<p>Our daughter attended a french immersion school in her youth, though she is not from a french speaking background. She has been told she could take the AP exam now that she is in 8th grade and focus on another language in H.S. (She will be required regardless to study another language at the H.S. she is to attend.) </p>
<p>A H.S. french teacher told us, however, that students should not take the test too early because they would benefit from more developed writing and test-taking skills as they advance. Also, I am thinking that having the French AP course on her record, followed by an AP score, would be perceived as more deserving in her eventual college application vs. having tested well based on language skills developed before high school.</p>
<p>A top AP score is not any less impressive if the student did not take the corresponding AP class. But if she takes AP French as a freshman, she might benefit from it. It may also prepare her better for the test.
If she decides to just take the test, and ends up not scoring well, she does not have to report it to colleges when the time comes.</p>
<p>She could also take SAT II French if she is fluent. She will probably score well, and se will have a choice whether to keep the score on record or not, since she is not yet in HS.</p>
<p>You should also log onto College Board and go through the AP and SAT II French practice tests. It will be helpful for you and your daughter to see the difference in types of questions asked.</p>
<p>There is an advantage to taking an AP test when the subject is fresh and there is no second language confusion to interfere. She is unlikely to want/need AP credits in French so getting any passing grade works. I know that UW requires a placement test the summer before entering college if a student wants to continue a foreign language to determine level and how many credits will be awarded for prior knowledge after the semester. Other colleges likely have similar competence requirements. Since it will be 4 years before college your D may as well have the AP test in her college app resume and then whatever her HS foreign language classes yield as well. Good info in posts #2 and 3.</p>