🇫🇷AP French Review
How Can I Be Prepared for the AP French FRQs?
How Can I Be Prepared for the AP French FRQs?
Because AP French Language & Culture is not a very common class, it can be a little difficult to find resources about the exam's format 🧐, especially for something as specific as its FRQ section. That's why we dedicated this post to everything you need to know about the AP French FRQs, from the different types you'll see on exam day to tips to keep in mind if you want to score high. Let's get into the content!
So, What Are FRQs?
Free-response questions (also known as FRQs) are questions that you reply to with an original answer, unlike multiple choice questions (MCQs), which have you select from a number of preselected options. You'll see four different types of FRQs on the exam (interpersonal writing, presentational writing, interpersonal speaking, and presentational speaking), which are usually grouped into two sections called Free Response Written ✍️ and Free Response Spoken 🗣️. The free-response section includes four tasks total and lasts 88 minutes: Email Reply (15 minutes), Argumentative Essay (55 minutes), Conversation (18 minutes), and Cultural Comparison (4 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to speak). The spoken tasks are the simulated conversation and the cultural comparison. This whole part of the exam counts for 50% of your score, so it's definitely important to have mastered its format and rubrics by exam day.
Important note: Some of the College Board prompt and scoring-guideline images linked below are older sample materials. They’re still useful for practice, but you should verify task directions, timing, and scoring information with the most current AP French Language and Culture exam materials.
AP French FRQs
Interpersonal Writing
First up is the interpersonal writing FRQ, which has you reply to an email 📧 using the content from a provided message. To score well, make sure you answer every question or request in the email, keep an appropriate formal or informal register based on the prompt, and include enough detail to sustain the exchange rather than giving one-word or list-like answers. For the interpersonal writing task, you reply to an email using details from the message and your knowledge of AP French themes and Francophone culture. The prompt will give you a context and questions to address, but you should not expect it to name a classroom unit for you on exam day. Focus on answering all parts of the email appropriately and fully. AP French prompts connect to the course's six themes, such as families, identity and language, beauty and art, science and technology, quality of life, and environmental/political/societal challenges. You have 15 minutes to write your response ✏️, which may seem like a time crunch, but is actually the perfect amount of time to write a short, concise response.
Former Student Tip: If you're finding yourself a little rusty when it comes to formal writing, definitely check out this Quizlet, which goes over need-to-know sentence starters, phrases, and transition words.
Presentational Writing
In the presentational writing task, you read and listen to three sources on the same issue, then write an argumentative essay in which you present and defend your own point of view while using evidence from the sources and citing them appropriately. For the argumentative essay, you have 55 minutes total to read/listen to the three sources, take notes, and write your essay. Use evidence from all three sources to support and defend your point of view, and cite the sources appropriately.
Former Student Tip: Review the terms in this Quizlet if you're having difficulty with formatting your argument. Once you have that down, study these terms, which will teach you terms to use when writing a strong essay.
Interpersonal Speaking
Next is the interpersonal speaking FRQ. In the interpersonal speaking task, you take part in a simulated conversation with a prerecorded speaker. You first preview the outline of the conversation, and then you respond to each prompt in order within the time allowed for that turn. Your goal is to answer each prompt fully and appropriately, maintain the exchange, and use language that fits the situation. Because the task is tightly timed, practice giving complete, relevant answers promptly and naturally.
Former Student Tip: If you want to improve your conversational skills by the exam, be sure to practice speaking with fluent French speakers you know like classmates, teachers, and family members.
Presentational Speaking
You're finally on the last part of the AP French exam, the presentational speaking FRQ. For the presentational speaking task (cultural comparison), you have 4 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to speak. You should compare an aspect of a Francophone community with your own or another community you know well, organize your response clearly, and explain the significance of the similarities and differences you discuss rather than simply listing facts.
Former Student Tip: Throughout the year, read news from different French-speaking nations (France, Switzerland, Senegal, etc) to keep up with current events in le monde francophone and international perspectives of different topics.
Hopefully, this post helped you understand the four types of FRQs on the AP French exam (interpersonal writing, presentational writing, interpersonal speaking, and presentational speaking) and what graders are looking for when grading your responses. We know that it is a lot of information right now, but after a while, everything above will become second nature to you. Bonne chance and happy studying