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100+ Free AP Japanese Language and Culture Practice Questions

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「さいきん、わかもの の あいだ で でんとうてき な ぶんか が みなおされて います。」は何を述べていますか。

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam

70

multiple-choice questions in Section I (listening plus reading)

College Board

30-35

interpretive listening questions in Part A (25% of score)

College Board

35-40

interpretive reading questions in Part B (25% of score)

College Board

1-5

AP score scale, with 3+ typically earning college credit

College Board

6

course themes that frame every listening and reading passage

College Board AP Japanese CED

May 12, 2026

scheduled administration date for the AP Japanese exam

College Board

The AP Japanese Language and Culture exam has a 70-question multiple-choice Section I — 30-35 interpretive listening questions (25%) and 35-40 interpretive reading questions (25%) — plus a Section II of four free-response writing and speaking tasks (50% combined). The full exam runs about two hours and is scored 1-5, with a 3 or higher typically earning college credit. All content is organized around six themes: Families and Communities, Personal and Public Identities, Beauty and Aesthetics, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, and Global Challenges (source: College Board, apstudents.collegeboard.org).

Sample AP Japanese Language and Culture Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AP Japanese Language and Culture exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1次の文の空所に入る正しい助詞はどれですか。「あそこに ねこ ___ います。」
A.が (ga)
B.を (o)
C.へ (e)
D.と (to)
Explanation: 生き物の存在を表す「います」の文では、主語を「が」で示します。「ねこ が います」は「猫がいる」という意味です。これは六つのテーマ全体で問われる基礎的な読解文法です。
2読解文に出てくる「家族」という漢字の正しい読み方はどれですか。
A.かいしゃ (kaisha)
B.かぞく (kazoku)
C.がっこう (gakkou)
D.びょういん (byouin)
Explanation: 「家族」は「かぞく」と読みます。読解セクションでは、ふりがなのない日常的な漢字の複合語を認識することが不可欠です。
3親戚が「わたしの あね は だいがく に います。」と話しています。だれが、どこにいますか。
A.妹で、家にいる (younger sister, at home)
B.兄で、会社にいる (older brother, at work)
C.姉で、大学にいる (older sister, at the university)
D.弟で、駅にいる (younger brother, at the station)
Explanation: 「あね(姉)」は自分の姉を指す謙譲的な語で、「だいがく に います」は「大学にいる」という意味です。身内の家族語(あね・あに・いもうと・おとうと)の区別は、家族と地域社会のテーマで頻出の聴解課題です。
4AP日本語の試験で、第I部(多肢選択式)が評価するコミュニケーションの様式はどれですか。
A.発表のスピーキングとライティング (presentational)
B.対人会話のみ (interpersonal only)
C.文化比較のエッセイ (cultural comparison essays)
D.解釈的な聴解と読解 (interpretive listening and reading)
Explanation: 第I部(多肢選択式)は、聴解(パートA)と読解(パートB)を通して解釈的(interpretive)な様式を測ります。対人的・発表的な様式は第II部の自由記述で評価されます。
5公民館のちらしに「まいしゅう どようび に まつり が あります。」とあります。お祭りはどのくらいの頻度で行われますか。
A.毎週土曜日 (every Saturday)
B.毎週日曜日 (every Sunday)
C.月に一回 (once a month)
D.毎朝 (every morning)
Explanation: 「まいしゅう(毎週)」は「every week」、「どようび(土曜日)」は「Saturday」なので、お祭りは毎週土曜日に行われます。「まい~」の時間表現(毎日・毎週・毎月)は読解の案内文で頻出です。
6「ともだち と いっしょ に えいが を みました。」の「と いっしょ に」は何を表しますか。
A.一人で見たこと (watching alone)
B.誰かと一緒に (together with a companion)
C.誰かの代わりに (instead of someone)
D.誰かが来る前に (before someone arrived)
Explanation: 「と いっしょ に」は「together with」を意味し、同伴を示します。つまり友だちと一緒に映画を見たという意味です。この表現は家族と地域社会、現代生活のテーマでよく出ます。
7近所の人が丁寧に「よろしく おねがい します。」と言いました。この表現が最も適切に使われる場面はどれですか。
A.遅刻を謝るとき (apologizing for being late)
B.誘いを断るとき (declining an invitation)
C.自己紹介や今後の好意をお願いするとき (introductions / asking for goodwill)
D.永遠の別れを告げるとき (saying goodbye permanently)
Explanation: 「よろしく おねがい します」は、自己紹介の場面や、今後の協力・好意を願うときに使う決まり文句です。家族と地域社会のテーマにおける社会的習慣の中心的な表現です。
8家族と地域社会の内容で言及される、日本の伝統的な成人を祝う行事はどれですか。
A.文化の日 (Bunka no Hi)
B.こどもの日 (Kodomo no Hi)
C.海の日 (Umi no Hi)
D.成人の日 (Seijin no Hi)
Explanation: 「成人の日(せいじんのひ)」は成人を迎える人を祝う日で、日本文化の通過儀礼として認められています。通過儀礼は家族と地域社会のテーマで明示された話題です。
9「ちち は いしゃ です が、はは は きょうし です。」を読み、話し手の両親の職業はどれですか。
A.父は医者、母は先生 (father doctor, mother teacher)
B.父は先生、母は医者 (father teacher, mother doctor)
C.両親とも医者 (both doctors)
D.父は看護師、母は弁護士 (father nurse, mother lawyer)
Explanation: 「ちち(父)は いしゃ(医者)」は父が医者、「はは(母)は きょうし(教師)」は母が教師という意味で、ここの「が」は二つの節を対比的につなぎます。謙譲的な家族語と職業語彙の認識は頻出の読解課題です。
10留守番電話に「あした の かいぎ は じゅうじ から です。」とあります。明日の会議は何時に始まりますか。
A.9時 (9 o'clock)
B.10時 (10 o'clock)
C.11時 (11 o'clock)
D.12時 (noon)
Explanation: 「じゅうじ(十時)」は「10時」、「から」は開始点を示すので、会議は明日の10時に始まります。数字と時刻の聞き取りは聴解で頻繁に問われます。

About the AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam

AP Japanese Language and Culture is a College Board exam equivalent to a fourth-semester college Japanese course. It assesses interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication across six cultural themes. Section I is 70 multiple-choice questions split between interpretive listening (Part A) and interpretive reading (Part B); Section II is four free-response tasks covering writing and speaking. The full exam runs about two hours and is scored 1-5.

Questions

70 scored questions

Time Limit

About 2 hours total

Passing Score

Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher typically earns college credit

Exam Fee

About $99 per exam (College Board)

AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam Content Outline

25% of exam

Interpretive Listening (Part A)

30-35 multiple-choice questions interpreting spoken Japanese including conversations, announcements, voicemails, and instructions.

25% of exam

Interpretive Reading (Part B)

35-40 multiple-choice questions interpreting written Japanese in hiragana, katakana, and kanji such as emails, ads, schedules, and articles.

1 of 6 themes

Families and Communities

Customs, traditions, rites of passage, citizenship, and social welfare in Japanese society.

1 of 6 themes

Personal and Public Identities

Ethnic and national identity, gender roles, self-image, and the individual's role in society.

1 of 6 themes

Beauty and Aesthetics

Beauty in Japanese arts, literature, fashion, film, and architecture.

1 of 6 themes

Science and Technology

Innovations, science and ethics, and technology's effects on society.

1 of 6 themes

Contemporary Life

Education and careers, pop culture, tourism, holidays, and celebrations.

1 of 6 themes

Global Challenges

Environmental issues, economic trends, and Japan's role in international affairs.

How to Pass the AP Japanese Language and Culture Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher typically earns college credit
  • Exam length: 70 questions
  • Time limit: About 2 hours total
  • Exam fee: About $99 per exam

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AP Japanese Language and Culture Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practice reading mixed hiragana, katakana, and kanji at speed — most reading questions require recognizing kanji from everyday contexts like signs, menus, and emails.
2Build vocabulary by theme; questions are grouped around the six cultural themes, so learning thematic word sets pays off.
3Drill listening with native-speed audio (announcements, voicemails, conversations) and practice answering before the audio repeats.
4Master common particles (wa, ga, o, ni, de, e, to, kara, made) and keigo (polite and humble forms) since grammar errors are heavily tested.
5Learn cultural facts tied to each theme — holidays, etiquette, and traditions appear in both reading and listening passages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the AP Japanese exam and how is it structured?

Section I has 70 multiple-choice questions: 30-35 interpretive listening (Part A) and 35-40 interpretive reading (Part B). Section II adds four free-response tasks covering writing and speaking. The full exam runs about two hours.

How is the AP Japanese Language and Culture exam scored?

The exam is scored on the standard AP scale of 1 to 5. Listening, reading, writing, and speaking each contribute 25% of the composite score, and a 3 or higher typically earns college credit.

What are the six themes on the AP Japanese exam?

The six themes are Families and Communities, Personal and Public Identities, Beauty and Aesthetics, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, and Global Challenges. All listening and reading passages draw on these themes.

What level of Japanese does the AP exam expect?

The course is equivalent to a fourth-semester college Japanese course. Students read and interpret hiragana, katakana, and kanji and handle intermediate-to-advanced grammar and vocabulary in real-life contexts.

When is the AP Japanese exam in 2026 and what does it cost?

The 2026 AP Japanese exam is scheduled for May 12, 2026. The standard AP exam fee in the United States is about $99 per exam for 2025-26.

What are the three modes of communication tested?

The exam tests the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes. Multiple-choice questions assess the interpretive mode through listening and reading; free-response tasks assess interpersonal and presentational writing and speaking.