ap spanish essay quizlet

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

27 AP Spanish Vocabulary Terms to Help You Rock the Exam

On the free-response section of the AP Spanish exam , you’ll need to conjure up words all on your own.

Because of this, vocabulary building is essential to getting a high score on this part of the exam.

Luckily, there are lots of great resources to help you prepare and helpful terms you can work into your answers to sound more informed and well-spoken, regardless of the topic.

So with some writing practice , speaking practice and these helpful vocabulary words, you’ll be ready to rock your AP Spanish exam.

Convincente

Presentación, mejor dicho, del mismo modo, sin embargo, por lo tanto, al fin y al cabo, por ejemplo, notablemente, ciertamente, significativamente, considerándolo todo, en qué medida, parcialidad, atentamente, distinguido, how to use this ap spanish vocabulary list to prepare for exam day, ap spanish vocabulary resources.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Convincente  means “convincing.” This will be a helpful term to use when discussing arguments in either presentational section.

Los argumentos son convincentes . (The arguments are convincing.)

Argumento  (argument) is a word that isn’t very advanced, but it’s very useful. You can use it on the presentational speaking or writing sections to refer to your argument or the arguments in the reference materials.

Los argumentos de la oposición no son convincentes. (The arguments of the opposition are not convincing.)

Ensayo means “essay.” While this isn’t a terribly advanced word, it’s helpful for the presentational speaking and writing sections. You might use  ensayo  to discuss the provided review materials or to refer to your essay itself.

El ensayo sobre la inmigración es muy intrigante. (The essay on immigration is very intriguing.)

Punto  (point) is also not super advanced vocabulary, but it’s often overlooked by AP students and you’ll almost definitely need it.

Like  argumento , you can use  punto  in the presentational speaking and writing sections. You’ll use it to refer to a more specific point in your argument or in the arguments from reference materials.

El punto sobre la reforma económica no es fuerte. (The point about economic reform is not strong.)

Presentación  means “presentation.” This will be helpful during the presentational speaking section when you want to refer back to your presentation.

Esta  presentación ilustra la importancia del compromiso. (This presentation illustrates the importance of commitment.)

Mejor dicho  literally means “better said,” but it’s often used to mean “rather.”

While it would work in any of the free-response sections, it’s a really useful term to have in your arsenal for the speaking sections. This way, if you misspeak or realize you were vague, you can correct yourself while showing off your vocabulary.

La educación es buena, o mejor dicho , la educación mejora el futuro de los estudiantes. (Education is good, or rather, education improves the future of students.)

Además  means “furthermore” or “additionally.” Let’s face facts: It’s really just a fancier way to say  también  (also). Plus, it’s an easy way to transition between ideas in any of the free-response sections.

Además , necesito más información para decidir. (Additionally, I need more information to decide.)

Del mismo modo  means “in the same way” or “similarly.” This is another good transitional phrase to use in any of the free-response sections.

Del mismo modo , el otro artículo argumenta el mismo punto. (Similarly, the other article argues the same point.)

While sin embargo  literally means “without embargo,” it’s used more like “however.” Again, this is another great transitional phrase that you can use in any free-response section.

Sin embargo , algunas regulaciones son importantes. (However, some regulations are important.)

Because you can never have too many transitional phrases, here’s another one you can use in any free-response section. Por lo tanto  means “thus” or “therefore.”

Los cambios eran muy caros; por lo tanto , el gobierno los canceló. (The changes were very expensive; therefore, the government cancelled them.)

Al fin y al cabo  means the equivalent of “in the end” or “finally.” You can use this to transition to your final point or conclusion in either presentational section.

Al fin y al cabo , todos necesitan trabajar juntos para resolver el problema. (Finally, everyone needs to work together to resolve the problem.)

Por ejemplo  means “for example.” You can use this to illustrate your points in either presentational section.

Por ejemplo , cada año hay estudiantes que no se gradúan. (For example, every year there are students who do not graduate.)

Notablemente  means “notably” or “noticeably.” This is another helpful transitional word to use in (you guessed it) any of the free-response sections. However, you can also use it within a sentence to emphasize your point.

El senador estaba notablemente ausente. (The senator was noticeably absent.)

Mensurable  means “measurable.” This is a helpful term for discussing quantifiable information in either presentational section.

Diferencias mensurables existen entre estudiantes de escuelas diferentes. (Measurable differences exist between students from different schools.)

Asegurar  means “to ensure.” While you might be able to work it into any free-response section, you’re most likely to be able to incorporate it in either presentational section or in the written email.

Quiero asegurar que la información está exacta. (I want to ensure that the information is accurate.)

Tesis  means “thesis,” which is the main argument of a paper. You might want to use this term when discussing the main arguments of reference materials in the presentational sections.

La tesis del autor es que cada persona necesita derechos. (The thesis of the author is that every person needs rights.)

Suposición  means “supposition” or “assumption.” This term will help you discuss other people’s arguments in the presentational section.

El argumento se basa en la suposición que todos pueden digerir el queso. (The argument is based on the assumption that everyone can digest cheese.)

Ciertamente  means “certainly.” This is a helpful term you can use to express confidence in any of the free-response sections.

Ciertamente quiero torta. (I certainly want cake.)

Significativamente  means “significantly.” This can be used for emphasis in any free-response section, but it would make the most sense in the presentational sections. Plus, it’s really long, so that’s impressive.

Las tasas han aumentado significativamente . (The rates have increased significantly.)

Considerándolo todo  literally means “considering it all,” but it’s used to mean “all in all.” This is a helpful phrase to use to segue to your conclusion in either presentational section.

Considerándolo todo , el queso es algo bueno. (All in all, cheese is a good thing.)

En resumen  means “in summary.” This is another good way to segue to your conclusion in either presentational section or to summarize what you covered in the email.

En resumen , usted no necesita comprar otra ardilla para la oficina. (In summary, you do not need to buy another squirrel for the office.)

Analizar  means “to analyze.” While it isn’t a complex word, it’s very useful for discussing material in the presentational sections.

El autor analizó los datos. (The author analyzed the data.)

En qué medida  means “to what extent.” This is a helpful phrase for either presentational section.

El artículo analiza en qué medida los estudiantes necesitan la tarea. (The article analyzes to what extent students need homework.)

Parcialidad  means “bias.” This is a helpful term to use in the presentational sections to discuss any uneven or slanted information.

El autor debe evaluar la información sin parcialidad . (The author should evaluate the information without bias.)

Atentamente  literally means “attentively,” but it’s used to mean “sincerely” when signing letters. It’s formal, so it’s great for signing your free-response email.

Atentamente , Sra. Alvarez (Sincerely, Mrs. Alvarez)

Distinguido (distinguished) can also be feminine, as distinguida. This term is a formal greeting for letters, so it’s also helpful for the email free-response section.

Distinguida Sra. García, (Distinguished Mrs. Garcia,)

Apreciado and the feminine apreciada mean “appreciated,” but are used as formal greetings in letters (like how we use “dear” in English). It would be an appropriate greeting for your free-response email.

Apreciado Sr. Smith, (Dear Mr. Smith,)

Practice writing essays and delivering presentations. The more frequently you write and present in Spanish, the less intimidating it’ll be on the test. Make note of which Spanish essay words and phrases you want to use but don’t yet know, then look them up and study them.

Use the most specific words possible. If you don’t know an exact word, piece together words you do know. The more precise you can be on the AP test, the more you’ll showcase your command of the language.

Make a point of using less common words and phrases. It’s easy to lean on simple Spanish words. Try to avoid this on the AP Spanish free-response section, because the test graders will have no way to confirm that you’re an advanced speaker and writer.

Commit to daily practice . Spend at least 10 minutes a day on vocabulary studies to help the terms become part of your active vocabulary. A good method is making flashcards and reviewing words consistently with quizzes, sentence-writing or other exercises.

Use multiple study methods. You can watch movies , watch television , read books and listen to podcasts , all in Spanish! Language learning software programs and Spanish apps can also make daily practice easy. The more you see and hear your vocabulary in various contexts, the better you’ll remember the terms.

Flashcards from Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors is predominantly a tutoring company, but they also offer extensive study materials and free resources .

There are dozens of flashcard sets to help you prepare and focus on any weak spots in your vocabulary. The cards also explain why the right answer is correct for more in-depth learning.

FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos topics, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used.

Plus, if you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re studying with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

“Barron’s AP Spanish Flashcards”

Barron’s, known for their wide range of helpful study guides and other educational books, also have AP Spanish flashcards available for purchase.

These are great for more tactile learners who tire of studying online. They’re divided into categories, so you can focus only on vocabulary or work on grammar, reading, listening, speaking or writing as well.

When it comes to learning vocabulary for the AP Spanish exam, Pinterest users bring their A-game.

The “AP Spanish vocabulary” pins (linked above) are a treasure trove of helpful charts and graphics you can use to study for the exam.

Cram is dedicated to developing effective flashcard sets that employ the Leitner system (focused on repetition) to aid learning.

You can peruse plenty of AP Spanish decks on the site.  This set of useful essay terms is particularly great for preparing for the writing portion of the AP Spanish exam.

This unique website provides templates for users to input information to create games, activities, quizzes and flashcards.

Often, the information is submitted by teachers looking to assist their own students.

This collection , created by a high school Spanish teacher, is grouped thematically to help you link related terms in your mind—try studying them with the flashcards, the matching game, the concentration game or the word search!

This program uses cognitive science research to create flashcards to help learners acquire knowledge quickly. They refer to them as “the world’s smartest flashcards.”

Brainscape offers AP Spanish flashcards that you can study on your mobile device or desktop. You can track your learning and/or study with friends, too.

There’s free basic access, but full access requires a fee.

Quizlet offers users the opportunity to create, access and share word lists and games.

For each word list, you can view the set, study them as flashcards or play a timed matching game.

There are dozens of user-created  AP Spanish word lists . You can try this set for words focused on the themes contained in the AP exam.

“Palabra por Palabra”

This is an advanced Spanish vocabulary book, available for purchase. It offers some unique and easy-to-use words and phrases that will help you out on the AP Spanish exam.

The first section focuses on ways to express opinions and ideas—great for both the writing and speaking sections of the test. Other sections include vocabulary for health, technology, culture and other exam-relevant topics.

“Spanish Idioms and Advanced Vocabulary SparkCharts”

If you need to branch out from books, flashcards and online learning, this four-page chart is a great option.

There’s helpful vocabulary in a convenient format that can easily be carried with you.

Whenever you have a few minutes, take it out to study—it all adds up.

With these useful words and some steady practice, you’ll be more than ready to rock the AP Spanish free-response section!

Related posts:

Enter your e-mail address to get your free pdf.

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

The Ultimate Guide to the AP Spanish Literature Exam

Advanced Placement (AP)

The AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam is an excellent opportunity to show off your critical reading, writing, and analytical skills in another language while earning college credit in the process. 

But conquering the course material is only the beginning. You need to learn everything there is to know about the exam to boost your chances of earning a passing score (and college credit) to boot!

In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to start prepping for the AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam , including: 

• The structure and format of the AP Spanish Lit exam
• The core themes and skills you’ll be tested on
• The types of questions that appear on the exam and how to answer them (with real AP student sample responses!)
• How the AP Spanish Lit exam is scored, with official scoring rubrics
• Four crucial tips for prepping for the AP Spanish Lit exam

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

Exam Overview: How Is the AP Spanish Lit Exam Structured?

The AP Spanish Literature and Culture exam tests your understanding of Spanish language skills and literature written in Spanish , including short stories, novels, essays, plays, and poetry. 

Like most AP exams, the test lasts for a total of three hours . You’ll have to answer 65 multiple choice questions and four free-response questions to complete the test. 

The AP Spanish Lit exam is divided into two sections. Section I of the exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions and lasts for one hour and 20 minutes (80 minutes total). The multiple-choice section is further divided into two parts: Part 1A, and Part 1B. Both Part A and Part B of Section I are totally multiple choice, but they test you on different skills. As a whole, Section I counts for 50% of your total exam score . 

Section II of the exam tests your critical reading and analytical writing skills through four free response questions . Section II lasts for 1 hour and 40 minutes (100 minutes) and counts for 50% of your total exam score . Each free response question asks you to write either a short answer or longer essay in response to a specific text or set of texts (called “stimulus” on the exam). 

To help you visualize the breakdown, here’s the AP Spanish Lit exam structure in table format: 

Source: The College Board

But is AP Spanish Literature hard? If you want to get an idea of how difficult the exam is and learn how to get a 5 on AP Spanish Literature, keep reading: we’ll break down the course content, skills, and themes (temas de AP Spanish Literature) that you need to understand for the AP Spanish Lit exam next!

Course Themes, Skills, and Units

AP Spanish Lit is focused around six core themes , or temas de AP Spanish Literature. These course themes are designed to help you develop the skills you need to fully understand Spanish literature and culture…and ace the AP Spanish Lit exam!

Exploring these themes and applying them to the texts on the AP Spanish Literature reading list will equip you with the critical thinking and analytical skills you need to succeed on the AP Spanish Literature exam. The six themes and skills that you’ll master during the course are: 

The AP Spanish Lit themes and skills are typically taught through eight units of study . Understanding these units of study will help you get a big picture view of what the course covers, and how different course topics are connected. Content from each course unit will appear on the exam, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with them as early as you can! 

The eight units of study in AP Spanish Literature are : 

Now that you have a good sense of what’s on the AP Spanish Literature exam, let’s take a closer look at each section of the exam and the types of questions that appear in each one. 

Spanish AP Literature Exam Section I: Multiple-Choice

The first section of the exam tests you in two main areas: your interpretive listening skills, and your reading analysis skills . 

To test you on these skills, Section I is broken down into two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A will test your interpretive listening skills, and Part B will test your reading analysis skills. Both parts of Section I use authentic Spanish language texts presented in different formats to assess your skills. 

While Parts A and B of Section I test you using texts in different formats (audio vs. print/written), both parts include question types that assess you on these three skills: 

• At least 75% of multiple-choice questions assess your ability to analyze and interpret literary and audio texts in Spanish.
• Around 10% of multiple-choice questions assess your ability to make connections between a literary text and a non-literary text or an aspect of Spanish culture.
• Around 10% of the multiple-choice questions assess your ability to compare literary texts in Spanish.

Since Part A and Part B are a bit different (though both are multiple-choice!), let’s break them down a bit further next. 

Section I Part A: Multiple-Choice Interpretive Listening

Part A of Section I asks you to demonstrate your ability to accurately interpret a variety of Spanish language audio texts . This part of Section I consists of 15 total questions that are presented in sets of either four or seven multiple-choice questions. Each set of questions comes with an audio text in either the format of an interview, a poem, and a discussion or lecture on literary topics. 

Here’s a clearer breakdown of the structure of Part A of Section I: 

Since Part A is a bit of an outlier when it comes to the testing format, it’s important to understand how this part of the exam will be administered ahead of time. Let’s look at a real interpretive listening question to get a better sense of how this part of the exam works next.

Sample Multiple-Choice Question: Interpretive Listening

To help you get a better sense of what Section I Part A will be like, let’s take a look at a real interpretive listening question from the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam . 

In the picture below, you’ll see a set of written directions (which appear in Spanish on the real exam!), a written transcript of a poem entitled “La guitarra,” and one multiple choice question. However, on the real exam, you’ll only get to listen to the text provided –you won’t be given a printed copy of it! 

When this portion of the exam begins, you’ll listen to the provided text once, then have one minute to take notes and view the exam questions for this portion of the test. After that, you’ll listen to the provided text a second time, then have one minute to answer the provided set of questions (ranging from four to seven questions in total). You’ll be able to use the notes you took for reference as you answer the questions! 

You can read the directions, Spanish language poem, and set of four questions for our example interpretive listening task here: 

And here's the question set: 

The four questions in the set above ask about the events that occur in the poem, as well as the poem’s imagery, tone, and writing style . We’ll break down the correct answers for each question here: 

To ace interpretive listening questions like these, you’ll need to listen closely, jot down notes about important words, themes, or ideas, and use context clues to accurately analyze the texts that you’re given. 

Next, let’s look at the second part of Section I of the exam: Part B, multiple-choice reading analysis. 

Section I Part B: Multiple-Choice Reading Analysis

Section I Part B asks you to demonstrate your skills of reading analysis by engaging with print or written texts. On this part of Section I, you’ll be given 60 minutes to complete 50 multiple-choice questions. Part B accounts for 40% of your exam score . 

The questions on Part B are divided into four sets. Each set applies to a specific text or set of texts. To give you a clearer picture of how Part B is structured, we’ll break it down further below: 

Sample Multiple-Choice Question: Reading Analysis

To help you get a better sense of what Section I Part B will be like, let’s take a look at a real set of reading analysis questions from the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam . 

In the picture below, you’ll see a set of written directions (Spanish-only provided on the real exam!), a written passage, and a set of five multiple-choice questions :

Each of the questions above asks you to analyze the provided text and select the answer choice that best characterizes your understanding of the text’s meaning . Now, let’s look at the correct answers for each question and the skills you’ll need to successfully choose them: 

To succeed on reading analysis questions like the ones above, you’ll need to have a solid grasp of Spanish language conventions, strong analytical skills, and the ability to interpret ideas in different contexts.  

Next, let’s look more closely at Section II of the AP Spanish Lit exam: the free-response section. 

Or more accurately, escribe algo.

Spanish AP Literature Section II: Free-Response

Section II of the AP Spanish Lit exam lasts for one hour and 40 minutes, includes four free-response questions, and counts for 50% of your exam score. 

There are two distinct types of questions on the AP Spanish Lit free-response section : short answer questions, and essay questions. Both types of free-response questions test your ability to clearly and thoughtfully explain the events of a text, analyze texts, and compare and contrast multiple texts that share common themes. You’ll demonstrate these skills by writing short and longer free-responses on the exam!

To help you understand what free-response questions will be like on the exam, we’ll walk you through a real exam question, scoring rubric, and student response for both short-answer and essay questions below. 

Free-Response Short Answer Question: Scoring Rubric and Example Response

On the AP Spanish Lit exam, you’ll respond to two short-answer questions . The sample question below is an example of a short answer free-response question from the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam. This short-answer question asks students to provide a Spanish-language explanation of the provided text, which comes from Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s poem “ Hombres necios que acusáis ,” written in 1689: 

The free-response short answer question above asks students to read the provided text, identify the author and period of the text, and explain the development of a given theme in the text. 

We’ll provide a sample student response to this question in just a minute, but first, let’s see how you could earn full credit for this question. Take a look at the official scoring rubric used to evaluate this question on the 2021 Spanish AP Lit exam to see how your response will be scored: 

The example student response below comes straight from the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam. The student is responding to the short-answer question we’ve included above. 

This short-answer response received a 3 for Content and a 3 for Language based on the criteria in the scoring rubric above. That means that this student response received six out of six possible points for this free-response question!

Free-Response Essay Question: Scoring Rubric and Example Response 

There are two free-response essay questions on the AP Spanish Lit exam . To help you get an idea of what these questions are like, let’s go over a sample essay question, scoring rubric, and student response from the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam. 

The free-response essay question below asks students to analyze how a single text represents both the specified period, movement, literary genre, and technique and the given cultural context. The selected text in the question below comes from Gabriel García Márquez’s short story, “ La siesta del martes” :

Before we look at a real student’s response to this essay question, let’s look at the scoring rubric used to evaluate responses to this essay question . The rubric below was used to score this type of essay question on the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam: 

Now that you know how this type of essay question is scored, let’s look at a real student’s response to this essay question. This student’s response comes straight from the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam and scored a 5/5 for Content and a 5/5 for Language, which means this response received full points !

How the AP Spanish Literature Exam Is Scored

Understanding how your AP Spanish Lit exam will be scored can help you feel more prepared for the exam. Here, we’ll overview how each section of the AP Spanish lit exam is scored, scaled, and combined to produce your final score on the AP 1-5 scale . 

As a refresher, here’s how the score percentages break down on the AP Spanish Literature exam: 

• Section I: Multiple-choice: 50% of overall score
• Section IA: 10% of score
• Section IB: 40% of score
• Section II: Free-response: 50% of overall score
• Question 1: 7.5%
• Question 2: 7.5%
• Question 3: 17.5%
• Question 4: 17.5%

On the multiple choice section, you earn one raw point for every question you answer correctly. This means that the maximum raw score you can earn on the multiple choice section is 65 points. No points are deducted for wrong answers . 

The free-response section is a bit different. The two short answer free-response questions are each worth six raw points, and the two essay free-response questions are worth 10 points each. This means that there are a total of 32 possible points in the free-response section.  

Keep in mind that you’ll lose points on free-response questions only for major errors , like failing to analyze or compare the provided texts, for instance. You aren’t going to lose points for a stray comma splice here and there as long as grammatical errors don’t interfere with the AP grader’s ability to understand your response. 

You can earn 97 raw points on the AP Spanish Lit exam. Here’s how those are divided by section:  

• 65 points for multiple-choice
• 32 points for free-response

From there, your raw scores will be converted into a scaled score of 1-5 by the College Board. That’s the score you’ll see when you receive your official score report! Unfortunately, the 5 rate for the AP Spanish Literature exam is pretty low compared to other AP exams . You can see what percentage of test takers earned each possible score on the 2021 AP Spanish Lit exam below: 

4 Tips for Prepping for the AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam

You know what’s on the exam and how it’s scored. Now you’re ready to get down to business! If you’re wondering how to study for AP Spanish Literature, keep reading–we’ll give you four top tips for kickstarting your Spanish AP Literature prep below!

Tip 1: Take a Practice Exam

The best way to assess your preparedness for the AP Spanish Lit exam is to test your skills out on a practice exam. Taking a practice exam will help you identify skills and texts that you struggle with. From there, you can design a study plan that targets your weaker areas to improve your chances of earning a passing score !

You can find a full set of official multiple-choice practice questions here , and the College Board provides a large repository of past free-response exam questions on their website . Be sure to use official practice questions like the ones linked here as much as possible. Using official practice materials ensures you’re getting quality practice that’s very similar to the real exam!  

Tip 2: Consult AP Spanish Literature Reading Lists

The AP Spanish Literature course includes a total of 38 required texts –and you’ll be expected to read and know all of them for the exam. That’s a lot of texts to master, especially if Spanish isn’t your first language! 

Your AP teacher will dedicate lots of class time to teaching you the texts on the AP Spanish Literature reading list, but if you want to really learn them, you’ll need to spend time studying them outside of class too. Remember: all of the required course readings will be unabridged, full-text, and in Spanish. The more effort you dedicate to studying the texts on the AP Spanish Literature reading list on your own time, the more successful you’re likely to be on the AP exam. 

The College Board provides an official AP Spanish Literature reading list on their website . You can use this list to start working through the course readings and searching for supplemental study materials for individual texts online. 

Tip 3: Master the Temas de AP Spanish Literature

Understanding the six core themes of the AP Spanish Lit course (temas de AP Spanish Literature) is crucial to success on the AP exam. These course themes are designed to promote critical thinking about the course readings and encourage making connections and comparisons between different texts and cultures. 

As you take the AP Spanish Literature course, you’ll notice that the course themes are paired with various learning goals. Pay close attention when these themes pop up in course materials and consider what you should be learning from them! Doing this will help you develop the skills you need to interpret, analyze, and compare texts on the exam . 

Tip 4: Practice Tough Questions 

As you progress through the AP Spanish Lit course, you’ll begin to notice question types that seem to trip you up. As you get graded quizzes and tests back during class, keep running notes about the questions you miss. Jot down what type of question it was (multiple choice or free response), the skills it assessed, and where you lost points or went wrong. 

From there, you can find and work with practice questions (like the ones linked earlier!) that are the same type as the ones you’ve struggled with. The more you practice with questions that trip you up, the more likely you’ll be to get them right on the real exam!

What’s Next? 

Need a little help with your Spanish vocabulary? This list of how to talk about body parts in Spanish can give you a fun way to brush up! 

Thinking about taking another foreign language in high school? This guide will help you pick the best languages for you. 

While the SAT Spanish subject test is no longer offered, you can use the free study materials to help you practice your reading and comprehension skills. We’ve compiled a list of resources that you can use as extra prep. 

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

AP Spanish: Argumentative Essay

Get better grades with Learn

82% of students achieve A’s after using Learn

Students also studied

until now Choose matching term 1 actualmente 2 sobre todo 3 claro 4 hasta la fecha Don't know?

Flickr Creative Commons Images

Some images used in this set are licensed under the Creative Commons through Flickr.com . Click to see the original works with their full license.

• a mi parecer

All Subjects

2024 AP Spanish Literature & Culture Exam Guide

6 min read • july 11, 2024

Your Guide to the 2024 AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam

We know that studying for your AP exams can be stressful, but Fiveable has your back! We created a study plan to help you crush your AP Art History exam. This guide will continue to update with information about the 2024 exams, as well as helpful resources to help you do your best on test day.  Unlock Cram Mode  for access to our cram events—students who have successfully passed their AP exams will answer your questions and guide your last-minute studying LIVE! And don't miss out on unlimited access to our database of thousands of practice questions. 

Format of the 2024 AP Spanish Literature Exam

Going into test day, this is the exam format to expect:

• 15 questions in 20 minutes
• 3 sets of questions related to audio recordings (interview, recited poem, and presentation on a literary topic)
• 50 questions in 60 minutes
• 6 sets of 7-10 questions related to readings both on and off the required reading list
• Section 2: Free Response (50% of score)
• 2 questions, 15 minutes each
• One question on text explanation, one question on text and art comparison
• 2 questions, 35 minutes each
• One question on analysis of a single text, one question on text comparison

When is the 2024 AP Spanish Literature Exam and How Do I Take It?

** The exam will be Friday, May 10, 2024, at 12:00 PM and be taken in person at your school.  **

---------------

How Should I Prepare for the Exam?

• First, download the  AP Spanish Literature Cheatsheet PDF - a single sheet that covers everything you need to know at a high level. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses!
• We've put together the study plan found below to help you study between now and May. This will cover all of the units and essay types to prepare you for your exam. Pay special attention to the units that you need the most improvement in.
• Study, practice, and review for test day with other students during our live cram sessions via  Cram Mode . Cram live streams will teach, review, and practice important topics from AP courses, college admission tests, and college admission topics. These streams are hosted by experienced students who know what you need to succeed.

Pre-Work: Set Up Your Study Environment

Before you begin studying, take some time to get organized.

🖥 Create a study space.

Make sure you have a designated place at home to study. Somewhere you can keep all of your materials, where you can focus on learning, and where you are comfortable. Spend some time prepping the space with everything you need and you can even let others in the family know that this is your study space. 

📚 Organize your study materials.

Get your notebook, textbook, prep books, or whatever other physical materials you have. Also, create a space for you to keep track of review. Start a new section in your notebook to take notes or start a Google Doc to keep track of your notes. Get yourself set up!

📅 Plan designated times for studying.

The hardest part about studying from home is sticking to a routine. Decide on one hour every day that you can dedicate to studying. This can be any time of the day, whatever works best for you. Set a timer on your phone for that time and really try to stick to it. The routine will help you stay on track.

🏆 Decide on an accountability plan.

How will you hold yourself accountable to this study plan? You may or may not have a teacher or rules set up to help you stay on track, so you need to set some for yourself. First, set your goal. This could be studying for x number of hours or getting through a unit. Then, create a reward for yourself. If you reach your goal, then x. This will help stay focused!

AP Spanish Literature 2024 Study Plan

Unit 1: la época medieval.

📰 Check out these articles:

• 1.0 Unit 1 Overview: The Middle Ages
• 1.1 Conde Lucanor, Exemplo XXXV – Don Juan Manual
• 1.2 "Romance de la pérdida de Alhama" – Anónimo 🎥 Watch these videos from Youtube:

AP Spanish Literature: Unit 1 "La época medieval" Part 1

AP Spanish Literature: Unit 1 "La época medieval" Part 2e

Unit 2: El siglo XVI

🎥 Watch these videos from Youtube:

• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 2 "El siglo XVI" (La Picaresca)
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 2 Continuación de El Lazarillo de Tormes y La Picaresca
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 2 "La crónica de Indias y la voz de los vencidos"
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 2 "Soneto XXIII" de Garcilaso de la Vega

Unit 3: El siglo XVII

• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 3 "El siglo XVII" [Part 1]
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 3 "El siglo XVII" [Part 2] 
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 3 "El siglo XVII" [Part 3]: Don Quijote
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 3 El Burlador de Sevilla, Tirso de Molina

Unit 4: La literatura romántica, realista y naturalista

• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 4 "La literatura del siglo XIX" Romanticismo, realismo, y naturalismo 
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 4 "La lírica del romanticismo" De Heredia a Bécquer
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 4 "Realismo y naturalismo" "Las media rojas", Emilia Pardo Bazán

Unit 5: La Generación del 98 y el Modernismo

• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 5 "La generación del 98 y el Modernismo"
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 5 "He andado muchos caminos"
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 5 "El espíritu americanista del modernismo"
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 5 "El cuento modernista" "El hijo," Horacio Quiroga

Unit 6: Teatro y poesía del siglo XX

• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 6 "Teatro y poesía del siglo XX"
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 6 "Prendimiento de Antoñito el Camborio en el camino de Sevilla"
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 6 "El teatro del absurdo" - YouTube
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 6 "Walking around y la visión surrealista de Pablo Neruda" 
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 6 Repaso del tema de la dualidad del ser 
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 6 "El tema de la construcción de género en la lírica del siglo XX" 
• AP Spanish Literature: Unit 6 Continuación "El tema de la construcción de género"

Unit 7: El Boom latinoamericano

• Unit 7: AP Spanish Literature and Culture Faculty Lecture with Professor Luis Alberto Ramos Garcia
• AP Spanish Literature: "El Boom Latinoamericano" 

Unit 8: Escritores contemporáneos de Estados Unidos y España

• Unidad 8 - Escritores contemporáneos de Estados Unidos y España (ruanoap.com)

Super Helpful Resources:

• AP Spanish Literature Free-Response Help
• AP Spanish Literature Multiple Choice Help
• How to get a 5 in AP Spanish Literature
• Perfect Memes for AP Spanish Literature
• Best AP Spanish Literature Textbooks and Prep Books
• Best Quizlet Decks for AP Spanish Literature
• AP Spanish Literature Self-Study and Homeschool

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

Ap® and sat® are trademarks registered by the college board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website..

Practice for the AP Exams

The best way to get ready for an AP Exam is to participate in your AP class. 

It also helps to set aside consistent study time, complete all assignments from your teacher, and use the available resources in AP Classroom. 

You can access free-response questions and scoring information for past exams at any time toseehow students were scored.

Instructions

Start in your ap class..

Ask your AP teacher to go over the exam format with you in class, if they haven’t done so already.

Ask your teacher about the practice resources in AP Classroom.

AP Classroom is a suite of digital tools that teachers can use throughout the year to help you prepare for the AP Exam. The tools include progress checks with multiple-choice and free-response questions your teacher can unlock for you to receive personalized feedback on the skills and topics you're learning in the course. Your teacher may also assign AP practice or released exam questions using the AP Question Bank. In addition, you can access AP Daily videos that cover all course content and skills to help support your learning.

AP Classroom Resources

Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos, any assignments from your teacher, and your assignment results in AP Classroom. Sign in to access them.

• Go to AP Classroom

Go to your course’s exam page.

Start at AP Courses and Exams page and find your subject. Once you’re on your course page, go to the  About the Exam tab. You’ll find the exam date, details about the exam structure, and exam-taking tips.

AP Courses and Exams

Start at the AP Courses and Exams page to learn more about each exam, including structure, timing, and topics that will be covered.

Scroll to the Exam Preparation section of your exam page for practice materials.

You’ll find resources and links to help you prepare, such as questions from real exams, scoring guidelines, and sample student responses on AP Central.

I received a phone call from someone claiming to work for College Board, asking me to provide personal information or purchase test prep. Is this legitimate?

No. College Board does not make unsolicited phone calls to students or families requesting personal information such as credit card and social security numbers or selling test preparation products. If you’ve received a call like this, it’s likely a scam.

Learn how to report phone scams and how to keep your information safe at Important Information About Telemarketing and Internet Scams.  

Related Topics