AP Spanish Language and Culture · Exam guide
AP Spanish Language Multiple-Choice Guide: Listening and Reading Sets
Section II of the AP Spanish Language exam is 55 multiple-choice questions in about 80 minutes. They come in eleven sets of five questions, 25 on listening and 30 on reading. Each set is built on one or two audio or written texts, such as an interview, an article or a chart. The examples below are original.
The format
| Part | Questions | The five kinds of listening sets and four kinds of reading sets |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 25 (five sets) | One set each of: audio and chart, audio report, instructional guidance, interview, presentation. |
| Reading | 30 (six sets) | Six sets across four task types: article, article and chart, literary text, promotional material. The mix varies each year. |
| Total | 55 | Eleven sets of five questions |
What the questions ask
- The main idea or purpose of the text or recording.
- A detail that the text states.
- The tone or attitude of the speaker or writer.
- What a word or phrase means in context.
- An inference that the text supports but does not say directly.
- How a chart relates to the text or the audio.
A sample item
Text (made up): "El mercado del barrio abre los sábados desde hace cuarenta años. Los vendedores dicen que, además de vender frutas, mantienen vivas las conversaciones entre vecinos." Question: ¿Cuál es el propósito principal del texto? (A) anunciar precios de frutas, (B) mostrar que el mercado tiene una función social, (C) criticar a los vendedores, (D) explicar cómo se cultivan las frutas.
Answer: (B). The phrase "mantienen vivas las conversaciones entre vecinos" shows that the text is about more than selling fruit.
Strategies for listening sets
- Read the questions in the set before the audio starts, so you know what to listen for.
- Take short notes in Spanish or English: the speaker's main point and any numbers.
- Mark your best answer as you listen, then use any pause to review the question you were unsure about.
Strategies for reading sets
- Read the introduction above the text. It often names the source and the topic.
- For a chart, read the title, the labels and the units before the questions.
- Find the line in the text that supports your answer before choosing.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an answer that mentions a word you recognize but does not answer the question.
- Ignoring the chart in a listening set, when a question asks how the chart relates to the audio.
- Spending too long on one set. There are eleven sets, so about seven minutes each.
- Leaving questions blank. Answer them all.
Frequently asked questions
How many multiple-choice questions are on AP Spanish Language?
55, in eleven sets of five: 25 on listening and 30 on reading. They take about 80 minutes.
Do I hear the audio twice?
The recordings in the multiple-choice section are played according to the instructions on the exam. Read the directions at the start of each set.
Are charts part of the section?
Yes. Some sets use a chart or table, alone or alongside a recording.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
No. Answer every question.
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
Every unit in the AP Spanish course ends with a ten-question review with an explanation for each option, and the lessons include audio practice and chart reading. 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
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AP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse this site. This guide is our own explanation of the question types and scoring. For the official scoring guidelines, see the College Board.