The AP® German Language exam can seem intimidating from the outside. The multiple-choice section alone takes about an hour and a half to complete and is worth half of your grade for the entire AP® exam.

All of the questions and answers are in German, and the time limit on your test will challenge your proficiency skills. Luckily, there are proven ways to master the multiple-choice question portion of the AP® German Language exam, as well as plenty of resources for you to begin your studying.

What is the format of the AP® German Language Exam?

The AP® German Language exam consists of two sections, each accounting for 50% of your grade. The first section consists of multiple-choice questions while the second section has free response prompts. In total, there are 65 multiple-choice questions and 95 minutes are allotted for this section.

Section 1 consists of two parts: Interpretive Communication with print text, and Interpretive Communication with print and audio texts. The first part consists of print materials like articles and literary texts for you to read and understand. The multiple-choice questions in this section focus on comprehension of main points, details, and intent of the text.

The second part is comprised of a variety of audio materials. In the first portion, text material accompanies the audio. The second portion will be audio only. Students are tested on comprehension of the material.

Why is the AP® German Language Multiple-Choice Section Important?

Students may consider multiple-choice as the easiest section but it is important to not underestimate the weight of this section on your overall score. After all, your score on the multiple-choice section accounts for 50% of your overall score, so it would be a great idea to make use of an AP® German study guide and take the multiple-choice section very seriously.

There are only two grading sections for the multiple-choice questions, while there are four in the free response section. This means you have less room for mistakes in regards to the multiple-choice section. This section accounts for about 90 points of your AP® exam. If you earn a score between 79 and 90, you are likely to score a 5 on your full exam. Scoring 56 to 78 in this section can earn you a 4 or 5 on the upper end.

What Content is Covered in the Multiple-Choice Section of AP® German Language?

In your AP® German study plan for the multiple-choice section, focus your studies on the key topics that are covered in the exam The multiple-choice section is exclusively focused on interpretive communication and is graded on your ability to choose the best answer according to the provided material.

The exam requires students to apply their knowledge of the German language and culture across different subjects and disciplines. Your AP® German study guide will need to include the topics and applications as outlined in your course description. The main topics are:

• Global Challenges
• Science and Technology
• Contemporary Life
• Personal and Public Identities
• Families and Communities
• Beauty and Aesthetics

The passages given to you in the exam will be on the topics referenced above. Review any notes or chapters your class has spent on these topics especially carefully.

How to Prepare for AP® German Language Multiple-Choice Questions

It is hard, even impossible, to review everything that you learned in years of studying German, so focus your efforts. Separate your notes and flashcards into separate categories for studying. As you increase your knowledge and ability to recall information, you can begin incorporating other areas you have had previous issues with.

If you haven’t already, immerse yourself in German language and culture. Listen to German music, watch German movies and read news clippings from German newspapers or websites. Diversify the media you use to learn German and broaden your horizons on topics you read about. There are also many podcasts you can listen to that will give you a glimpse into German culture and language.

Use online resources where possible. There are plenty of websites and apps for your phone that you can use to sharpen your skills in the German language. You can easily and quickly practice your vocabulary and grammar with these tools.

Find, study, and answer AP® German practice questions, arguably one of the best tools to employ when studying for your AP® German multiple-choice section. These questions provide real examples of what you will encounter in your exam.

Search for media to practice your listening skills. Search for recordings of the news, meetings, or other journals and articles. These are the type of passages you will be hearing and responding to in your exam.

How to Answer AP® German Language Multiple-Choice Questions

While completing 65 multiple-choice questions in 95 minutes may seem like a stretch, use the following AP® German tips to master this section.

After reading each passage, focus on the questions you know you can answer. The exam is organized in such a way that the easier questions are listed first. The easier questions ensure that the student read and understood the general idea of the passage. These questions will focus on vocabulary, main ideas, details, and target audience.

In the last few questions, you may need to apply what you have learned through the material or join it with cultural and societal references you have learned in class. Even though it is tempting, don’t spend too much time on those. You could waste valuable time that could be used on easier questions you can guarantee you get the right answer on.

The last thing you want to do is leave easy questions unanswered because you spent too much time on a longer, harder question. You may not have even been able to finish that question and may question if your result is correct. This strategy will help strengthen your score and ensure you don’t leave any blanks.

A lot of different topics are covered in the multiple-choice questions. It is a good idea to underline or take note of key topics or phrases in your passage as you read. This will help you understand and remember the main focus of the material and the author’s goal.

What are AP® German Language Multiple-Choice Questions Like?

The purpose of multiple-choice questions in the AP® German exam is to ensure your comprehension meets AP® standards. You will be given information from an article, whether through text, audio, or both and expected to comprehend and apply what you have learned.

Following the passage, expect to see questions similar to this:

Warum kommen Tiere wieder in die Sahara zurück?

(A) Das Klima ändert sich.
(B) Es gibt mehr Vegetarier.
(C) Die Wüste wird immer grüner.
(D) Es gibt weniger Menschen.

This particular example shows the student’s comprehension of the material. This question can be approached by revisiting the key points and topics within the provided material. In a question similar to this one, the objective is to understand the question, apply it to the reading or listening material, and reach an answer.

There are, however, more difficult questions such as:

Warum erwähnt der Autor des Artikels das Buch von Alan Weisman, „Die Welt ohne Menschen“ (Zeile 8) ?

(A) Prozesse, die in diesem Buch beschrieben werden, passieren zum Teil schon.
(B) Das Buch widerspricht den neuesten Studien der Wissenschaftler.
(C) Das Buch beschreibt die Ursachen für die aktuellen Probleme der Wälder.
(D) Die Wälder sind nur zu retten, wenn es keine Menschen gäbe

This question is not as straightforward as the first example. The first answer is provided in the passage but this question expects the student to understand German culture and apply it accordingly. In the process of your AP® German practice, it is important not only to focus on vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar but also cultural aspects that you have learned in class or through reading.

Before taking your exam, it is important to review many multiple-choice AP® German Practice questions and examples so that you are familiar with what will be asked of you.

How can I Practice AP® German Language Multiple-Choice?

While the AP® German exam is intimidating and it is definitely not easy, remember that the majority of test takers pass with the majority scoring a 4 or a 5. It can be done! There are plenty of resources you can access and use as an AP® German exam study guide or as additional study material.

There are many approaches to mastering the multiple-choice section in the exam, be sure to diversify your method of learning and find something that works for you. Using the methods listed above in practicing for the German AP® multiple-choice questions will give you a head start in getting a passing grade on your AP® exam.

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