How Hard Is AP Spanish

When it comes to any Advanced Placement (AP) classes, high school students are held to a higher standard since they are taking college-level courses.

Any time you try to learn a new language, such as Spanish, it can be quite difficult to master it. If you combine the study of a new language with an AP class, students must be willing to put in a lot of time and effort to be successful.

AP Spanish is a rigorous language course for students since grammatical, tense, and vocabulary terms must be learned and memorized. However, according to the most recent AP Spanish exam scores, students excelled on the test. With proper study techniques, students can succeed in this class.

If you are in AP Spanish, or if you are considering taking the class, there are a few things that you should be aware of. Understanding what to expect and planning accordingly will help you succeed in the class.

AP Spanish Course Goals

The main purpose of taking any AP class is to succeed on the AP exam at the end of the year to get college credits. When a student takes AP Spanish, the teacher is going to do their best to provide the materials, lectures, and activities that will help their class succeed.

In order to understand the Spanish language, students must learn how to:

• Speak
• Read
• Write
• Listen
• Recall grammar and vocabulary words

When students combine these learning skills, they can eventually master the language of Spanish. Teachers, or profesors/profesoras in AP Spanish classes, are going to use a variety of activities and materials to help you learn these different language skills.

This is extremely helpful for the student, especially because the AP exam will use a variety of methods to test students on their language mastery.

Educators will use worksheets to help students comprehend the language and learn how to write out the Spanish words.

They will also use a variety of recordings so students know how to listen to the language. There also might be activities in the classroom, such as facilitated conversations, role-playing, plays, etc. to help students feel more comfortable with speaking the new language.

At the beginning of the year, teachers will most likely go over grammar so that students can refresh what they have learned, or so they can create a solid foundation before moving on to more rigorous work. Once students gain a good base of knowledge, they will be able to master verb conjugations such as stem changes and irregular verbs.

Students are also required to know where the accent marks need to be placed on certain letters. Accents on certain letters are important in the Spanish language because it adds stress to a certain vowel, which can completely change the meaning of the word.

This is also important in AP classes because students are required to write essays in Spanish. Correct spelling and grammar will be crucial in this setting.

Why You Should Take AP Spanish

There are a variety of reasons why you should consider taking AP Spanish. First of all, learning a new language helps expand your mind and is a great tool for memorization. You will surprise yourself with all the new words and skills you will be able to learn.

Spanish is also a great tool to use in your community so you can reach out to people at work or in school. Not only is learning Spanish helpful, but it is also enjoyable, and research shows that learning a second language can boost your confidence.

In addition, you will be able to receive college credits for taking AP Spanish. If you plan on having a career in language interpretation, international studies, or teaching, you will be able to complete college at a faster rate and get started with your chosen occupation.

What Classes Should You Take Before AP Spanish

If you are a non-native Spanish speaker, it would be best to create a foundation before taking on a college-level course. High schools will often offer lower-level Spanish classes so you can start learning the alphabet, numbers, time, greetings, present-tense conjugation, and so on.

In many cases, you will have to know all of the verb tenses for AP Spanish, so it would be good to get a year or two of Spanish classes under your belt before taking the plunge into a college-level course.

Although it is not a prerequisite, it would be helpful to take other AP or honors courses that are not language programs so you can prepare yourself for the workload.

AP and honors classes are often rigorous and require a great deal of time and effort, so it would be best to see how you do with one class before moving on to something as difficult as AP Spanish.

AP Spanish Help

Fortunately, there are many online resources for students to help with Spanish (not including Google Translate of course). On the College Board website, there is even a helpful link to audio files that can help you prepare for the multiple-choice section of your test.

You can also go to tutoring websites such as Khan Academy or Varsity Tutors to get more practice time.

The US Department of State has said that it takes 24-34 weeks or 600-750 hours for English speakers to learn Spanish, so try to study as hard as you can. It will be difficult, but it will be worth it!

If you are struggling with AP Spanish, feel free to talk to your teacher or counselor so they can provide you will the help that you need. Learning a new language is not an easy feat, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and ask for some extra help.

Taking the AP Spanish Exam

The AP test for Spanish can be quite rigorous, especially since it lasts for about 3 hours. The AP Spanish exam costs $96 in the US and $126 outside of the US. This might sound like an expensive test, but think about all the money you will save from not having to take a college course!

According to the AP Spanish Language and Culture Course and Exam Description, the exam is challenging, with 3 different sections to test students’ Spanish mastery.

Part I of the test has 65 multiple choice questions that test students on text and audio.

Part II of the exam has 4 different free-response questions that make up 50% of the exam grade. The test also utilizes a variety of themes within the test about families, societies, artwork, the influence of language, technology, environmental and political changes (p. 161).

If it makes you feel any better, according to the college board, 25% of test-takers got a 5 (the best score for an AP exam) on the AP Spanish exam in 2019. Most students did well, and if you study hard and work on the skill little by little every day, you will probably do a great job on the AP exam!