AP World Language and Culture Revisions
The AP world language and culture courses and exams were revised for the 2026-27 school year. Starting in May 2027, the exams will also transition to a digital exam format in Bluebook.
Course Overview
AP Chinese Language and Culture is approximately equivalent to an intermediate college-level course in Mandarin Chinese. Students cultivate their understanding of Chinese language and culture by applying the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and community, language and culture, art and creativity, science and technology, contemporary life, and global contexts.
Course Project
Students complete a project ahead of exam day to prepare for two speaking free-response questions on the exam: the Project Presentation and the Project Q&A. The Course Project Packet is released annually in January of the exam year and provides the information students need to complete the project.
By April 30, students submit a Personalized Project Reference (PPR)—an outline of their presentation—through the AP Digital Portfolio. On exam day, students receive a printed copy of their PPR for reference during the exam.
Course and Exam Description
Download
AP Chinese Language and Culture Course and Exam Description
This is the core document for this course. Unit guides lay out suggested thematic content and skills as well as recommend sequencing. The included project manual provides suggested pacing and activities to guide students through the project component of the course. Note: Audio icons in this CED are temporarily inactive; audio is available in AP Classroom and will be restored once this PDF issue is resolved.
Important Dates
Course Project Packet Is Available in the AP Digital Portfolio
Submit AP Course Audit Materials
Deadline: Students Submit Personalized Project Reference (PPR) through the AP Digital Portfolio
DeadlineAP Chinese Language and Culture Exam
Course Resources
Download
AP Chinese Language and Culture Course Overview
This resource provides a succinct description of the course and exam.
Course Content
The AP Chinese Language and Culture framework is made up of six thematic units. The course and exam description includes recommended instructional contexts for each unit. However, these are not required. Teachers can freely choose how to sequence the units and what content to cover within each unit.
| Unit |
|---|
| Unit 1: Families and Communities |
| Unit 2: Language and Culture |
| Unit 3: Art and Creativity |
| Unit 4: Science and Technology |
| Unit 5: Contemporary Life |
| Unit 6: Global Contexts |
Course Skills
The AP Chinese Language and Culture framework included in the Course and Exam Description outlines distinct skills that students should practice throughout the year—skills that will help them learn to think and act like speakers of Chinese.
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Interpretive Communication | Comprehend written texts, audio, and visualizations of data |
| 2. Interpersonal and Presentational Communication | Speak and write in interpersonal and presentational contexts |
| 3. Cultural Understanding | Demonstrate cultural understanding |
AP and Higher Education
Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.
This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy Search.
AP Course and Exam Development
The AP Program is unique in its reliance on development committees for their initial and ongoing voice in course and exam development. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.
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How AP Develops Courses and Exams
Learn what the development committees do and the methodology they use to develop AP courses and exams.
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