling. |
| Total | 10 |
A made-up prompt
Question: ¿Deben las escuelas dedicar tiempo a enseñar lenguas indígenas? Fuente 1 (artículo): una maestra de Cusco explica que los niños que estudian quechua en clase se sienten más orgullosos de su familia. Fuente 2 (gráfica): el porcentaje de familias que hablan quechua en casa baja entre los más jóvenes. Fuente 3 (audio): un director de escuela advierte que faltan maestros y materiales.
Row A: the position
It describes the debate and takes no position.
It answers the question, adds a condition, and gives the reason the essay will develop.
Row B: using the sources
It names the sources but says nothing about what they show or how they help the argument.
Each source is named, its content is stated, and it is tied to the argument.
Row C: answering a different view
It states the opposing point from a source and responds to it.
A 55-minute plan
| Minutes | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | Read the question and the two printed sources. Mark each source's point of view. |
| 5 to 10 | Listen to the audio (it plays twice) and take notes. |
| 10 to 15 | Choose a position and write one reason for each source. |
| 15 to 50 | Write the essay. |
| 50 to 55 | Check verbs, agreement, accents and connectors. |
Common mistakes
- Summarizing the sources with no position of your own.
- Leaving out the audio source or referring to it only as "la grabación" with no content.
- Using a position that does not answer the question that was asked.
- Skipping the opposing view.
- Mixing tenses or losing agreement, which costs points in Row E.
Frequently asked questions
How many sources does the essay use?
Three: two printed sources and one audio source, which is played twice.
Can I use ideas that are not in the sources?
Yes, but all three sources must be used. Your own examples support the argument and do not replace them.
How long should the essay be?
There is no required length. Four or five paragraphs is typical in 55 minutes.
Do accents count?
Spelling, including accents, is part of control of the language, but a clear message matters most.
Where can I find the official scoring rules?
Exam formats change a little from year to year, so check the current course and exam description on the College Board site before test day.
Keep practicing
The AP Spanish course has three production sections with five tasks each (the essay, the presentation and the questions), each with a model response scored on the full rubric. These free lessons also build the skills the free-response section tests:
See the AP Spanish Language and Culture course Free lessons and lesson list
More AP Spanish Language and Culture guides (5)
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Free-response and writing
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Multiple choice
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