Course Overview
AP Latin is equivalent to an intermediate college-level Latin course focusing on the in-depth study of selections from two influential works of Latin literature, Vergil’s Aeneid and Pliny the Younger’s Letters. Significant time is also dedicated to the reading of nonsyllabus texts chosen by teachers, as well as four course project passages. Students will also place these texts in a meaningful context, which will help students develop their critical, historical, and literary sensitivities. Throughout the course, students will consider the main ideas, effects or purposes, and points of view expressed in these works to gain a deeper understanding of the content and culture in which they were created.
Course and Exam Description
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AP Latin Course and Exam Description
This is the core document for this course. Unit guides clearly lay out the course content and skills and recommend sequencing and pacing for them throughout the year. The CED was revised in the summer of 2025.
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AP Latin Course and Exam Description Clarifications and Corrections
This document provides teachers with clarifications and/or corrections for the AP Latin Course and Exam Description.
Course Resources
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AP Latin Course at a Glance
Excerpted from the AP Latin Course and Exam Description, the Course at a Glance document outlines the topics and skills covered in the AP Latin course, along with suggestions for sequencing. It was revised in the summer of 2025.
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AP Latin Course at a Glance Poster
Print the Course at a Glance poster to use for reference in the classroom.
Course Content
The course framework provides a clear and detailed description of course requirements necessary for student success. The framework specifies what students must know, be able to do, and understand, with a focus on the required syllabus readings.
The AP Latin framework is organized into six commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. As always, you’ll have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.
| Unit |
|---|
| Unit 1: Teacher's Choice - Latin Prose |
| Unit 2: Pliny’s Letters: Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius |
| Unit 3: Pliny’s Letters: Ghosts and Apparitions, Letters to Trajan and Calpurnia, and Teacher’s Choice – Latin Prose |
| Unit 4: Teacher’s Choice – Latin Poetry and Vergil’s Aeneid, Excerpts from Books 1 and 2 |
| Unit 5: Vergil, Aeneid, Excerpts from Books 4, 6, 7, 11, and 12 |
| Unit 6: Course Project and Teacher’s Choice – Latin Poetry |
Course Skills
The AP Latin 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 classics scholars.
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Read and Comprehend | Read and comprehend Latin poetry and prose. |
| 2. Describe Style and Context | Describe the style and context of Latin poetry and prose. |
| 3. Analyze | Analyze Latin poetry and prose. |
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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