<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 01/31/99
000 C000000 792953
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
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 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS 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 C000005 0
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022 A000001 FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.
022 B000001 56-1529080
022 C000001 18580
022 D000001 20860
022 A000002 PAINEWEBBER INC.
022 B000002 13-2638166
022 C000002 5173
022 D000002 2600
022 A000003 NATIONSBANK N.A.
022 B000003 75-0520130
022 C000003 3415
022 D000003 4015
022 A000004 BT ALEX. BROWN INC.
022 B000004 13-3311934
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 C000004 2760
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER INC.
022 B000005 52-0902557
022 C000005 1800
022 D000005 500
022 A000006 FERRIS, BAKER WATTS, INC.
022 B000006 52-0909521
022 C000006 1043
022 D000006 1051
022 A000007 FIRST ALBANY CORP.
022 B000007 14-1391446
022 C000007 1312
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 BRADFORD (J.C.) CO.
022 B000008 62-0136910
022 C000008 1259
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 CRAIGIE INC.
022 B000009 54-0294670
022 C000009 1059
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 INTERSTATE JOHNSON LANE CORP.
022 B000010 56-0276690
022 C000010 1026
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023 C000000 38289
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
066 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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