AP Spanish Practice Tests & Study Tips

What Topics Are Covered On The AP Spanish Exam?

The AP Spanish exam tests students not only on Spanish vocabulary and grammar, but also on how they can apply this knowledge to real conversation and understanding of Spanish culture.

The test involves both multiple-choice and free-response sections. A student who is truly ready for anything on the test will be able to read, write, listen, and speak about the following subjects:

• Familial and societal traditions
• How language and culture affect identity
• Beauty and art in Spanish culture
• Spanish influences from and on science and technology
• Factors impacting quality of life
• Environmental, societal, and political challenges in Spanish society

How Is The AP Spanish Exam Scored?

The AP Spanish test involves two sections. The multiple-choice section has two subsections (Part A and Part B). The free-response section has four questions.

Section 1, Part A: This section of the test takes about 40 minutes and has 30 multiple-choice questions. It is based on interpretive communication with print texts (i.e., vocab, context, main ideas, and details). It accounts for 23% of the student’s score.

Section 1, Part B: This section takes about 55 minutes, as it has 35 interpretive communication multiple-choice questions from both print and audio texts. This part accounts for 27% of the entire score.

Section 2: This is the free-response section and includes four separate questions. Each “question” accounts for 12.5%, for a total of 50% of the score.

• Question 1: Email Reply – The student must write a formal email response including an opening and closing. They have to answer questions from the email and ask for details about the stated information.
• Question 2: Argumentative Essay – The student will pretend they are submitting an essay in a Spanish writing contest. They will use print and audio sources as references.
• Question 3: Conversation – The student will engage in conversation, with five turns responding to someone else. Each response will give them 20 seconds.
• Question 4: Cultural Comparison – Here, the student compares an aspect of Spanish society with one from their own or one from another culture. They not only have to show Spanish proficiency but a solid cultural understanding.

Free AP Spanish Practice Tests

These free resources will help you get confident with the AP Spanish exam and understand if your skills will get you the score you’re looking to achieve.

Scaled Score: This site gives detailed practice questions for each section of the AP Spanish exam, including multiple choice and free-response. It also details common mistakes to avoid.

Study.com: With Study.com, you get to see whether or not your practice test answers were correct so you can know what areas of your Spanish need more attention. They have tens of thousands of lessons that can improve your skills.

Varsity Tutors: If you’re looking for a diagnostic AP Spanish practice test, this is the place for you. They give a leveled diagnostic test as well as 79 practice tests from to increase your confidence, as well as daily questions, flashcards, and topics to study.

AP Central: AP Central allows students to download past free-response questions to practice answering without the pressure of moderators and time constraints. They have the exact questions from the past ten years of tests; if you can answer these well, you should be good to go.

Using Apps To Learn Spanish

One way to quickly boost your Spanish language skills and vocabulary is by consistently using an app or course to practice. In my experience, it only takes five to ten minutes per day to make improvements and increase your chance of getting a 5 on the exam.

A couple of the top-rated Spanish apps our team has tested include Rocket Spanish and Pimsleur Spanish. These apps are particularly helpful because their lessons include simulated conversations with fluent speakers. It’s these type of the drills and exercises that will help prepare you for the AP Spanish exam.

A few other language learning apps you may want to consider include Babbel Spanish, Duolingo, or Rosetta Stone. Each of these Spanish language courses will help raise your fluency level through practice and repetition.

Other Tips For Studying Spanish

Every language learner can benefit from some practical tips that make their skills a bit more solid. For Spanish, some of the best tips are below.

👉 Read out loud. Reading out loud helps with your accent and gives you plenty of practice with how words are meant to flow.

👉 Use flashcards. Flashcards are great for vocabulary memorization. Be sure to use that new knowledge in everyday Spanish speaking.

👉 Watch movies or telenovelas. Movies and shows give you an ear for how Spanish is used in real life. Usually, people speak more informally on TV and in movies, so it will help you with your conversational skills.

👉 Listen to music. Set some presets in your car to the Spanish stations. Music has a way of imprinting things into our brains that other ways of learning just can’t match. Plus, you’ll get to hear the radio commercials and DJs, too, which will further influence your ear for the language.

👉 Be consistent. Make it a habit to practice your Spanish skills every day, whether it’s reading a book, listening to music, or even talking to yourself in the mirror.

👉 Think out loud. Talk to yourself as you go about your day. Label your surroundings, talk about the chores you’re doing, and give yourself directions as you drive in the car. All of this helps bring your Spanish skills to life.

👉 Practice with an amigo. Language is about communication, so communicate! Find another learner or a native speaker to practice with who will commit to helping guide you and gently correcting you when necessary.

👉 Be patient with yourself. Every person’s language skills take time to develop—even native speakers. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because that’s one of the best ways to learn.

Conclusion

Crushing the AP Spanish exam isn’t hard. It’s one of the things you’ve been working toward for years. It’s the icing on the cake—especially when you’ll be able to skip ahead in your college courses. Utilize these free AP Spanish practice exams and real-life tips so that you can show your proficiency and continue on your language learning journey.