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Ultimate Guide to the AP French Language and Culture Exam

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The AP French Language and Culture exam is one of the most popular AP language exams, second only to Spanish. In 2019, over 23,000 students took the exam—about 75% of which were standard foreign language students, with the remainder being students who regularly spoke or heard the foreign language outside of school, or who studied abroad for more than one month. 

Students who are interested in gaining proficiencies in the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of French communication are best suited for this line of study. If you are interested in taking the AP French Language and Culture exam—whether you have taken the class, are a native-speaker, or have self-studied—read on for a breakdown of the test and CollegeVine’s advice for how to best prepare for it.

When is the AP French Language and Culture Exam?

On Friday, May 15, at 8 am, the College Board will administer the 2020 AP French Language and Culture exam. For a comprehensive AP exam schedule, along with study tips and more, check out our blog post 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know.

About the AP French Language and Culture Exam

The AP French Language and Culture exam aims to promote both fluency and accuracy in French language use. To accomplish this, the AP French Language and Culture course is taught primarily in French, and students will read and listen to authentic texts from the francophone world throughout the course. The course focuses on the three foundational modes of communication as defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century: Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational.

Though it is easy to get caught up in grammatical nuances when learning a foreign language, the AP curriculum explicitly seeks not to overemphasize grammatical accuracy at the expense of communication. As such, while grammar is tested on the exam in the context of written and oral responses, a higher weight is placed on general communication skills.

A spelling reform known as La Nouvelle Orthographe is currently underway in France. The new spelling is officially encouraged but not required by the French government. The AP French Development Committee notes that students will not be penalized for using the new spellings in the writing portion of the AP French Language and Culture exam. 

AP French Language and Culture Course Content

There are no formal prerequisites for the AP French Language and Culture course; however, most students who take it are in their fourth year of high school-level French study. Native speakers or students with exceptional exposure to the French language may take a different course of study leading to the AP French Language and Culture course, or might completely self-study for the exam.

The framework of the AP French Language and Culture course is made up of six units, and contained within those six units are five to seven contexts. Through the exploration of these units and their contexts, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of French language and culture and engage with it in a variety of ways. Below are the six units and their contexts:

Throughout the AP French Language and Culture course, you’ll develop and hone eight language and communication skills. Below is a list of the eight course skills, a description of each, and the weight given to each skill on the multiple-choice section of the AP French Language and Culture exam: 

AP French Language and Culture Exam Content

The AP French Language and Culture exam is one of the longer exams, consisting of two sections, and clocking in at three hours and three minutes. The first section takes one hour and 35 minutes to complete, contains 65 multiple-choice questions, and accounts for 50% of your total score. 

The multiple-choice section of the AP French Language and Culture exam is two parts. In the first part, you will spend 40 minutes completing 30 multiple-choice questions based on printed texts. In the second part, you will have 55 minutes to complete 35 multiple-choice questions based on audio or combination audio and print texts.

Section 1(a): Multiple-Choice Text

40 minutes | 30 questions | 23% of score

The first multiple-choice section of the exam uses print materials—such as journalistic and literary texts, announcements, advertisements, letters, charts, maps, and tables—as a stimulus. The questions require you determine the main idea and details of the stimulus, determine the meaning of words in context, identify the author’s point of view or target audience, and demonstrate cultural knowledge or interdisciplinary information contained in the stimulus. 

Examples of text-based multiple-choice questions:  

Answers – 1: C | 2: B | 3: D

Section 1(b): Multiple-Choice Audio 

55 minutes | 35 questions | 27% of score

The second part of the multiple-choice section uses audio material—interviews, podcasts, PSAs, conversations, and brief presentations—as a stimulus. In this part of the exam, students will encounter two subsections of questions. One set of questions uses audio files in combination with print materials as the stimulus, and the other set of questions uses only audio material as the stimulus. 

Examples of audio-based multiple-choice questions (click on the question for audio): 

Answers – 12: B | 13: D

The free response section of the AP French Language and Culture exam is also broken down into two parts. The first part of the free response section is focused on writing, the other part is centered on speaking. 

Section 2(a): Free Response Written

1 hour 10 minutes | 2 questions | 25% of score

The first part of the free response questions consists of two questions. The first question requires you to read and reply to an email. You’re alloted 15 minutes to answer this question and it accounts for 12.5% of your total score. The second question tasks you with writing an argumentative essay based on three provided sources. You’re given 55 total minutes—15 to review sources and 40 minutes to write—to form your essay. This question also accounts for 12.5% of your exam score. 

Example of an email free response question: 

Section 2(b): Free Response Spoken

18 minutes | 2 questions | 25% of score

During the second part of the free response section, you will listen and respond orally to prompts. You will first need to complete five exchanges (20-second responses) in a simulated conversation. You will then deliver a 2-minute presentation comparing a cultural feature of a French-speaking community to another community you’re familiar with. 

Example of a spoken free response question: 

AP French Language and Culture Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate

In 2019, students generally did quite well on the AP French Language and Culture exam. Of all test takers, more than 77% received a score of 3 or higher, including 73.9% of standard group students (excluding native or heritage speakers). Only 16.1% of all students received the top score of 5, while less than 5% scored a 1 on the exam.

Keep in mind that credit and advanced standing based on AP scores varies widely from college to college. While a 3 is generally considered passing, you may need a 4 or 5 to receive credit. Some schools don’t grant credit at all, and only use AP exams for placement. You can find regulations regarding which AP exams qualify for course credits or advanced placement at specific colleges on the College Board’s website . 

A full course description that can help to guide your studying and understanding of the knowledge required for the test can be found on the College Board AP French course website . If you’re curious about other score distributions, see our post Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .

Best Ways to Study for the AP French Language and Culture Exam

Step 1: assess your skills.

Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge of the material. Although the College Board does not provide a complete practice test, you can find sample questions with scoring explanations included in the course description . Additionally, there are free practice exam questions available on practiceexam.com . You may also find practice or diagnostic exams in many of the commercial study guides.

Step 2: Study the Theory

To really devote yourself to this study, you should endeavor to immerse yourself as much as possible in French language and culture. You should listen to, speak, and read French as much as you can. You can find interesting books in French, watch Youtube videos in French, read the French news (like Le Monde) , follow French blogs, or listen to French podcasts. Try to find engaging sources of information presented in French and use them as much as possible. You will be amazed by how much your own listening, spoken language, and written French will improve simply from exposing yourself to the language more often.

You can also prepare for the exam by reviewing the College Board’s AP World Language Practice Tips and by previewing the exam’s sample AP French audio files . 

For a more specific idea of where to focus your studying, you may consider using a commercial study guide. Barron’s AP French Language and Culture with MP3 CD offers a comprehensive guide to the exam content, including two full-length practice exams with all questions answered and explained, along with an MP3 CD containing exemplary conversations and oral presentations. Barron’s is the top-rated choice for AP French Language and Culture study guides.

Another solid option is the AP French Language & Culture All Access w/Audio: Book + Online + Mobile , which receives good reviews for the volume of practice material it includes, though some users note that it contains some typos and should be used only in conjunction with other study materials to reinforce existing skills.

In addition, there are tons of study resources available online, including many from AP teachers who have posted comprehensive outlines and study guides. This AP French website , created by a long-time teacher, has a host of links, references, and courses. Best of all, it’s free! 

Another convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams.. The FluentU app has a free version with basic video content that is highly rated for foreign language acquisition, but watch out for in-app purchases—the “Plus” version can set you back between $30 and $240.

Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. You could also try taking the multiple-choice section of another practice exam.

The College Board Course Description includes many practice multiple choice questions along with explanations of their answers. As you go through these, try to keep track of which areas are still tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Focus on understanding what each question is asking and keep a running list of any vocabulary that is still unfamiliar.

Step 4: Practice Free Response Questions

Your preparations for the free response section of the AP French Language and Culture exam will differ from the preparations for those of other AP exams. Although you’ll still need to practice some writing responses, you’ll also need to practice your listening skills and oral responses.

Regardless, you should begin your preparations for the free response section by brushing up on your vocabulary and grammar. Quizlet and Brainscape both have good online flashcards available for free. Make sure you have a solid selection of verbs to fall back on in both conversational and formal tones, and practice using them in multiple contexts. Although you won’t officially be scored on your grammar, you’ll still need to be able to communicate effectively, so make sure you can get your point across.

Your best preparation for the written prompts is simple: repeated practice prompts. You can find tons of past exam prompts dating back to 2012 on the College Board’s AP French Language and Culture exam homepage . While you’re there, also check out the Student Performance Q&A links, which give you insights from the Chief Reader of the AP Exam. This figure compiles feedback from members of the reading leadership to describe how students performed on the free response questions, summarize typical student errors, and address specific concepts with which students have struggled the most that particular year.

The oral portion of the free response section is perhaps the hardest to prepare for, since it can be difficult to gauge your own speaking abilities. One suggested practice method is to record your own sample answers using the past exam prompts, and then replay them for yourself after you’ve reviewed the scoring criteria. You might also team up with a classmate to compare responses and offer each other some constructive criticism. Another less direct method of preparation is simply to make sure you are hearing and speaking as much French as possible on a daily basis.

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

As you did at the very beginning of your studying, take a practice test to evaluate your progress. You should see a steady progression of knowledge you’ve accumulated, and it’s likely that you will see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement.

If you have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.

Step 6: Exam Day Specifics 

If you’re taking the AP course associated with this exam, your teacher will walk you through how to register. If you’re self-studying, check out our blog post How to Self-Register for AP Exams .

For information about what to bring to the exam, see our post What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Home)?

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

For more information about APs, check out these CollegeVine posts:

• 2020 AP Exam Schedule
• How Long is Each AP Exam?
• Easiest and Hardest AP Exams

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

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The AP French Exam: Your Ultimate Guide (with 15 Study Tips and Test Strategies)

This is your ultimate guide to study and prepare for the AP French Language and Culture Exam.

From detailed information about the exam to 15 study tips and test-taking strategies, you’ll find everything you need to set up your study plan!

What Is the AP French Exam?

How will the ap french exam help in college, how is the exam scored, when and where do i take it, how is the exam structured, 1. start early, study often, 2. make the most of your ap class, 3. bring french into your daily life, 4. practice speaking as often as you can, 5. practice conversational vs. presentational tone, 6. use a study guide, 7. take practice tests, test-taking tips, 1. don’t underestimate simple concepts, 2. read the entirety of each question, 3. listen and read holistically, 5. budget your time, 6. remember to breathe, 7. smooth out your transitions, 8. mind your register.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

AP exams are comprehensive subject-specific exams for accomplished high school students . Having a high AP exam score on your high school transcript can help you stand out to colleges.

If you’re taking an AP French class, it means that you are studying more advanced French material than the average high school French class in preparation for the exam.

Even with class time, this exam is advanced and rigorous, requiring additional individual study time in order to excel.

Whether you want to major in French or just want to learn it, a passing score on the AP French Exam will let you test out of introductory classes and save time and money . You might also earn college credits before you start college.

This is especially useful if you have a different major but want to minor in French, because minors often have course loads that can cause scheduling conflicts with your major.

Colleges also sometimes consider AP experience when awarding scholarships.

The exam is scored on a simple 1 (worst) to 5 (best) scale. Usually, a score of 3 and above will qualify you for college credits and/or advanced placement, but each college sets their own requirements.

AP exams are given every year in May . You’ll take the exam in class during a normal school day.

Signing up for the AP exam is as simple as registering for AP classes in high school. Then, you will be provided with a test schedule and pay a fee (which is significantly less than a college course would cost) in order to register officially for the exam.

In many districts, there are subsidies available to offset the exam fee, offering a further incentive to take the test.

The exam is 3 hours long , of which roughly half consists of multiple choice questions and the other half free response.

Section 1: multiple choice (1 hour, 35 minutes)

This section consists of 65 questions that test your passive French reading and listening skills.

• Part A (40 minutes) is 30 questions based on sample texts such as newspaper articles or train schedules.
• Part B (55 minutes) is 35 questions based on audio clips which may or may not be paired with texts. All audio is played twice.

Section 2: free response (1 hour, 28 minutes)

This section consists of four tasks that test your active French writing and speaking skills.

• Part B (18 minutes) is two speaking tasks: a conversation and a presentation that demonstrates your knowledge of French and Francophone culture.

As with most tests (especially AP exams), you can’t just study the day before the exam and expect to get a good score.

Start scheduling as far ahead as you can. Consistency is key, and time is your greatest ally.

If you start studying 6 months before your test, you can spend just 15 minutes a day studying and build confidence in your skills.

If you wait until the last minute, you might spend hours and hours cramming in all your studying the week of, only to be unprepared and burned out for your exam.

Remember: your French teacher is already an expert in the language! Take advantage of their knowledge as much as possible while you still can. Something I used to do when learning French was to make a point of asking at least one question in class every day .

Pay extra attention to all the materials your teacher provides for you. They know what the exam will be like, so they know what it’s most important for you to be studying.

Whether it’s simple worksheets, beneficial websites or games, don’t just blow through these activities! Ask yourself what aspect of French these assignments are actually teaching you . Take them to heart.

Immersion is the best way to pick up any language.

While you may get short bits of immersion in your French classes, there is more that you can do outside of school that will immerse you in the language and get you thinking in it.

Try reading in French , setting your Facebook page to French , listening to French music or even finding some cool YouTube videos! You can also watch movies and TV shows or listen to podcasts in French.

Really, anything in your everyday life that’s usually done in English can probably also be done in French.

Whether it’s with a classmate, your teacher, a French friend or even yourself , find every possible opportunity to get in that speaking practice .

You might be able to understand written French and know the grammar concepts like the back of your hand, but speaking is a huge part of your test and you need to sound confident while doing it!

This one’s very important. Remember, an email isn’t an essay, and a conversation isn’t a presentation.

When you compose your email, write as if you’re a French person casually writing to another French person. Same goes for the conversation.

It’s during the essay and presentation that you want to show off how formal and informative you can be!

A study guide often includes important information on how the test is formatted and how to best approach it, as well as the grammar and vocabulary that you should know.

Be sure to find a study guide that covers all four language skills (speaking, writing, listening and reading).

Here are some of the most popular guides you can try:

• Barron’s – Breaks things down well and includes MP3 audio and two full practice tests.
• REA – Offers mobile and online content and tracks your progress with quizzes.
• College Board – While not technically a study guide, it has lots of relevant study material that is sure to help you since it comes from the creators of the test!

There are plenty of practice AP French exams out there, including in the study guides mentioned above. There are also practice exams online from resources such as Albert . The College Board website AP Central offers examples of past test questions , including writing and audio samples.

Try timing yourself with the actual exam times and keeping track of your progress, then studying the parts you struggle with the most.

Practice tests will have the same instructions as the real exam, so pay attention to them to understand what to expect beforehand.

While knowing advanced French is a plus, don’t forget what you learned when you were just starting out.

Things like incorrect gender , forgetting to use the subjunctive and improper conjugations are simple mistakes that even advanced speakers can commit. Don’t fall into that trap.

Read carefully to be sure the question you think you’re answering and the question you’re really  answering are one and the same.

If you skim through the questions, you may miss important parts that would completely change your answer.

The audio section presents the stress of only being able to listen to the audio twice. The key here is to listen holistically.

Don’t try to understand every word; that’s not necessary to answer the questions. If you dwell too long on one word you didn’t understand, you might miss the rest of the audio.

This goes for the reading portions of the exam, too. Especially considering the advanced level of language used in the exam, you are most likely going to come across something you don’t recognize. That’s okay! Just pick out the words you do know and use context clues to fill in the missing pieces.

You will be sitting at your exam for a little over three hours.

This means you should make sure to not only eat a big, nutritious breakfast, but also bring along a small snack or two to give you a boost. It’s hard to remember subject-verb agreements when your stomach won’t stop grumbling.

Water is also important.

You have to take care of your body to prepare your mind!

With 65 multiple choice questions to answer in 95 minutes, that leaves you about 1.5 minutes to answer each question.

Don’t get caught hemming and hawing over a question for five minutes. You can circle the question, move on, and get back to it if you have time at the end.

Since you’re not penalized for wrong answers—they’re simply not counted—you should try to fill in an answer for every question, even if it’s just a wild guess.

When it comes to the speaking portion, don’t let nervous jitters jumble your words. Speak slowly and deliberately. Remain calm.

You can even throw in some fillers à la française (in the French style) such as uh and ben (well) to give yourself some time to gather your thoughts, find le mot juste (the right word), and sound elegantly fluent .

In order to make your French sound as smooth and buttery as possible, you’ll need to be sure to have a store of transitions in your arsenal that will allow you to make logical connections and add variety to the structure and length of your sentences.

Think of the free response section as an opportunity to show that you know the difference between words like pour que (so that) and quoi que (no matter what).

Register is one of the areas in which you’ll be evaluated on the exam. In part A of the free response section, for example, you’ll be asked to reply to an email.

If the email is addressed to a close friend, you’d use tu . Addressing a professional acquaintance, on the other hand, requires vous . You should have the difference between the formal and informal register down pat.

With ample preparation, not only can you pass the AP French Exam, but you can improve your French enormously in the process.

Take it from a seasoned veteran of AP exams: there’s nothing on the AP French Exam that you can’t do, especially if you’re already a passionate learner.

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Tools & Calculators

Ap® french language score calculator.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: January 29, 2024

Looking for an AP® French Language score calculator? Voilà, you’ve found it! Explore how you would do on the AP® French Language exam by using this interactive widget.

Need extra help in preparing for AP® French Language? Check out our AP® French Language section for tons of review articles.

If you’re an educator interested in boosting your AP® French Language student outcomes, let us know and we’ll tell you how you can get started on Albert for free!

How are you projecting the scoring curve?

At this time, the College Board has not officially released a scoring worksheet that reflects the latest changes in AP® French Language. In order to create our projected curve, we have taken the relative percentages of the MCQ and FRQ as well as the point values of each question as outlined In the scoring guidelines released for 2019-2020 here .

AP® French Language

Enter your scores.

Section I: Multiple-Choice - Part A

Section I: Multiple-Choice - Part B

Section II: Free Response - Interpersonal Writing

Section II: Free Response - Presentational Writing

Section II: Free Response - Interpersonal Speaking

Section II: Free Response - Presentational Speaking

Section I: Multiple-Choice - Listening

Section I: Multiple-Choice - Reading

Section II: Free Response - Function Word Fill-Ins

Section II: Free Response - Verb Fill-Ins

Section II: Free Response - Essay

Section II: Free Response - Speaking Questions

Choose your score curve

2022 2008 2003

Looking for AP® French Language study materials?

Also, check out this reference for the  best AP® French Language review books .

What is a good AP® French Language score?

Receiving a 3, 4, or 5 is generally accepted as scoring well on an AP® exam. According to the College Board, a 3 is ‘qualified,’ a 4 is ‘well qualified,’ and a 5 is ‘extremely well qualified.’ Depending on the school you plan to attend, college credits are often offered for scores of 3 or above. To review the AP® Credit Policy for schools you’re considering, use the College Board’s search tool .

When evaluating your performance on the AP® French Language Exam, consider the subject matter and your performance versus your peers’. According to the latest 2020 AP® French Language score distribution report , 83.3% of total students passed, with a 3 or higher.

What is the average AP® French Language score?

The average AP® French Language scores differ yearly due to factors such as a new student population and revision of exams(the most recent change happened in Fall 2011). The College Board typically attempts to maintain consistency in exams for each subject. We can analyze the average AP® French Language score more efficiently by considering a multi-year trend.

Referring to the AP® Student Score Distributions , released by the College Board annually, we can analyze average performance. These reports show us that the mean score in the total group (which includes native speakers) was 3.36 in 2014, 3.3 in 2015, 3.33 in 2016, 3.29 in 2017, 3.32 in 2018, 3.30 in 2019, and 3.57 in 2020. Calculating the raw average for the prior seven years allows us to determine a mean score of 3.35 for AP® French Language in the total group. However, the standard group (excluding native speakers) is slightly less successful on average. The mean score for the standard group in 2014 was 3.2, in 2015 was 3.15, in 2016 was 3.17, 3.12 in 2017, 3.16 in 2018, 3.13 in 2019 and 3.40 in 2020. So, when we calculate the raw average for the standard group, we come to a mean score of 3.19.

Why are AP® French Language scores curved?

The scores on AP® exams are curved every year by the College Board to preserve consistency and standardize student performance. Courses are essentially college-level subjects; AP® French Language is no exception to this rule. The scoring guidelines emulate the austerity of similar college courses.

How do I get a 5 on AP® French Language?

This common question has no easy answer. To achieve a 5 on the AP® French Language exam, you will need a combination of hard work, dedication to learning the material, and a strict study plan. The AP® French Language Exam tests your proficiency in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational methods for communication. You will be required to listen to and analyze authentic Francophone texts throughout the exam.

Luckily, Albert.io has developed informational articles to help you further prepare for the AP® French Language Exam. Take advantage of these invaluable resources as you study for this test.

• Is AP® French Language Hard?
• How To Study For AP® French Language
• The Ultimate List Of AP® French Language Tips
• How To Find Authentic Texts Online When Preparing For The AP® French Exam
• How To Find Authentic Media Online For AP® French Listening Practice

For additional practice, visit the Albert.io guide to AP® French Language, where we’ve prepared hundreds of multiple-choice and free-response questions for you. You can study anywhere, anytime, with Albert.io resources. Preparation is the key to mastering the AP® French Language exam.

Why should I use this AP® French Language score calculator?

We created Albert.io’s AP® French Language score calculator to inspire you as you prepare for the upcoming exam. Our score calculators use the official scoring worksheets of previously released College Board exams to provide you with accurate and current information. We know that preparation is the key to success, and in that spirit, we have provided you with this easy tool. Once you know the makeup of a 3, 4, or 5 AP® French Language score, you will be better prepared to ace your exam with minimal worry.

Looking for AP® French Language practice?

Kickstart your AP® French Language prep with Albert. Start your AP® exam prep today .

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Verdict saying Switzerland violated rights by failing on climate action could ripple across Europe

Europe’s highest human rights court ruled Tuesday that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change, siding with a group of older Swiss women against their government in a landmark ruling that could have implications across the continent.

Portugal’s Catarina dos Santos Mota, center, attends the session at the European Court of Human Rights Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court will rule Tuesday on a group of landmark climate change cases aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Court of Human Rights will hand down decisions in a trio of cases brought by a French mayor, six Portuguese youngsters and more than 2,000 elderly Swiss women who say their governments are not doing enough to combat climate change. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

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President of the European Court of Human Rights Síofra O’Leary, center, leaves after a ruling on climate, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court threw out a case brought by six Portuguese youths aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but sided with a group of senior Swiss women who also sought such measures. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Lawyers and members of the public attend the ruling at the European Court of Human Rights , Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court threw out cases brought by six Portuguese youths and a French mayor aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but sided with a group of senior Swiss women who also sought such measures.(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Portugal’s Sofia Dos Santos Oliveira, center left, smiles after the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court ruled that its member nations have an obligation to protect their citizens from the ill effects of climate change, but still threw out a high-profile case brought by six Portuguese youngsters aimed at forcing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Swiss member of Senior Women for Climate Rosmarie Wydler-Walti, right, talks to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg after the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court ruled that its member nations have an obligation to protect their citizens from the ill effects of climate change, but still threw out a high-profile case brought by six Portuguese youngsters aimed at forcing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Swiss members of Senior Women for Climate gather after the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court ruled that its member nations have an obligation to protect their citizens from the ill effects of climate change, but still threw out a high-profile case brought by six Portuguese youngsters aimed at forcing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, center, watches a youth’s phone inside the European Court of Human Rights, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court threw out a case brought by six Portuguese youths aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but sided with a group of senior Swiss women who also sought such measures. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

President of the European Court of Human Rights Síofra O’Leary, center, speaks Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court will rule Tuesday on a group of landmark climate change cases aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Court of Human Rights will hand down decisions in a trio of cases brought by a French mayor, six Portuguese youngsters and more than 2,000 elderly Swiss women who say their governments are not doing enough to combat climate change. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

People demonstrate outside the European Court of Human Rights Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court will rule Tuesday on a group of landmark climate change cases aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Court of Human Rights will hand down decisions in a trio of cases brought by a French mayor, six Portuguese youngsters and more than 2,000 elderly Swiss women who say their governments are not doing enough to combat climate change. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, left, joins youths from Portugal during a demonstration outside the European Court of Human Rights Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court will rule Tuesday on a group of landmark climate change cases aimed at forcing countries to meet international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The European Court of Human Rights will hand down decisions in a trio of cases brought by a French mayor, six Portuguese youngsters and more than 2,000 elderly Swiss women who say their governments are not doing enough to combat climate change. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Swiss members of Senior Women for Climate Protection answer reporters after the European Court of Human Rights ruling, Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Europe’s highest human rights court ruled that its member nations have an obligation to protect their citizens from the ill effects of climate change, but still threw out a high-profile case brought by six Portuguese youngsters aimed at forcing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Europe’s highest human rights court ruled Tuesday that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change , siding with a group of older Swiss women against their government in a landmark ruling that could have implications across the continent.

The European Court of Human Rights rejected two other, similar cases on procedural grounds — a high-profile one brought by Portuguese young people and another by a French mayor that sought to force governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But the Swiss case, nonetheless, sets a legal precedent in the Council of Europe’s 46 member states against which future lawsuits will be judged.

“This is a turning point,” said Corina Heri, an expert in climate change litigation at the University of Zurich.

Although activists have had success with lawsuits in domestic proceedings, this was the first time an international court ruled on climate change — and the first decision confirming that countries have an obligation to protect people from its effects, according to Heri.

She said it would open the door to more legal challenges in the countries that are members of the Council of Europe, which includes the 27 EU nations as well as many others from Britain to Turkey.

The Swiss ruling softened the blow for those who lost Tuesday.

“The most important thing is that the court has said in the Swiss women’s case that governments must cut their emissions more to protect human rights,” said 19-year-od Sofia Oliveira, one of the Portuguese plaintiffs. “Their win is a win for us, too, and a win for everyone!”

People demonstrate outside the European Court of Human Rights Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

The court — which is unrelated to the European Union — ruled that Switzerland “had failed to comply with its duties” to combat climate change and meet emissions targets.

That, the court said, was a violation of the women’s rights, noting that the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees people “effective protection by the state authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change on their lives, health, well-being and quality of life.”

A group called Senior Women for Climate Protection, whose average age is 74, had argued that they were particularly affected because older women are most vulnerable to the extreme heat that is becoming more frequent .

“The court recognized our fundamental right to a healthy climate and to have our country do what it failed to do until now: that is to say taking ambitious measures to protect our health and protect the future of all,” said Anne Mahrer, a member of the group.

Switzerland said it would study the decision to see what steps would be needed. “We have to, in good faith, implement and execute the judgment,” Alain Chablais, who represented the country at last year’s hearings, told The Associated Press.

Judge Siofra O’Leary, the court’s president, stressed that it would be up to governments to decide how to approach climate change obligations — and experts noted that was a limit of the ruling.

“The European Court of Human Rights stopped short of ordering the Swiss government to take any specific action, underscoring that relief from the Swiss government ‘necessarily depends on democratic decision-making’ to enact the laws necessary to impose such a remedy,” said Richard Lazarus, a professor at Harvard Law School who specializes in environmental and natural resources law.

Activists have argued that many governments have not grasped the gravity of the climate change — and are increasingly looking to the courts to force them to do more to ensure global warming is held to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement .

A judge in Montana ruled last year that state agencies were violating the constitutional right to a clean environment by allowing fossil fuel development — a first-of-its- kind trial in the U.S. that added to a small number of similar legal decisions around the world.

Municipal workers clean a street that was flooded overnight in Alges, just outside Lisbon, on Dec. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

As part of trying to meet climate goals, the European Union, which doesn’t include Switzerland, currently has a target to be climate-neutral by 2050 . Despite those efforts, the Earth shattered global annual heat records in 2023 and flirted with the world’s agreed-upon warming threshold, Copernicus, a European climate agency, said in January.

Celebrity climate activist Greta Thunberg was in the courtroom as the decision was announced. “These rulings are a call to action. They underscore the importance of taking our national governments to court,” the 21-year-old Swede told the AP.

“The first ruling by an international human rights court on the inadequacy of states’ climate action leaves no doubt,” said Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney with the Center for International Environmental Law, “the climate crisis is a human rights crisis.”

Casert reported from Brussels.