<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 01/31/97
000 C000000 792953
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
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000 J000000 A
001 A000000 THE AMERICAN FUNDS TAX-EXEMPT SERIES I
001 B000000 811-4653
001 C000000 2028425665
002 A000000 1101 VERMONT AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 600
002 B000000 WASHINGTON
002 C000000 DC
002 D010000 20005
002 D020000 3521
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 2
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 THE TAX-EXEMPT FUND OF MARYLAND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 THE TAX-EXEMPT FUND OF VIRGINIA
007 C030200 N
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 CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8055
008 D01AA01 LOS ANGELES
008 D02AA01 CA
008 D03AA01 90071
008 D04AA01 1406
010 A00AA01 WASHINGTON MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
010 C01AA01 WASHINGTON
010 C02AA01 DC
010 C03AA01 20005
010 C04AA01 3521
011 A00AA01 AMERICAN FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-17168
<PAGE> PAGE 2
011 C01AA01 LOS ANGELES
011 C02AA01 CA
011 C03AA01 90071
011 C04AA01 1406
012 A00AA01 AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY
012 B00AA01 84-00316
012 C01AA01 BREA
012 C02AA01 CA
012 C03AA01 92622
012 C04AA01 2205
013 A00AA01 PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
013 B01AA01 LOS ANGELES
013 B02AA01 CA
013 B03AA01 90071
013 B04AA01 2889
015 A00AA01 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BROOKLYN
015 C02AA01 NY
015 C03AA01 11245
015 E01AA01 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 38
019 C00AA00 CRMCFNDGRP
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020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
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022 A000001 PAINEWEBBER INC.
022 B000001 13-2638166
022 C000001 5600
022 D000001 5800
022 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
022 B000002 13-5674085
022 C000002 3500
022 D000002 3200
022 A000003 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000003 13-5108880
022 C000003 2700
022 D000003 1127
022 A000004 WHEAT FIRST BUTCHER SINGER, INC.
022 B000004 54-0796506
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 C000004 0
022 D000004 2769
022 A000005 LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
022 B000005 52-0902557
022 C000005 2065
022 D000005 637
022 A000006 CRAIGIE INC.
022 B000006 54-0294670
022 C000006 2646
022 D000006 0
022 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY AND CO. INC.
022 B000007 13-2655998
022 C000007 2151
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
022 B000008 13-2518466
022 C000008 1800
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 ABN AMRO SECURITIES INC.
022 B000009 13-3227945
022 C000009 0
022 D000009 1438
022 A000010 BROWN (ALEX.) & SONS INC.
022 B000010 52-1319768
022 C000010 0
022 D000010 1381
023 C000000 21940
023 D000000 23288
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
066 A00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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SIGNATURE HOWARD L. KITZMILLER
TITLE SR. VICE PRESIDENT
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