Section 1A: Multiple Choice

30 questions | 40mins | 23% of Score

This section presents 4 sets of authentic print sources (announcements/advertisements, literary texts, articles and charts, letters) with questions. The questions will ask you to: 

• Identify the main ideas and supporting details 

• Determine the meaning of vocabulary words in context 

• Identify the author's point of view or the target audience 

• Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural or interdisciplinary information contained in the text 

Section 1B: Multiple Choice with Audio

35 questions | 55mins | 27% of Score

This section includes a variety of authentic audio sources, including conversations, audio reports, interviews, instructions, and presentations. It is divided into 2 subsections: 

• The first includes 2 sets of audio sources that are paired with print materials on the same topic with questions (articles and audio reports, charts and conversations) 

• The second includes 3 sets of audio sources with questions (interviews, instructions, presentations) 

You will respond to questions about main ideas and supporting details. Some questions will require you to show understanding of cultural or interdisciplinary information. 

You will have time to read a preview of each selection and skim the questions before listening to the audio. All audio texts will be played twice. 

You are encouraged to take notes during this part of the exam and are given writing space for that purpose. Your notes will not be scored. 

Section IIA: Free Response Written

2 questions | 1 hr 10mins | 25% of Score

There are two writing tasks in this section:

• Interpersonal Writing: Read and reply to an email message (15 minutes)

• Presentational Writing: Write an argumentative essay based on 3 sources, including an article, a table, chart, graph, or infographic, and a related audio source (played twice), that present different viewpoints on a topic (~55 minutes total: 15 minutes to review materials plus 40 minutes to write). You will have access to the print sources and any notes you may take on the audio during the entire 40-minute writing period.

Section IIB: Free Response Spoken

2 questions | 18mins | 25% of Score

There are two speaking tasks in this section: 

• Interpersonal Speaking: Participate in 5 exchanges in a simulated conversation (20 seconds for each response). For this conversation, you will be provided with a preview of the conversation, including an outline of each exchange. 

• Presentational Speaking: Deliver a 2-minute presentation in response to a prompt in which you compare a cultural feature of a Spanish-speaking community with which you are familiar to your own community or another community.