AP German Language and Culture: 2021 Exam Results
The following data reflect all 4,275 students worldwide who took the AP German Language and Culture Exam this year on any exam date prior to June 12.
Total group score distributions, 2021 vs. 2019
The following table enables comparisons of student performance in 2021 to student performance prior to the covid-19 pandemic:
| AP Score | 2019 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 21% | 18% |
| 4 | 24% | 19% |
| 3 | 27% | 28% |
| 2 | 20% | 24% |
| 1 | 8% | 11% |
Of these 4,275 students, 14 achieved a perfect score of all 130 of 130 points possible on this year’s exam.
The May 4 Exam Questions
The largest exam date for AP German Language was May 4, so the following information is specific to the exam version administered on that date, and does not include heritage speakers’ exam data:
Multiple-choice section: AP German students generally performed somewhat better on the reading questions than the listening questions, and many struggled with the questions about the influence of language/culture, and personal/public identities. Students generally scored better on questions that required comprehension of the text, interpretation of the text, or making connections than on making meanings.
Free-response section: AP German students scored much higher on the free-response questions than the multiple-choice questions. On the email and the argumentative essay, ~20% of AP German students earned 5/5 points, a very impressive performance. Even on the most challenging task, the presentation on the role of Kultur institutionen, more than 15% of AP German students earned every point possible.