Interpersonal writing sounds complicated, but it’s actually something we do all the time. All it means is that you’re communicating on paper with another person. On the AP® Spanish Language exam, the interpersonal writing section is a reply to an email (even though you won’t be typing).
So what is the interpersonal writing section like? Well, it’s very similar to a real email interaction, only faster. You will be given 15 minutes to read an email and respond to it. The email could cover anything from an event invitation to a job offer, but it won’t be anything too complicated. Before the body of the email, you’ll be given information about the sender of the email and the main idea. Make sure you read this information!
To give you an idea, we’ll talk about a couple of the recent prompts. The 2015 interpersonal writing involved a scholarship opportunity to travel to a Spanish-speaking country. Students were asked a few questions about the challenges of such a program, and how the experience would impact their future. The 2014 exam involved an organization that combatted global environmental issues. Students were asked why they were interested in these issues and the proposed project, as well as previous experience.
You will need to prepare for interpersonal writing, but don’t worry. This is one of the most straightforward parts of the exam, and it’s easy to master if you’re prepared. We’ll give you all the tools you need to rock at interpersonal writing in May.
Here are the expert tips to conquering the email reply:
1. Know your instructions. Your main concern is to complete the task at hand. The prompt will direct you to answer all of the questions that the email brings up, as well as to ask for more detail about something in the message. Complete all the tasks, then show off your grammar skills!
2. Maximize your time. With a task this simple, your biggest enemy is the clock. But there’s good news: now that you know your instructions, you don’t need to listen while they’re being played! Use that extra minute to get started reading the email.
3. Know some greeting phrases. Go beyond the simple “Hola” and “Gracias.” Knowing some formal intro and outro phrases will bump up the graders’ view of your writing. Some examples to get you started:
Querido: this is a more informal greeting, so there are better choices for professional or business writing.
Estimado: this is an excellent greeting for professional emails, such as to a boss, teacher, or potential employer.
Atentamente: this is used in a similar way as “sincerely,” so it’s great for formal or informal correspondence.
Cariñosos saludos: this phrase is used in a similar way as “with warm regards;” it works in somewhat formal settings, such as writing an email to a teacher, but maybe not for a business executive.
Con todo mi cariño: this goodbye is best used when writing to close family or friends.
4. Know your audience. Make sure you are using the proper form of address and greetings. In other words, you wouldn’t close an email to a potential employer with “Besitos.”
5. Know your tenses. Identify immediately based on the email which tenses you should be working with. Present? Past? Future? Making sure your verb tenses match the context will give you a solid base for your content.
6. Throw in subjunctive where you can. We know the subjunctive is scary. But in such a simple task, you have the perfect place to show off your skills! While you’re reading, keep an eye out for where you might be able to use the subjunctive. Maybe they ask for a recommendation, or your opinion on a subject. Impersonal expressions are also a great way to jazz up your writing with a little subjunctive. Graders love it.
7. Throw in culture where you can. The email may ask you about a certain category, like music or literature. This is your chance to name-drop; your favorite artist is Juanes, or you just read an amazing novel by Gabriel García Márquez. These little additions can add that little touch to your writing that makes it stand out.
8. Be creative. Interpersonal writing prompts involve emails written to you, so you’ll have to write about yourself. They’ll often ask about previous experiences, or your own personal interests, so make it interesting! Stay on topic, but throw in unique facts where you can. Think of travel experiences you’ve had, or volunteer work you’ve done. And don’t stress if the prompt topic doesn’t apply to you – you can make yourself the ideal candidate! Even though the email is personal, it doesn’t have to be nonfiction. As long as you answer the questions, you’re golden.
9. Check yourself. Watch the clock and make sure to leave one or two minutes to proofread at the end of the section. Don’t obsess, just skim for obvious errors and correct them. Pay special attention to ser and estar, preterite and imperfect, and the use of the subjunctive – these are tricky for most people!
10. Practice, practice, practice. This section is easy to prepare for because we all write emails all the time. A few week before the exam, start practicing writing short emails in Spanish. Write notes to friends or postcards to family. Even find classmates to email back and forth! When you email your Spanish teacher questions about class, email them in Spanish; they’ll love it AND you’ll get great practice.
11. Don’t sweat it. Take a deep breath and have faith in yourself. This section is a confidence booster for a lot of students; it has simple instructions and usually a simple topic. Use this time to give yourself proficiency and culture points easily! Show off what you can do, because you can do a lot.
There you have it: 11 solid tips for mastering the AP® Spanish exam interpersonal writing. The key is to relax: you know what to do! Just make completing the task your priority; the rest will follow. With a little preparation, you can rock the interpersonal writing in May!
By the way, you should check out Albert.io for your AP® Spanish Language review. We have hundreds of AP® Spanish Language practice questions written just for you!
