AP Japanese Language and Culture: 2021 Exam Results
The following data reflect all 2,208 students worldwide who took the AP Japanese 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 | 45% | 47% |
| 4 | 12% | 9% |
| 3 | 22% | 18% |
| 2 | 8% | 8% |
| 1 | 13% | 18% |
Of these 2,208 students, 3 achieved a perfect score of all 144 of 144 points possible on this year’s exam.
The May 5 Exam Questions
The largest exam date for AP Japanese Language was May 5, 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: Students performed very well on the multiple-choice questions, especially on the listening tasks, and on questions about the influence of beauty and art. The most challenging multiple-choice questions for students were those that required students to demonstrate the skill of making connections, as opposed to those focused on comprehending the text, interpreting the text, or making meaning.
Free-response section:The most challenging task on this year’s exam proved to be free-response question #1, the text chat about an upcoming event. In contrast, students generally scored very well on the other writing task, question #2, the comparison / contrast of digital and print reading.