Reading, listening, writing, and speaking across six thematic units and the broader francophone world — from Québec to West Africa. 19,639 candidates in 2025; major redesign (Bluebook + course project) launches May 2027.
| Section | Content | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| IA — Print MCQ | 30 questions — ads, literary texts, articles, charts, formal letters (40 min) | 23% |
| IB — Audio MCQ | 35 questions — audio-only + audio+print paired sets; radio broadcasts, interviews; audio plays twice (55 min) | 27% |
| IIA — Email Reply | Interpersonal writing — 15 min; formal/informal register (tu/vous); address all points; ask follow-up question | 12.5% |
| IIA — Argumentative Essay | Presentational writing — 55 min total; thesis + integrate print + infographic + audio (Selon la source 2…) | 12.5% |
| IIB — Simulated Conversation | Interpersonal speaking — 5 exchanges, 20 seconds each; match register (tu/vous); fill response window | 12.5% |
| IIB — Cultural Comparison | Presentational speaking — 4 min prep + 2 min recorded; name a specific francophone community | 12.5% |
No calculator, no reference sheet, no dictionary. Scratch notes permitted during audio. Speaking via Digital Audio Submission (DAS) portal through May 2026; Bluebook audio from May 2027.
Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Alsace-Lorraine bilingualism, Belgium (Brussels/Wallonia), Switzerland (Romandie), Monaco.
Québec (joual, Bill 101), Acadie, Louisiana Cajun, Haïti — each with distinct linguistic and cultural identity.
Sénégal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroun, DRC, Morocco/Algeria/Tunisia (Maghreb) — over 54% of French speakers globally.
Key essay transitions: certes, en outre, néanmoins, quant à, en revanche, par conséquent, il convient de noter que, d'une part… d'autre part… — required for score 4–5 register.
All three sources must appear with explicit citation (Selon la source 2…). Students who use only one or two sources, or fail to cite, lose significant task-completion points.
Mixing tu/vous within a single email or conversation triggers a holistic downgrade. French distinguishes formality more starkly than English; the prompt signals which register to use.
Generic statements earn low scores. Cite specific francophone regions, cultural figures, historical events, or named practices with precise geographic and cultural detail.
Subjunctive, conditional perfect, passive voice, and relative pronouns (dont, lequel) are expected at score 4–5. Students revert to simple present under time pressure, capping their language score.
Must include: formal greeting, all points addressed, at least one follow-up question, formal closing (Je vous prie d'agréer…). Missing the follow-up question costs a full rubric point.
Section IB includes Québécois, West African, and Maghrebi accents — elision, connected speech (liaison), and regional vocabulary challenge students trained on neutral classroom French.
Standard group (U.S. classroom-trained, ~75% of total): 3+ rate ≈ 68.3%, mean ≈ 3.03. Heritage speaker advantage most pronounced in the listening section.
Our worked solutions and practice questions are original instructional content created by Tian2 AP. They are aligned to the concepts and skills described in College Board’s Course and Exam Description and are not reproductions of, or affiliated with, College Board’s official materials.