AP ENGLISH
LITERATURE AND
COMPOSITION

AP English Literature and Composition - Exam Overview

             The AP English Literature and Composition Exam will test your understanding of the literary concepts covered in the course units, as well as your ability to analyze texts and develop written arguments based on your interpretations.
 

Exam Duration
3hrs

 

Exam Components

Section 1: Multiple Choice - 55 questions | 1hr | 45% of Score

• There are 5 sets of questions made up of 8–13 questions each.

• Questions include excerpts from prose fiction, drama, or poetry. Each excerpt is accompanied by several multiple-choice questions.

• There will be at least 2 prose fiction passages (this may include drama) and at least 2 poetry passages.
   

Section 2: Free Response - 3 questions | 2hrs | 55% of Score

In the free-response section, you’ll respond to three questions from the following categories with written answers:
 

• Poetry analysis: You will read a passage of poetry and respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a poetic interpretation backed up by evidence.

• Prose fiction analysis: You will read a passage of prose fiction (this may include drama) and respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a literary interpretation backed up by evidence.

• Literary argument: You will be presented with a literary concept or idea and analyze how the literary concept or idea contributes to an interpretation of a literary work. You can choose one from a list of roughly 40 works provided to you or cite another work of prose fiction or drama from your own reading to create an evidence-based argument that responds to the given topic.  In responding to Question 3, select a work of fiction that will be appropriate to the question. A general rule is to use a work that is similar in quality to those you have read in your AP class(es).
   

AP English Literature and Composition – Scoring 

             For the first section, Multiple Choice, for every question you answer correctly, you will get one point each. There is no negative marking. It means that even if your answer is wrong or left blank, no points are deducted. 
 

             Next is the Free Response Section. Its scoring system is a bit complicated. Rather than being graded by AI, it is reviewed by AP graders and is scored according to these guidelines.

            For more information about AP English Literature and Composition exam and scoring, you can visit the College Board’s website.

AP English Literature and Composition – Credit 

             Credit counts depend on the policy that your desired college or university has for Advanced Placement exams. 


AP English Literature and Composition - Study Resources
 

• College Board’s Classroom Resources

• Barron’s AP English Literature and Composition Premium

• CommonLit 

• Digital Theatre+ 

• Folger Shakespeare Library

• Membean 

• NoRedInk 

• Now Comment 

• The Oregon State Guide to English Literary Terms

• Planet eBook

• Poetry Foundation

• Sir Patrick Stewart’s Daily Readings of Shakespearean Sonnets

• the sonnet project

• #TeachLivingPoets

• Vocabulary.com 


Best Ways to Prepare for the AP English Literature and Composition Exam

 

             One of the first steps you should take when preparing for the AP English Literature and Composition Exam is to look at its full course description. This will help guide your studying and understanding of the knowledge required for the exam. Below are a few more tips you can take to ace the AP English Literature and Composition exam. 

Practice Questions and Tests

             Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge. The College Board offers some sample multiple-choice questions. In addition, you can search around the web and you’ll likely find even more practice exams with answers keys, some will even have explanations of the questions.

             Identify Areas in Need of Improvement. Once you have taken some kind of formative assessment, score it to identify your areas of strength and areas in need of improvement.

Know Your Material

             This means focusing on your reading and writing skills.

             Become an Active Reader. When reading, go slowly and reread important or complex sections. Pause often to consider meaning, context, and intent. Underline and take notes as you go. Remember that the importance of the text comes not only from the author, but also from how the text affects you, the reader. Pay attention to how you feel and why you feel that way. Visit the College Board’s Reading Study Skills for more information.
         

             Write Frequently. To be a successful writer on your exam, you will need to organize your ideas ahead of time, use your text wisely to support a clearly stated thesis, and provide a logical argument. You should pay close attention to your use of grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Visit the College Board’s Writing Study Skills for more information. 
 

            Get Expert Advice. For more specific guidance about test preparation, consider using a formal study guide. One good choice is Barron’s AP English Literature and Composition Premium. This study guide contains a review of test topics covering details test takers need to know about poetry, fiction, and drama, and includes five full-length practice tests. Alternatively, there are many online study resources available including those from the College Board.
 

             Consider using an app to study. A convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. These can be free or cost a small fee, and they provide an easy way to quiz yourself on-the-go. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one.

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. There are some available in the College Board’s course description.

            Keep track of which concept areas are still tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Keep in mind that the key to answering questions correctly is understanding the passage, so practice active reading skills as you’re tackling the multiple-choice questions. This includes underlining, mouthing words, and circling key points. Remember, the answer will always be found in the text, and often the question will tell you exactly where in the text to look for it.

Practice Free-Response Essays

            Focus on Writing Skills. Use a rich vocabulary, varied sentence structure, and logical progression of ideas. Make sure that your words flow easily from one to the next.
 

            Cultivate Cohesive Writing. Strive to write a thoughtful and persuasive analysis of the literature. Begin by writing a quick outline to structure your piece. Make sure that your introduction leads to a clearly stated thesis and use supporting paragraphs to build this argument. Use quotes judiciously in your answers and focus on writing with sophistication and clarity.
 

             Understand Scoring. As you prepare for the writing portion of your exam, be sure to review how your free responses will be scored.

             The best way to prepare for these free-response questions is through repeated exercises analyzing short prose passages and poems, and through practicing with open analytical questions. 

Take Another Practice Test

             Take another practice test to see which areas you’ve improved in and which still require practice.

 

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Reminders Before Exam Day

• Check with the school or center where the exam is being administered to find out what room the exam is being administered in.

• Plan to arrive well before your exam’s scheduled starting time.

 

 

What to Bring on Exam Day

Be sure to bring these:

• No. 2 pencils for your multiple-choice answer sheet. (Students outside the U.S.: bring HB or No. 2 pencils.)

• Pens with black or dark blue ink for completing areas on the exam booklet covers and for free-response questions in most exams.

• An acceptable calculator if your AP Exam allows the use of a calculator.

• If you don’t attend the school where you’re taking the exam: a current government-issued or school-issued photo ID. (Additional ID may be required by authorized test centers outside the United States.)

• Your College Board SSD Accommodations Letter if you are taking an exam with approved testing accommodations.

• A watch that does not have internet access, does not beep or make noise, and does not have an alarm.

• A ruler or straightedge only if you are taking an AP Physics Exam. Protractors are not allowed.
   

Don't bring these:

• Electronic equipment including phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, wearable technology, cameras, recording or listening devices, or any other type of electronic or communication device.

  • Digital recording devices that meet AP Program criteria are allowed only for the AP French, AP German, AP Italian, and AP Spanish Language and Culture Exams, and the AP Music Theory Exam.

  • Computers that meet AP Program criteria are allowed for the AP Chinese and AP Japanese Language and Culture Exams.

• Books, reference guides, notes, compasses, protractors, mechanical pencils, pencils that are not No. 2, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or colored pencils.

• Scratch paper: Students are prohibited from bringing scratch paper to the AP Exam. For AP Chinese and AP Japanese Exams, scratch paper will be provided.

• Watches that beep, make a noise, or have an alarm.

• Computers or calculators that are not approved.

• Reference guides, keyboard maps, or other typing instructions.

• Ear plugs.

• Clothing or shoes with subject-related information.

• Food or drink

• Clipboards.
  
  A student observed with any of these prohibited items during testing or breaks may be dismissed from the exam, the device may be confiscated, the student’s score may be canceled, and no retest may be permitted.
   

             Follow any specific health and safety protocols for the exam room that your school may have in place. AP policies allow you to bring hand sanitizer to the room, but it must be placed under the desk, not on the desk. You may use any other PPE (such as masks) following your school’s current requirements.

 

 

Conclusion

             The AP English Literature and Composition Exam is extremely challenging, yet, with great preparation, focus and determination, you will surely harvest the fruit of your hardships the moment you receive your result. Good luck!