LAST MINUTE ADVICE FOR AP

SPANISH LANGUAGE TEST TAKERS

After working with our students to get them ready to take the 2020 new version
of the AP Spanish exam, there are some important findings that we would like to
share with you.

SIMULATED INTERVIEW (former simulated conversation)

1- Directions in both English and Spanish will be given twice.

2- Introduction to interview topic and scenario will be given twice in Spanish.
2.1. While listening to the interview introduction, listen carefully for the main topic of it.
2.2. The introduction can be long and wordy. Focus on the keywords that will describe
the main topic and the situation.
3- After the introduction has been read twice in Spanish, you will have ONE minute to gather your
thoughts and get ready.
3.1 Write key words related to the main topic.
4- Each question will be said only ONCE. Then you have 20 SECONDS to answer.
4.1 It is NOT how much you can say in 20 SECONDS; it is HOW you use 20 SECONDS to
give a quality answer to the question.
4.2 Because these will be interviews from a peer, do not freak out when they ask things
like: ¿Qué hacen los jóvenes de hoy en día…? Don't think about “those blurry unknown jóvenes
they are referring to in the question” THINK ABOUT YOU and give an answer from your own
experience, YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE JOVENES!
4.3 Do not try to answer in two or three different ways, FOCUS on elaborating and giving
detail based on your first thought. For example, to the question: ¿Por qué empezaste a usar
teléfonos celulares? INSTEAD of answering: “Empecé a usar teléfonos celulares porque
necesitaba comunicarme con mis padres, pedir un Uber, hablar con mis amigos, sentirme
seguro.” Say something like: “Empecé a usar el teléfono celular porque necesitaba comunicarme
con mis padres después de mi práctica de fútbol” A veces las prácticas de fútbol eran más largas
y mis padres estaban trabajando y necesitaban saber cuándo podían recogerme en la escuela.
Empecé a usar mi teléfono celular como una herramienta importante de comunicación.”

Copyright Diego Ojeda 2020

 4.4 DO use the entire 20 SECONDS TO GIVE YOUR ANSWER.
4.5 YOU WON'T BE PENALIZED FOR MAKING MISTAKES IF YOU CORRECT YOURSELF.
4.6 Have a timer ready to time yourself, do not rely on the app having a timer.

CULTURAL COMPARISON

1- Directions in both English and Spanish will be given twice.

2- Introduction to interview topic and scenario will be given twice in Spanish.
2.1 Again, focus on the main topic: what is what you have to compare? Do not get
distracted by the fluf.
3- You will be given 4 minutes to prepare for your presentation.
3.1 While you will be able to have some words and expressions in front of you, be quickly
in choosing which ones you will be using.
3.2 Use the 4 minutes to ORGANIZE your presentation.
3.3 Divide your presentation into three main parts: Introduction, Comparison and
Conclusion. It's always nice to wrap up everything with a concise and smart conclusion. Yes, we
are comparing and contrasting cultures but et the same time we all live in this world and we have
more in common that not.
3.3 You DO NOT have to compare more than one aspect as long as you can elaborate and
give details for each community. If for some reason you realize that you don't have enough to
say about one aspect, then compare a second one.
3.4 Is the comparison is about celebrations and you want to compare 4th of july with Día
de la independencia en Colombia, then make sure to compare and contrast many aspects of both
celebrations. Talk about history, about the day and month they are celebrated, what people do
during these days, the food, cultural events, how it's represented in TV, social media, on the
streets. In other words, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMPARE 4TH OF JULY WITH 20 OTHER
INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS FROM HISPANIC COUNTRIES.
3.4 As an AP reader, I have always appreciated when the students say hello and when
they close with a nice. “Espero que les haya gustado mi presentación.”

Copyright Diego Ojeda 2020