Course Overview

The AP Italian Language and Culture Exam 📘 assesses student understanding of the skills and learning objectives outlined in the course framework. The exam is just over three (3) hours long and includes 65 multiple choice questions (MCQs), with half based off print sources and the other half based off print and audio. Then, there are 4 free response questions (FRQs) 💯 — email reply, argumentative essay, conversation, and cultural comparison.

AP tests are stressful, but doing well on AP tests means you might finish college early or avoid lower-level college classes!

AP exams are scored on a scale from 1 to 5: 5 is the highest possible score and 1 is the lowest. The College Board defines each score as follows:

• 5 = extremely well qualified

• 4 = well qualified

• 3 = qualified

• 2 = possibly qualified

• 1 = no recommendation

Scoring 5

"Qualified" means that you are ready for college-level introductory courses, but that doesn’t mean you will get college credit for a score of a 3. Most colleges give credits to students who score 4s or 5s on AP tests 🙌 , but there are some colleges that give students credit for a 3! Make sure you check with the college of your choice to see how they give credit for scores 🎓

What's on the test?

The exam assesses themes and skills developed in each of the six (6) units:

1. Famiglie in società diverse 👨🏽‍👩🏽‍👧🏽

1. L'influenza del linguaggio 🗣️ e cultura sull'identità

1. Influenze di bellezza e arte 🎨🎭

1. Come influisce la scienza 🔬 e tecnologia 🖥️ la nostra vita 📡?

1. Fattori che influenzano la qualità della vita 📈 📉

1. Ambiente-🌲, politiche 🗳️ e sociale 🏛️ Le sfide

Learning Skills Assessed

1. Comprehend text—descrivere il significato letterale del testo e spiegare i dati quantitativi
2. Make connections—creare connessioni culturali e interdisciplinari
3. Interpret text—interpretare le caratteristiche distintive e il significato di un testo
4. Make meanings—determinare il significato di parole familiari e non familiari
5. Speak to others—conversare e parlare bene agli altri
6. Write to others—visto nell'email, quando si deve scrivere ad altri
7. Present orally—visto nel confronto culturale, quando si deve fare una presentazione orale tra Italia e Stati Uniti
8. Present in writing—visto nel saggio argomentativo quando si deve scrivere una risposta simile a DBQ

Overview

Image Courtesy of collegeboard

Section 1: Multiple Choice

The first section of the test consists of 65 multiple choice questions, represented in 9 sets. Each set contains one or two stimuli, whether that be a print or audio source, and is followed by ~ 5-11 questions.

Types of Stimuli

• Promotional Materials (5 questions)

• Literary Text (7 questions)

• Article Chart (11 questions) 📊

• Letter (7 questions)

• Audio Report and Article (10 questions) 🎧

• Conversation and Chart (7 questions)

• Interview (5 questions)

• Instructions (5 questions)

• Presentation (8 questions)

Different Parts

• Part A: Print text = interpretive communication

  • You will read 📖 a text and answer questions 🖊️ based on what you read.

• Part B: Multiple choice with audio

• 1B.1: Print 📖 and audio texts 🎧 (2 sets of audio sources paired with print material on same topic).

• 1B.2: Interpretive communication (Audio text [3 sets of audio] with questions).

• In general, there are two outlier responses (two that make you think “no way” and two that are plausible).
• A lot of questions relate to induced meaning: what do you think 💭 the author is trying to say OR what does this word mean in context

Helpful Tips for MCQ

In the multiple-choice section, you will be asked to recognize main ideas, intent, and point of view. You will need to interact with the different sources and potentially interact with views that are extremely different than their own. You may not understand every word of a source, and this section is definitely difficult, but try to relax, remind yourself of all the hard work and attention you have given this course, and keep in mind these helpful tips 😉 :

• Engage with the language year round - participate in class discussions, talk to native speakers, use various social media platforms 📱

• Prep by reading, listening to, and watching books, music, podcasts, and movies made by native speakers

• Use process of elimination—get rid of the definite "NOs" until you are left with a slew of "Maybes" 🙅🏽‍♀️ 🙅🏿‍♂️

• The audio sources play 2x—listen and try to understand first, jot down notes second

• For the print sources, jot down key words and phrases in the margins next to each paragraph

• Keep track of time—ever heard of a watch ?! ⏱️ ⌚

• Check your work, but if hesitant, go with your gut, trust your instincts

Section 2: Free Response

Four tasks comprise the Free Response section.

2A: Written Tasks (1h10 25% of score)

Email reply (Interpersonal writing)

Read and reply to an email.

• Total of 15 minutes to complete task

  • Respond in the formal tense

  • MUST use a different opening/closing than the ones addressed to you

  • Answer all of the questions

  • Ask at least one question of your own

Strive for Five Vocab: Openings/Closings

• Openings 👐🏼 👐🏼

  • Gentile (for females): Gentile Signora_(write the last name)_

  • Gentile Professoressa: for female professor

  • Gentile Direttrice: for a director

  • Egregio (for males): Egregio Signor (write the last name)

  • Egregio Professore: for male professor

  • Illustre Onorevole: for politicians

  • Magnifico Rettore: for college dean

  • Illustre Presidente: for the president of a nation

  • Spettabile Ditta: for company

  • A chi di competenza: to whom it may concern

• Closings 👏🏼 👏🏼

  • In attesa di un Suo (Vostro): looking forward to

  • La saluto cordialmente: cordial greetings

  • Vi saluto cordialmente: (when you want to address more than one person)

  • Distinti saluti: with best regards

  • Cortese riscontro: kind reply

  • Porgo distinti saluti: best regards

Helpful Tips for Email

Interpersonal writing may sound overwhelming, but in reality, all it means is that students are communicating with another person on paper. The email could cover anything from an invitation to an event to a job opportunity, but it should never be too complicated. You will need to prepare for this section, but it is one of the most straightforward parts of the exam, so it is easy to master. Here are some helpful tips to aid you along the way:

• ALWAYS read the information about the sender

• Know the instructions so you don't waste time reading them on test day

  • Use the extra time to start writing

• Check yourself and the clock—be wary of the time ⏲️ ⏲️

• Throw in different tenses, especially the subjunctive, when you can

• Practice makes perfect—constantly write short emails in Italian and write notes to friends and family (even your teacher)! ✉️

Example Email

2018 AP Italian Free Response Question, Image Courtesy of College Board

And, here's an example response:

Egregio Gallo,

Grazie per la Sua e'mail. Sono molto appassionato di ambiente e voglio essere coinvolto per aiutare a salvare il nostro pianeta, in particolare la vita marina. Quando ero giovane, possedevo molti animali diversi e poi, poiché amavo tanto gli animali, ho deciso di diventare una vegetariana. Per continuare, semplicemente amo la fauna selvatica, ma allo stesso tempo, sono molto arrabbiato per lo stato del nostro mondo e per come le persone maltrattano gli animali. Queste creature non solo mi fanno sorridere e ridere, ma in generale forniscono un significato alla vita di tutte le persone in tanti modi diversi. Come società, nella mia opinione, credo che dobbiamo investire tempo ed energia per proteggere questi magnifici animali. Hanno bisogno del nostro aiuto e io voglio essere una risorsa. So che questa esperienza come volontario mi renderebbe ancora più appassionato della causa, potrei continuare a lavorare con la tua organizzazione, sarei meglio equipaggiato con le competenze per aiutare a gestire la futura protezione delle tartarughe marine, e tornerei a casa e istruirei tutti nella mia comunità sulla conservazione. Come dimostrato, sono molto emozionato. Ho solo tre domande: quali sono le specificità del mio lavoro di volontario? Ci saranno altre persone della mia età? E questo potrebbe potenzialmente portare a future opportunità di lavoro? Grazie per l'interesse e spero di sentire presto una risposta.

Cortese riscontro,

Studente italiano AP

Argumentative Essay (Presentational writing)

Write ✍🏻 an argumentative essay based on 3️⃣ sources.

• Three sources include an article, a graph/chart/infographic, related audio source (played twice). Sources present different viewpoints.

• Total of 55 minutes (roughly 15 minutes to listen and read and 40 minutes to write)

  • Develop a 5 paragraph essay with an introduction, 3 paragraphs (one per source) and a conclusion

    • MUST argue own point of view while citing the sources in their defense

    • MUST develop a thesis statement and wrap 🌯 it up in their conclusion

Strive for Five Vocab: Opinion Words

• Da quanto ho appreso in classe: according to what I learned in class

• Da quanto letto/visto in classe: according to what I have seen or read in class

• In riguardo alla prima fonte /alla tabella/al grafico/all’ascolto, io penso che….(+Congiuntivo): in regard to the ______, I think that

• Secondo me: according to me

• Nella mia opinione: in my opinion

• Secondo me è giusto che (+ Congiuntivo): according to me it’s right

• Secondo me è sbagliato che (+ Congiuntivo): according to me it’s wrong

• Io (invece) penso/credo/sono convinto/a che..(Congiuntivo): I think/believe/am convinced that

• Sebbene io sia d’accordo…(Congiuntivo): Even though I agree

• Sebbene io non sia d’accordo…(Congiuntivo): Even though I do not agree

• Io sono in parte d’accordo perchè/in quanto: I partly agree

• Non sono totalmente d’accordo in quanto: I’m not totally in agreement

• (Non)Sono della stessa opinione perchè/in quanto: I am/am not in the same opinion

Strive for Five Vocab: Transition Words

• Per cominciare vorrei dire che: To begin, I would like say

• Anche/inoltre: also

• Ancora: still

• D'altra parte: on the other hand

• Infatti: in fact

• Di conseguenza: consequently

• invece: instead

• Poi: then

• Siccome/dato che: since

• A causa di: because of

• Grazie a: thanks to

• Per continuare: to continue, furthermore

• Per concludere: to conclude

• Per finire: to finish

• In fine: finally

• Tutto sommato: in summary

Helpful Tips for Argumentative Essay

The argumentative essay can seem like a strenuous task, as students will be asked to respond to a prompt using evidence from various print sources and an audio recording. It is challenging to present the different sources' viewpoints, while also incorporating your own opinions. But, this writing section is the best way to demonstrate not only one's ability to read and listen but also the *ability to respond effectively with appropriate grammar*. Here are some helpful tips:

• Begin each paragraph with a main idea and support it with evidence 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

• Practice difficult sentence structures PRIOR to test day, so you are prepared and the writing can easily flow

• Incorporate every source—even if you are confused by one... include something

• Implement your own opinion constantly (think💡 subjunctive)

• To strengthen your point, disclaim/disprove the opposing argument first

• Write neatly in pen ✒️ 🖋️

2B: Spoken Responses (18 min 25% of score)

Conversation (Interpersonal speaking)

Participate in a simulated conversation with a recorded interlocutor where you must complete 5 exchanges that are 20 seconds in length each. Students will also be provided with an outline of the conversation that explains how they are supposed to respond to each of their five turns.

2019 AP Italian Free Response Question, Image Courtesy of College Board

• TIP 🛎️: The simulated conversation is usually informal (think 💡 tu not Lei) but be sure to listen to the prompt to find out who you're talking to.

• Provide the required information with elaboration

  • Avoid veering too far off course 🛣️

  • If you deliver the most elegant Italian response, but it does not fulfill every single requirement of the task, you will not score well 😢

• Communicate in a clear and understandable manner

• Implement varied and appropriate vocabulary

Strive for Five Vocab: La Conversazione

• Rispondi con entusiasmo: che bello! Mi piace l’idea, certo non ho gia piani, penso proprio di si

• Rispondi negativamente: assolutamente no, mi dispiace ma ho gia piani, penso proprio di no, ho un altro impegno

• Rispondi affermativamente: si, certo

• Concorda (agree): sono d’accordo, va bene

• Esprimi la tua opinione: secondo me, a mio parere, nella mia opinione e’, penso che/credo che

• Esprimi le tue preferenze: preferisco/preferirei, mi piacerebbe, vorrei

• Dai un suggerimento: ti consiglio di/ti consiglierei di, direi che, puoi/potresti

• Fai una controposta: perché invece non, invece, sarebbe meglio, forse

• Tranquilize: non ti preoccupare, stai tranquillo/a

• Excitement: non vedo l’ora, sono molto emozionata, che bello, mi piace l’idea

• Saluta: a presto, arrivederci, ciao ciao, grazie per la conversazione

Helpful Tips for Conversation

Interpersonal speaking is often the most stressful for students because it is difficult to be tested on a language that is not one's native language, but there is good news: you will be read a set of instructions, and they are printed in the booklet. You will also have time before starting to look over the prompt and the outline of the conversation. To alleviate some stress, here are some helpful strategies:

• Know the instructions prior to test day—can use the extra time to start looking at the prompt/outline and planning your responses

• Briefly take notes—jot down keywords/phrases that go with the task or important tenses to use 📝

  • Ex: if outline asks for your opinion, think💡 subjunctive

• Fill up the time—20 sec is not long, so always try to add more details

• Use context clues—you will not understand every word spoken, so use the prompt and outline to help

• Know your transition words and avoid "ummmm"

• Circumlocution—can't remember a word? Talk around it 🔄

• Show off with different tenses, direct/indirect objects, fancy vocab, cultural knowledge

• PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE, both listening and speaking 👂🏽 🗣️

• Stay calm — if you miss one response, move on and think💡 about the next

Cultural Comparison (Presentational speaking)

• Compare the target culture with your own using relevant evidence and examples

• Communicate in a clear and coherent manner

• Use varied and appropriate vocab and correct pronunciation

• TIP 🛎️: You have two minutes to prepare! *Generate a brief outline with KEY VOCAB* 🔑🔑 you are going to use during your cultural comparison

• Start with the Italian speaking community* so you finish with your own community — know more about your own community, so if you need to fill time at the end, you will always be able to talk about other relevant ideas and themes

Strive for Five Vocab: Differences

• In Italia/Negli stati uniti: In Italy/United States

• Invece: instead

• Al contrario: on the contrary

• Ma/Però: but

• Mentre: while

• Anche se: although

• Diversamente: differently

• Comunque: however

• Bensì/Sebbene: but/although

• È diverso/a: it is different

• Da una parte: on one hand

• Dall'altra parte: on the other hand

• Non è cosi: it is not the same

Strive for Five Vocab: Similarities

• In entrambi i paesi: in both countries

• È lo stesso: it is the same

• È simile: it is similar

• È uguale: it is equal

• Anche: also

Helpful Tips for Confronto Cultural

This is the part of the test where you compare an aspect of an Italian-speaking community with one of your own. By now, one might feel fatigued and restless, but this is the last section, and in many ways, the easiest. Students are given ample time to prepare a strong response, and if you have paid attention to cultural lessons in class, the cultural comparison should be a way to boost your score. Trust what you know and have learned, and adhere to these helpful hints.

• Organization is essential—start with a thesis, discuss similarities, discuss differences*, sum it all up 🤝 👐🏼

• Recognize patterns in attitudes, values, and practices

• Constantly look at authentic sources of Italian news/entertainment to increase your cultural awareness 📰 💃🏻

• Study Italian culture in depth—its heroes, food, how/where they live, family relationships...

• USE YOUR 6 MIN PREP TIME—start planning your answer, whether that be writing key words/phrases or actually beginning to jot down a response

• This is a presentation—should be more formal and professional

• BUT, don't be afraid to sprinkle ♨️ in your own opinion

• Memorize key vocab and useful transition words

Ultimate List of Tips/Strategies

You know your Italian. Trust that about yourself. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment will pay off in the end, so try not to stress too much (easier said than done). In addition to the helpful tips for each section from above, here are some overall strategies:

• Use your Italian in every day life—immerse yourself in the language and culture

• Listen (this is often the hardest part of the test) and read—videos, songs, movies, podcasts, books, newspapers 📺 🎼 📚

• Learn key vocab, idiomatic expressions, and even some example sentences

• Exercise the weak spots😬

• Know important grammar, verb tenses, word gender, etc. but also understand the importance of the larger picture and cultural beliefs/values

• Review old exams and time yourself (GRADE THEM) ⌛ ⌛

• Skip instructions—by the time you get to test day, you should be so familiar with the layout and structure of the exam, that you DO NOT need to review the instructions again

• Know the 6 major themes and know the scoring guidelines—maximize your points!

• Bring in culture whenever possible (products, practices, perspectives)

• Talk clearly and coherently, and be concise and to the point 🎯

AND... do not forget to eat lots of 🍕, 🍝, and 🍦 ... 😃 😃