María Jesús Abilleira discusses what the changes mean and why the instructional approach matters Starting in fall of 2026, the AP® World Language and Culture exams are changing in ways that go well beyond format adjustments. Across Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese, the College Board is introducing a Project component that accounts for 35% of each student’s total score. Students must research a topic announced in January of the exam year, deliver a structured oral presentation, and respond on the spot to four questions from a recorded interlocutor. There is no script, no previewed question set, and no