AP Chinese

AP Chinese provides students with the opportunity to develop proficiency in Mandarin Chinese while exploring Chinese culture and society.

Study Strategies

Listening and Note-Taking Strategies

Sharpening Your Listening Skills

Listening is a major part of the AP Chinese exam. Focus on catching key words, tone, and context. Jot down short notes or keywords as you listen, rather than trying to write everything. Practice with audio clips, podcasts, or Chinese songs.

Tips

  • Listen for signal words that indicate time or location.
  • Note transitions and repeated terms.
  • Don’t panic if you miss a word—use context to guess the meaning.

Examples

  • Identifying the main idea of a news report.

  • Writing down useful numbers or names during an audio prompt.