<p>True. The AP tests were revamped a couple years ago. Seeing what my D was studying in college, I compared it to what we were doing in the AP class, and trust me, this was MUCH harder. The AP test compares to the end of third year college Spanish after the intricate grammar and literature. And yes, the listening is very difficult with natives from different countries with different accents speaking at their normal rate. I proctored the German AP test, and although much of the format was the same, the level of difficulty (content) was much easier. The natives spoke slower. I teach Spanish and speak German, as well.</p>