AP Latin – Guide for College Instructors
2012-14 Edition
This guide is meant to help college instructors better understand incoming undergrads who
took AP Latin in high school. Instructors and advisers can use this guide to set placements for
incoming students. A large portion of this guide is devoted to promoting teaching strategies
especially applicable to AP Latin students.
Dygo Tosa, The University of Texas at Austin
CollegeBoard and AP are registered trademarks of CollegeBoard.
What is the AP Latin exam?
High school students take the AP Latin exam, administered by CollegeBoard, at the end of an AP
Latin course that prepares them to translate, identify grammar, and understand the context of
specific passages from Latin literature. From 2009, the AP Latin Literature exam was dropped to
focus only on selections from Vergil’s Aeneid. In 2013, passages from Caesar’s De Bello Gallico
were added to the list of required readings. The exam also includes sight passages that requires
students to demonstrate their working knowledge of the Latin language.
The AP Latin exam is designed to encourage colleges and universities to award credit for upperdivision college courses by assessing students on their knowledge and application of Latin
grammar, translation, and literature. The 2013 exam is made up of two halves: multiple choice
and free-response. The multiple choice section has questions on four readings: a syllabus
passage from Vergil, a syllabus passage from Caesar, a sight passage from poetry, and a sight
passage from prose. The free-response section has two translation sections from the syllabus
readings (Vergil and Caesar), an analytical essay (looking at a common theme in two selected
passages, likely one from Vergil and one from Caesar), and two short answer sections from the
syllabus readings (Vergil and Caesar).
In other words, the exam is only half multiple choice. Students must be able to write out
translations and students must be able to use analytical skills which involve readings in Latin
including sight passages. Students are expected to use Latin words and phrases from the
passages to illustrate their arguments in the analytical essay. While many standardized tests do
not directly test classroom knowledge or critical thinking skills, the AP Latin exam is designed
specifically to test students on what they have learned in an AP Latin class.
The AP Latin exam underwent significant changes in 2012 with the result that the 2013 exam is
quite different from the one offered from 2009-2012. Students entering college starting fall
2013 will have taken this new exam. The previous exam’s syllabus of readings from Vergil is
outlined below for comparison.
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What are students expected to read in an AP Latin class?
Syllabus for current exam (2013):
Vergil, Aeneid
Book 1: Lines 1-209, 418-440, 494-578
Book 2: Lines 40-56, 201-249, 268-297, 559-620
Book 4: Lines 160-218, 259-361, 659-705
Book 6: Lines 295-332, 384-425, 450-476, 847-899
Books 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 in Translation
Caesar, Gallic War
Book 1: Chapters 1-7
Book 4: Chapters 24-35 and the first sentence of Chapter 36 (Eodem die legati . . .
venerunt.)
Book 5: Chapters 24-48
Book 6: Chapters 13-20
Books 1, 6, 7 in Translation
Syllabus for the older exam (up to 2012):
Vergil, Aeneid
Book 1: Lines 1-519
Book 2: Lines 1-56, 199-297, 469-566, and 735-804
Book 4: Lines 1-448, 642-705
Book 6: Lines 1-211, 450-476, 847-901
Book 10: Lines 420-509
Book 12: Lines 791-842, 887-952
Books 1-12 in Translation
Teachers of AP Latin courses are expected to assign all required lines in their syllabus as well as
set aside time to translate sight passages in class. It is entirely up to the teacher’s preference
whether they read Caesar or Vergil first.
According to CollegeBoard, recommended authors for sight translation are:
Prose: Nepos, Cicero, Livy, Pliny the Younger, Seneca the Younger, and Caesar
Verse: Ovid, Martial, Tibullus, Catullus, and Vergil
The following authors are significantly less likely to appear on the sight translation passages:
Prose: Tacitus, Sallust
Verse: Horace, Juvenal, Lucan
Teachers for AP Latin courses are free to pick any authors they wish from these lists.
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When do students take AP Latin in high school?
AP Latin courses are usually offered at the 4th year of a language in high school (“Latin IV AP”).
Some schools offer a 3rd-year course that is geared specifically towards getting students ready
for the AP level (“Latin III Pre-AP”). Smaller schools and programs may have combined classes
which place students at different levels in the same classroom (“Latin III-IV AP”). Students who
begin Latin in middle school may be able to take a 5th year course (“Latin V”) in which they read
additional authors and explore literature in more depth.
Teachers must take a 30-hour certificate course during the summer to teach an AP course. AP
Latin teachers must also register their AP course syllabi with CollegeBoard.
Placement for AP Latin students
Placement for students depends entirely on each individual student’s skills and abilities. This
section is meant as a general guide. It is important for instructors to take into account a
student’s current active performance. A thorough review of grammar and vocabulary is
beneficial at every level of language acquisition.
At the University of Texas at Austin
Students receiving a 5 on the AP Latin exam receive credit for:
LAT 506, 507, 311, 312  Recommended placement in LAT 322
Students receiving a 4 on the AP Latin exam receive credit for:
LAT 506, 507, 311  Recommended placement in LAT 312
Students receiving 3 or less do not receive credit.
 Recommended placement in LAT 507 or LAT 311
Students who have not taken Latin in the previous two years are likely to benefit from
the extensive grammar review which takes place in LAT 507.
Source: http://ctl.utexas.edu/programs-and-services/student-testing-services/examdetails?examID=89
Questions to ask an AP Latin student
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What can you translate without a dictionary?
Which authors have you read in Latin?
When was the last time you took Latin?
How many lines of Latin can you translate in an hour?
College instructors and advisers should keep in mind that it can be very difficult to change
sections and courses after the first week of classes, especially with the regulations from the
registrar and financial aid. Students may be overwhelmed during the first week and opt to take
a class far above or below their actual ability.
1. During the first day or two of class, ask students about their background in Latin.
2. Encourage students to take the class: 1) in which they can succeed and 2) that will
enable them to reach their goals for taking Latin.
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3. Be flexible: allow students to sit-in and observe higher or lower level classes to see if
they can find a class most appropriate to their level.
4. Make sure you yourself can advise students about their placement by having accurate
information about the different courses offered in the department.
Teaching AP Latin students
Ideally, AP Latin courses provide high school students with the skills to succeed in upperdivision college Latin courses. The ease of this transition depends on the rigorousness of the
high school program, the skills and abilities of the student, and the expectations of the college
instructor. College instructors should aim to develop critical thinking skills in addition to
language proficiency for use at the graduate level. The following are a number of strategies that
can help college instructors create more productive lessons for students who have already had
experience with Latin in high school, building upon common high school instructional
strategies.
Reading Latin for depth
Many AP Latin teachers in high school find themselves moving very quickly through the lines of
Vergil and Caesar because of the requirement to complete certain lines each day. This means
many AP students will not get a chance to explore individual lines or words in much depth. A lot
of focus is on reading comprehension rather than on the language itself. Take time to digest
and discuss the significance of specific words, syntax, and an author’s individual style. Students
are asked on the AP Latin exam (as well as in their English courses) to identify literary devices;
college instructors should also identify them (or even better, push the students to do the
identification), but then go the extra step to discuss the significance or effect: could Vergil or
Caesar have done something differently? How does the literary device support the rhetoric of
the passage? Encourage developing interpretations based on a close reading of the text.
The translation of passages should almost always be based on understanding the
grammar rather than from a known translation. Students will read and write down translations
of lines, especially if they did not get a chance to translate it on their own, and the prevalence
of free translations available for ancient texts can lead to students memorizing English
translations for exams. Many students will also write interlinear translations because they feel
that they have to translate at a level beyond their actual proficiency. It may also be a high
school habit, where students are expected to write out and submit their translations for daily
grades.
 Take time to examine and review Latin lines to analyze style and context rather than
trying to read for completeness.
 Avoid giving translations to your students in class: instead discuss how to translate a
given sentence or passage accurately.
 Ask students to translate actively in class.
 Aim for students to read Latin texts without interlinear translations as soon as possible.
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Teach how to use a dictionary effectively
Most Latin textbooks used in high school have vocabularies appended to the Latin texts. For
sight translation, students are encouraged to guess or predict from context. On the other hand,
upper-division Latin courses in college require students to know how to use dictionaries
efficiently and effectively. Study of fragmentary works and literature at the graduate level
cannot be done without knowing how to examine the diachronic definition of a Latin word.
 Require students to purchase a college-level dictionary.
 Demonstrate and model proper usage of a dictionary in class. Simple strategies such as
looking through definitions and looking for precedence can prevent students from
attaching one-to-one definitions for Latin words.
Introduce text commentaries and the critical apparatus
Students have very little exposure to the critical apparatus of a text in high school because they
are not assessed on it. High school teachers without graduate school experience are also less
likely to discuss manuscript variations and ancient scholarship of texts. While these aspects
should not be the focus of an undergraduate-level course, questioning the manuscript is an
excellent exercise in critical thinking. College instructors can also demonstrate their own
expertise if they have worked closely with the text before.
 Take time to discuss manuscript variations.
 If there is a question about the sense or grammar of a line that cannot be easily
resolved, bring in multiple commentaries to compare scholarship.
 Discuss what ancient scholars and authors may have said about a text.
Continue to develop study skills
It is an unfortunate trend that many high school administrators ask teachers to reduce
homework due to increasing extracurricular demands. In an informal survey at the AP Summer
Institute, homework assigned averaged anywhere from none to thirty minutes a night. Most
college instructors are aware that they cannot cover all the material on the syllabus during class
time and require students to do extensive reading on their own time. Be aware that this
expectation that students spend serious time on their own must be taught, not taken for
granted.
Students who succeed in a college course will find themselves encouraged to pursue
their studies in that field. The study skills they gain in one class will be carried on to the next
level, and in some cases, transferred to other subjects that they study. Anything and everything
from developing a better grasp of grammar to setting a more structured daily schedule can be
invaluable life skills.
 Ask your students to set aside time on a daily basis to complete their assignments.
 Be consistent with your assignments and be reasonably considerate of students’
circumstances.
 Teach study skills that have been successful for you and your students.
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Share your research expertise
Many college instructors, whether graduate students or professors, are actively involved in
research of their own in various fields and disciplines. Involvement with regular conferences,
colloquia, and seminars can keep instructors aware of exciting new trends and finds in the field.
While your expertise may not be directly applicable to the topic of the course, college
instructors can still share material that they have come across in their own studies at the
graduate level and beyond. These connections are often implicit in the examples an instructor
uses, and by making students actively aware of these links, an instructor can stimulate interest
in the field while opening their minds. Many students decide their college major based on what
they gain and enjoy in their first or second year courses: illustrate by example what a classics
major can do.
 Incorporate examples from your own research when appropriate.
 Maintain positive relationships with your peers so that you can refer questions and
students to experts.
 Encourage students to pursue topics of their interest.
Some last thoughts
This guide is not meant to be an exhaustive guide to the AP Latin exam or a comprehensive
curriculum guide for college Latin courses. Rather, it is meant to encourage college instructors
to build on their strengths and understand their students’ backgrounds. Better transitions
between high school and college encourage students and instructors to succeed in the
classroom. If you have any suggestions, questions, corrections, or would like to use this guide at
your institution, please contact the author at:
Dygo Tosa, [email protected]
Special thanks
This document was drafted as part of the Magistra Instructional Resource Website of the
Department of Classics at the University of Texas at Austin. Funding for attendance at the AP
Summer Institute was provided by the Marilyn White APSI Scholarship offered by the UTeach
Liberal Arts program and a Professional Development Grant by the Texas Language Center. The
author is grateful for all the support and feedback he has received from his colleagues,
teachers, and students.
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