There are AP® World Language course and exam changes on the horizon.
No worries… We’ve got this!
If you teach an AP® World Language and Culture course, you’ve likely seen the upcoming revisions and preview frameworks for Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese. Change can spark excitement—and a little anxiety—but Vista is here to help every step of the way.
While it’s true we haven’t seen a major update in more than a decade, each past revision has strengthened instruction and student proficiency. The heart of AP®—proficiency, authentic communication, and culture—remains. What’s shifting is how these goals are assessed.
What’s Staying the Same—Our Core Focus
- Thematic organization: Units and contexts remain central, with some refinements.
- Authentic texts: Still the foundation of course content.
- Proficiency goals: Targeting intermediate-high to advanced-low performance in the three modes.
- Critical thinking and cultural insight: Now more explicitly supported through a new skill category focused on culture.
What’s New—The Course Project
A major update introduces a Course Project, released each January with a detailed Project Manual to guide teachers. The Course Project connects directly to two new speaking tasks on the AP® Exam—making it a cornerstone of the revised format.
If you’re using Vista’s Temas or Thèmes, you’ll find both titles remain deeply aligned to the course. They continue to offer rich opportunities for inquiry, cultural presentations, and integration of the themes that matter most.
Coming Soon: New Editions and Exam Support
Big news! New editions of Temas and Thèmes will launch for the 2027–2028 school year. Vista is committed to quality, so while these editions are in development, we’ll guide teachers in adapting the current editions during 2026–2027.
We’re also excited to announce brand-new AP® Spanish and French Worktexts, aligned with the revised exam format—available for 2026–2027 (this summer!). These will include practice and strategies for the two new speaking tasks and updated scoring criteria.
Exam Format Updates (for Spanish, French, Italian, and German)
Section I: Multiple Choice (MCQ)
- All tasks will be authentic texts, listening followed by reading.
- Each task set includes 5 questions.
- Timing: 80 minutes total (down from 95).
- Weight: 50% of overall exam (25% listening, 25% reading).
Section II: Free Response (FRQ)
- Three tasks total: Two speaking and one writing.
- Speaking first:
- Project Presentation (6–8 minutes)
- Project Q&A (5–7 minutes)
- Writing Task: Argumentative Essay (same as current, 55 minutes).
- New weighted scoring: 35% for speaking, 15% for writing.
- New analytical rubrics requiring evidence-based scoring (coming in the March CED).
All 2027 exams will be digital—through the AP® Bluebook app, which supports accent marks and special characters. Get your students comfortable typing in the target language now! Vista’s vhlcentral.com platform already includes accent-friendly composition tools to help you prepare.
How Vista Will Support You
You’ll have continued access to Temas, Thèmes, and our new AP® Worktexts—your trusted tools for strong instruction.
Even more exciting, we’re launching a free spring webinar series designed to help you feel confident and ready for every aspect of the new AP® Course and Exam.
By Parthena Draggett
Also read:
AP® World Languages and Cultures Scaffold and support exam tasks! After all, it’s not May yet!
Mid-Year Reflection and Goal Setting for AP® World Language and Culture Exams
