AP teachers are encouraged to develop or maintain their own curriculum that either includes or exceeds each of these expectations; such courses will be authorized to use the “AP” designation. Credit for the success of AP courses belongs to the individual schools and teachers that create powerful, locally designed AP curricula.

The AP French Language and Culture course should be designed to develop student proficiencies in the three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. Course work should provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency in the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced range as described in the ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K–12 Learners. Additionally, the course should explicitly address each of the six themes in the AP French Language and Culture Course and Exam Description through the use of authentic print, audio and audiovisual resources.

Students enrolling in AP French Language and Culture are typically in their fourth or fifth year of language study, or have had equivalent experience with the language.

All students who are willing and academically prepared to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for admission to AP courses. The College Board encourages the elimination of barriers that restrict access to AP courses for students from ethnic, racial and socioeconomic groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the AP Program. Schools should make every effort to ensure that their AP classes reflect the diversity of their student population.

High schools offering this exam must provide the exam administration resources described in the AP Coordinator’s Manual.