AP Japanese Language and Culture study plan
AP Japanese Language and Culture · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Section I, Question 1: Project Presentation & Section II, Part A: Listening
Outline a 4-minute presentation on a Japan-related cultural topic, drafting a Japanese script of at least 600 characters with an opening, two supporting points, and a conclusion.
Record and time three 1-minute impromptu monologues on the same topic to build fluency before final scripting.
Compile 60 topic-specific vocabulary items and 15 set phrases into a personal glossary, each with an example sentence.
Complete two 5-minute listening sets (announcements and conversations) and write a three-sentence Japanese summary of each.
Your checkpoint
A 3-minute recorded draft presentation, its 600+ character Japanese script, and a self-scored rubric sheet covering delivery, vocabulary range, and structure.
Section I, Question 1: Project Presentation & Section II, Part B: Reading
Revise the script to a full 4 minutes by adding a short self-introduction, three verifiable facts, and a closing question to the audience.
Deliver the revised script from memory twice, recording both takes and marking every pause and mispronunciation on the transcript.
Read three 400-character informational passages on Japanese culture and state the main idea plus two details in Japanese within 6 minutes each.
Extract 40 kanji compounds from those passages into a flashcard deck and test recall the following day.
Your checkpoint
Two memorized 4-minute recordings of the presentation, a corrected script, and a written self-evaluation naming three specific improvements for the next take.
Section I, Question 1: Project Presentation & Section I, Question 2: Project Q&A
Finalize the script and produce one clean 4-minute recording that fits the exam time limit.
Write and rehearse 15 likely follow-up questions with 20-30 second answers, each supported by one concrete example.
Record a mock Q&A answering 10 unseen questions after a 10-second think time per question.
Identify five challenging follow-up questions an examiner could ask about the topic and prepare evidence for each.
Your checkpoint
A final 4-minute presentation recording plus a recorded Q&A of 10 unseen questions, both scored on a 4-point fluency and content rubric.
Section II, Part A: Listening & Section II, Part B: Reading
Complete one full timed listening section under exam conditions and score it without replaying audio.
Complete one full timed reading section and log every wrong answer by cause: vocabulary, kanji, inference, or time pressure.
Drill the 30 kanji compounds and 20 katakana loanwords that appeared in the missed items.
Shadow two listening scripts aloud, matching the speaker's pitch, speed, and sentence rhythm.
Your checkpoint
A scored full listening section and full reading section, plus an error log of at least 20 entries sorted by mistake type.
Section I, Question 2: Project Q&A & Section II, Part A: Listening
Answer 20 personalized follow-up questions with no preparation time, recording every response.
Complete three listening sets built around numbers, times, schedules, and directions, transcribing the key details verbatim.
Practice note-taking shorthand across 40 minutes of audio and summarize each passage in two Japanese sentences.
Re-record the three weakest Q&A answers after reviewing them against a rubric.
Your checkpoint
A continuous 10-minute Q&A recording scored against the Q2 rubric, paired with a prioritized list of answers to rewrite.
Section I, Question 3: Story Narration & Section II, Part B: Reading
Narrate six four-scene story sequences, described in text, in about 2 minutes each, using past tense and time-order connectives.
Read two 600-character passages three times this week and answer main-idea questions in under 8 minutes per pair.
Memorize 15 connective expressions and deliberately use at least 8 of them in every narration.
Rewrite the two weakest narrations after feedback, adding detail to setting, sequence, and ending.
Your checkpoint
Three recorded 2-minute narrations, each containing at least 8 connectives, with full transcripts and one revised version apiece.
Section I, Question 3: Story Narration & Section I, Question 4: Email Response
Write three email responses in 20 minutes each: a formal request, an apology with a reschedule, and a reply to an invitation.
Use at least five distinct honorific and humble forms in each email and verify them against a keigo checklist.
Narrate two more stories under strict 2-minute time pressure without written notes.
Revise all emails after a self-review against a 5-point rubric covering task completion, register, accuracy, length, and coherence.
Your checkpoint
Three 20-minute timed email responses and two timed narrations, all scored on a 5-point rubric with rewrites of the two weakest pieces.
Section I, Question 1: Project Presentation & Section I, Question 2: Project Q&A
Run one complete timed dry run of Section I in a single sitting: presentation, Q&A, narration, and email.
Re-record the presentation and compare fluency markers, such as pauses per minute and filler count, against the week 1 baseline.
Review the week 4 and week 7 error logs and re-attempt 15 previously missed items to confirm retention.
Run a light 20-minute listening and reading maintenance set each day to hold Section II skills steady.
Your checkpoint
A fully recorded and scored Section I dry run plus a one-page final checklist listing personal weak points and the specific fix for each.
Milestones
Week 2: Script reaches the full 4-minute length and has been delivered from memory twice; the glossary contains 60 entries with example sentences.
Week 4: One full listening section and one full reading section are completed under time and scored, with an error log of 20+ entries classified by cause.
Week 6: Three 2-minute narrations are recorded with 8+ connectives each, and reading speed reaches 600 characters plus questions in under 8 minutes.
Week 8: The timed Section I dry run is recorded and scored, and all six task types have been practiced at least twice under real time limits.