AP Chinese Language and Culture

The key document for each AP course is the course and exam description. Start by reviewing it to understand the objectives and expectations of the course and exam.

AP Chinese Language and Culture Course and Exam Description Effective Fall 2026

Your course must fulfill these requirements.

AP Chinese Language and Culture curricular requirements:

• The teacher uses Chinese almost exclusively in class and encourages students to do likewise.
• The course provides opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary course content and develop skills through the 6 required units: Families and Communities, Language and Culture, Art and Creativity, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, and Global Contexts.
• Instructional materials include a variety of authentic audio, visual, and audiovisual sources and authentic written texts.
• The course provides opportunities for students to practice and develop the skills in each skill category:
  • Skill Category 1: Comprehend written texts, audio, and visualizations of data. (Interpretive Mode)
  • Skill Category 2: Speak and write in interpersonal and presentational contexts. (Interpersonal and Presentational Modes)
  • Skill Category 3: Demonstrate cultural understanding. (Interpersonal and Presentational Modes)
• The course prepares students to use Chinese in real-life settings.
• The course provides students with opportunities to develop skills in handwriting Chinese characters and using a selected writing system (simplified or traditional characters) consistently in their writing.
• The course provides students with opportunities to develop keyboarding skills in Pinyin or bo-po-mo-fo.
• The course dedicates time and support to help students build analytical, research, presentation, and interpersonal skills necessary to complete the course project.

AP Chinese Language and Culture resource requirements:

• The school ensures that each student has a copy of printed course materials for use inside and outside of the classroom, and has access to an in-school computer capable of inputting and displaying simplified and traditional Chinese characters.
• The school facilitates student use, outside of instructional time, of in-school or public library computers capable of inputting and displaying simplified and traditional Chinese characters.
• The school provides audio and video equipment and materials that allow for ongoing opportunities to develop proficiency across the 3 modes of communication. This equipment can include video or DVD players or computers, language labs, handheld digital recorders, iPads, or compact disc players.

Because world language instruction targets proficiency building, which can be accomplished in multiple ways with or without a specific textbook, the AP Chinese Language and Culture course does not have a list of example textbooks that meet the curricular requirements of AP Chinese Language and Culture.

These annotated sample AP Chinese Language and Culture syllabi show how the curricular requirements can be demonstrated in a syllabus and what level of detail you’ll need to include.

AP Chinese Language and Culture Sample Syllabus 1 (.pdf/266KB)

AP Chinese Language and Culture Sample Syllabus 2 (.pdf/279KB)

Review this document for help creating your syllabus.

Syllabus Development Guide: AP Chinese Language and Culture (.pdf/217.87 KB)

This resource includes the guidelines reviewers use to evaluate syllabi along with three samples of evidence for each requirement. This guide also specifies the level of detail required in the syllabus to receive course authorization.