<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 05/31/98
000 C000000 0000763856
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL TAX-EXEMPT TRUST
001 B000000 811-04746
001 C000000 6306846000
002 A000000 ONE PARKVIEW PLAZA
002 B000000 OAKBROOK TERRACE
002 C000000 IL
002 D010000 60181
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 1
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL ASSET MGT., INC.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8286
008 D01AA01 OAKBROOK TERRACE
008 D02AA01 IL
008 D03AA01 60181
008 A00AA02 VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL ADVISORS, INC.
008 B00AA02 S
008 C00AA02 801-8286
008 D01AA02 PHILADELPHIA
008 D02AA02 PA
008 D03AA02 19103
011 A00AA01 VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC
011 B00AA01 8-19412
011 C01AA01 OAKBROOK TERRACE
011 C02AA01 IL
011 C03AA01 60181
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 A00AA01 ACCESS INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-01621
012 C01AA01 KANSAS CITY
012 C02AA01 MO
012 C03AA01 64141
012 C04AA01 9256
013 A00AA01 PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS LLP
013 B01AA01 HOUSTON
013 B02AA01 TX
013 B03AA01 77002
014 A00AA01 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INCORPORATED
014 B00AA01 8-733537
014 A00AA02 DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS, INC.
014 B00AA02 8-728187
015 A00AA01 STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CO.
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02110
015 E01AA01 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 118
019 C00AA00 VANKAMPENA
020 A000001 CHICAGO CORP
020 B000001 36-2549961
020 C000001 4
020 C000002 0
020 C000003 0
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 4
022 A000001 PAINE WEBBER
022 B000001 13-2638166
022 C000001 54218
022 D000001 49630
022 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH
022 B000002 13-5674085
022 C000002 34500
022 D000002 39000
022 A000003 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000003 13-2518466
022 C000003 35494
022 D000003 29372
022 A000004 FIRST ALBANY
022 B000004 14-1391446
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 C000004 20067
022 D000004 38034
022 A000005 J.P. MORGAN
022 B000005 13-3224016
022 C000005 11396
022 D000005 43015
022 A000006 SMITH BARNEY
022 B000006 13-1912900
022 C000006 13910
022 D000006 19263
022 A000007 WILLIAM HOUGH
022 B000007 59-2246010
022 C000007 11559
022 D000007 18215
022 A000008 ZIEGLER SECURITIES
022 B000008 39-0727640
022 C000008 24707
022 D000008 2513
022 A000009 PIPER JAFFRAY
022 B000009 41-0953246
022 C000009 26210
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 BA SECURITIES
022 B000010 95-4035346
022 C000010 18495
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 404224
023 D000000 285225
024 00AA00 N
025 D00AA01 0
025 D00AA02 0
025 D00AA03 0
025 D00AA04 0
025 D00AA05 0
025 D00AA06 0
025 D00AA07 0
025 D00AA08 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
077 A000000 N
078 000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
028 A010100 25051
028 A020100 2897
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 23147
028 B010100 37285
028 B020100 2920
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 7711
028 C010100 17283
028 C020100 2979
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 7294
028 D010100 13632
028 D020100 2998
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 12215
028 E010100 19169
028 E020100 3017
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 14130
028 F010100 13792
028 F020100 2914
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 10928
028 G010100 126212
028 G020100 17725
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 75425
028 H000100 73778
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 1692
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 178
031 B000100 0
032 000100 1514
033 000100 0
034 000100 Y
035 000100 270
036 A000100 Y
036 B000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
037 000100 N
038 000100 0
039 000100 N
040 000100 Y
041 000100 Y
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 47
042 D000100 53
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 3303
044 000100 0
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.000
048 A010100 300000
048 A020100 0.600
048 B010100 300000
048 B020100 0.550
048 C010100 0
048 C020100 0.000
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 600000
048 K020100 0.500
049 000100 N
050 000100 N
051 000100 N
052 000100 N
053 A000100 N
054 A000100 Y
054 B000100 N
054 C000100 N
054 D000100 N
054 E000100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
054 F000100 N
054 G000100 Y
054 H000100 Y
054 I000100 N
054 J000100 Y
054 K000100 N
054 L000100 N
054 M000100 Y
054 N000100 N
054 O000100 Y
055 A000100 N
055 B000100 N
056 000100 N
057 000100 N
058 A000100 N
059 000100 Y
060 A000100 Y
060 B000100 Y
061 000100 500
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 98.8
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 20.2
064 A000100 Y
064 B000100 N
066 A000100 N
067 000100 N
068 A000100 N
068 B000100 N
069 000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 Y
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 Y
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 N
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 N
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 Y
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 Y
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 235121
071 B000100 176344
071 C000100 1332419
071 D000100 13
072 A000100 6
072 B000100 46980
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 3597
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 417
072 J000100 33
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 36
072 M000100 15
072 N000100 17
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 Q000100 135
072 R000100 18
072 S000100 13
072 T000100 3701
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 139
072 X000100 8121
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 38859
072AA000100 888
072BB000100 0
072CC010100 21089
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 25095
072DD020100 12050
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.3580
073 A020100 0.3160
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 1369209
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 8138
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 31086
074 M000100 63
074 N000100 1408496
074 O000100 9158
074 P000100 1443
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 11595
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 1386300
074 U010100 71435
074 U020100 38871
074 V010100 11.64
074 V020100 11.63
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 32539
074 Y000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 1353383
076 000100 0.00
080 C000100 0
081 B000100 0
082 B000100 0
083 B000100 0
084 B000100 0
SIGNATURE NICK DALMASO
TITLE ATTORNEY
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
<F1> This item relates to the Fund on a composite
basis and not on a class basis
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 11
<NAME> HIGH YIELD MUNI A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,283,656,258 <F1>
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,369,209,313 <F1>
<RECEIVABLES> 39,224,041 <F1>
<ASSETS-OTHER> 63,042 <F1>
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0 <F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,408,496,396 <F1>
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9,157,734 <F1>
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0 <F1>
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 13,038,875 <F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,196,609 <F1>
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 796,078,395
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 71,434,754
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 68,085,219
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (453,421)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0 <F1>
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (22,803,299)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0 <F1>
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 85,553,055 <F1>
<NET-ASSETS> 831,459,399
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0 <F1>
<INTEREST-INCOME> 46,979,940 <F1>
<OTHER-INCOME> 0 <F1>
<EXPENSES-NET> (8,120,477)<F1>
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 38,859,463 <F1>
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 888,421 <F1>
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 21,088,734 <F1>
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 60,836,618 <F1>
<EQUALIZATION> 0 <F1>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (25,094,598)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 6,911,325
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4,510,254)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 948,464
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 51,575,151
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 487,485 <F1>
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (23,691,720)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0 <F1>
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0 <F1>
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,596,870 <F1>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <F1>
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,120,477 <F1>
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 813,460,572
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.454
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.350
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.193
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.358)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.639
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.90
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0 <F1>
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0 <F1>
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
<F1> This item relates to the Fund on a composite
basis and not on a class basis
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 12
<NAME> HIGH YIELD MUNI B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,283,656,258 <F1>
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,369,209,313 <F1>
<RECEIVABLES> 39,224,041 <F1>
<ASSETS-OTHER> 63,042 <F1>
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0 <F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,408,496,396 <F1>
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9,157,734 <F1>
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0 <F1>
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 13,038,875 <F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,196,609 <F1>
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 429,978,810
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 38,871,288
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 37,162,826
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (453,421)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0 <F1>
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (22,803,299)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0 <F1>
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 85,553,055 <F1>
<NET-ASSETS> 452,266,680
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0 <F1>
<INTEREST-INCOME> 46,979,940 <F1>
<OTHER-INCOME> 0 <F1>
<EXPENSES-NET> (8,120,477)<F1>
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 38,859,463 <F1>
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 888,421 <F1>
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 21,088,734 <F1>
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 60,836,618 <F1>
<EQUALIZATION> 0 <F1>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (12,050,200)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,946,449
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,687,242)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 449,255
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 26,688,986
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 487,485 <F1>
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (23,691,720)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0 <F1>
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0 <F1>
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,596,870 <F1>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <F1>
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,120,477 <F1>
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 442,401,959
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.452
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.307
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.191
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.316)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.634
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.65
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0 <F1>
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0 <F1>
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
<F1> This item relates to the Fund on a composite
basis and not on a class basis
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 13
<NAME> HIGH YIELD MUNI C
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,283,656,258 <F1>
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,369,209,313 <F1>
<RECEIVABLES> 39,224,041 <F1>
<ASSETS-OTHER> 63,042 <F1>
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0 <F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,408,496,396 <F1>
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9,157,734 <F1>
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0 <F1>
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 13,038,875 <F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,196,609 <F1>
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 97,946,247
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8,825,083
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,979,623
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (453,421)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0 <F1>
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (22,803,299)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0 <F1>
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 85,553,055 <F1>
<NET-ASSETS> 102,573,708
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0 <F1>
<INTEREST-INCOME> 46,979,940 <F1>
<OTHER-INCOME> 0 <F1>
<EXPENSES-NET> (8,120,477)<F1>
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 38,859,463 <F1>
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 888,421 <F1>
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 21,088,734 <F1>
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 60,836,618 <F1>
<EQUALIZATION> 0 <F1>
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2,655,571)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,025,854
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (309,546)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 129,152
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 11,283,055
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 487,485 <F1>
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (23,691,720)<F1>
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0 <F1>
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0 <F1>
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,596,870 <F1>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <F1>
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,120,477 <F1>
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 97,520,468
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.440
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.307
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.192
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.316)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.623
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.65
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0 <F1>
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0 <F1>
</TABLE>
