ap english essay review

AP® English Literature

The best ap® english literature review guide for 2024.

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

Scoring a 5 on the AP® English Literature and Composition exam is no easy task. In 2019, for example, only 6.2% of students earned a 5 on the test. While this statistic may be discouraging at first glance, it does indicate that a perfect score is possible for those willing to do extra preparation and practice. In 2022, nearly 17% of test-takers earned a 5 – a big improvement!

It may take some hard work, but it’s possible to ace this exam! We’re here to help.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll unpack the exam’s basic format, analyze the common structures and shapes of AP® Literature questions, provide useful tips and strategies for scoring a 5, and offer a variety of helpful additional resources and study tools.

Let’s get to it!

What We Review

How is the AP® English Literature and Composition Exam formatted? 

The AP® English Literature and Composition exam is divided into two sections: multiple-choice and free-response. 

The multiple-choice section is broken into five chunks equipped with 8-13 questions each, totaling 55 questions. You will be asked to analyze excerpts from diverse literary texts, including prose fiction, drama, or poetry. Moreover, there will always be at least 2 prose fiction passages and 2 poems in this section of the exam. The fifth text can be either. 

The multiple-choice section has a time limit of 1 hour, and it counts as 45% of your overall exam score. 

Section 2 of the exam, often informally called the “essay section,” contains 3 free-response prompts which demand literary analysis of a given poem, a passage of prose fiction, or an excerpt from a play. 

The first two prompts will provide a passage or a poem requiring analysis, while the third and final prompt will ask you to engage with a concept, issue, or element in a literary work that you are expected to have encountered during the school year. A list of appropriate works is provided for the third prompt. 

You have 2 hours to complete Section 2, which comprises 55% of your final exam score.

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How Long is the AP® English Literature and Composition Exam?

The AP® English Literature and Composition exam is 3 hours long. Students will have 1 hour to complete the multiple-choice section (55 questions) and 2 hours to complete the free-response section (3 questions). 

Since you must answer 55 questions in 60 minutes on the multiple-choice portion of the exam, you should pace yourself at about 1 minute per question and about 12 minutes per passage. 

Likewise, since the free response section is timed at 120 minutes, you should aim to complete each essay in 40 minutes or under.

Time yourself when you practice, and don’t get caught up trying to answer a question that you totally do not know the answer to. Don’t rush through the test, but don’t take too much time.

How Many Questions Does the AP® English Literature and Composition Exam Have? 

Section i: multiple-choice.

• 5 passages, 55 questions total: 8-13 questions per passage
• Passages include 2 Prose, 2 Poems, and 1 of either

Section II: Free-Response

• 1 literary analysis of a given poem
• 1 literary analysis of a given passage of prose fiction
• 1 literary argument

What Topics are Covered on the AP® English Literature and Composition Exam? 

Perhaps the best way to begin thinking about the topics covered on the exam is through a holistic approach. Overall, the test assesses the six big ideas covered within the AP® English Literature and Composition course itself: 

• Figurative Language
• Literary Argumentation

These components comprise the whole exam, and you will be tested specifically on material from these broad concepts. 

Now, let’s return to its formatting. Remember, the exam is divided into multiple choice and free response, each carrying its own set of demands and topics.

Section I: Multiple Choice

Since the AP® English Literature and Composition exam is a skills-based test, there’s no way to know what specific passages or topics might appear on the official exam. Rather, CollegeBoard uses a variety of excerpts from literary texts, including prose, poetry, and drama. 

The passages often range from the 16th to the 21st century, and the authors and literary works change yearly. So it is imperative that you sharpen your critical reading skills and hone your ability to engage with the forms, styles, and content of a diverse range of literature. 

However, we have some good news. We do know how the multiple choice section is organized and weighted. It is divided into three broad units: short fiction, poetry, and longer fiction or drama, with each unit carrying its own weighted percentage. The chart below outlines this weighting:

Moreover, the multiple choice portion of the exam can be further broken down into 7 assessed skills:

Remember, the multiple-choice section will include five sets of 8 to 13 questions per set, so be prepared to encounter many if not all of these skill sets per passage. But it is safe to say that you should review certain skill categories more thoroughly than others on account of how frequently they appear on the exam. 

Below we’ve compiled a descending list of priorities for you to consider. 

• Skill Category 4 : Explain the function of the narrator or speaker
• Skill Category 1 : Explain the function of character
• Skill Category 3 : Explain the function of plot and structure
• Skill Category 5 : Explain the function of word choice, imagery, and symbols
• Skill Category 7 : Develop textually substantiated arguments about interpretations of part or all of a text
• Skill Category 6 : Explain the function of comparison
• Skill Category 2 . Explain the function of setting

Section 4, “Explain the function of the narrator or speaker,” should be studied the most since it holds a substantial amount of weight in determining your score. Skill category 2, as you see above, accounts for a small percentage of the exam so we recommend you don’t spend hours upon hours brushing up on the function of the setting. Don’t blow it off, though!

Section II: Free Response

Like the multiple choice section, the free response portion is also skills-based. We cannot predict what specific passages or poems will make it onto the test, but we do know the type(s) of essays you will be required to write:

• 1 Poetry Analysis: After reading a poem of 100 to 300 words, you will respond to a prompt based on the poem with a well-developed essay. Your essay, of course, must offer a defensible interpretation, make adequate use of textual evidence, engage critically with cited evidence, and use appropriate grammar and punctuation when communicating its argument. These requirements are present throughout all three free-response essays. 
• 1 Prose Fiction Analysis: This part of the free response section will provide a passage of prose fiction (500 to 700 words) and, like the poetry analysis, ask you to respond to a prompt through writing a well-developed essay. Your argument must adhere to the rigor and clarity outlined above in the poetry analysis description.
• 1 Literary Argument Essay: Here, you will be given an open-ended topic and be asked to write an evidence-based argumentative essay in response to the topic. There will be a quote or small passage to read, a corresponding prompt, and an extensive list of literary works you may use when developing your argument. While you do not have to use a work from this list, you must select a work of literary merit. Avoid choosing fantasy novels or works designed more for pure entertainment. It needs to be a work of “deep” literature.

What Do the AP® English Literature and Composition Exam Questions Look Like?

Multiple choice examples:.

The Course and Exam Description (CED) for AP® Lit provides 10 practice questions that address prose fiction and 9 practice questions that address poetry.

Below, we’ll look at examples of each question type and cover the skills and essential knowledge they address. First, we will examine the multiple-choice questions involving prose fiction:

Skill: 5.B Explain the function of specific words and phrases in a text.

Essential Knowledge: FIG-1.M Descriptive words, such as adjectives and adverbs, qualify or modify the things they describe and affect readers’ interaction with the text.

Skill: 4.C Identify and describe details, diction, or syntax in a text that reveal a narrator’s or speaker’s perspective.

Essential Knowledge: NAR-1.R Information included and/or not included in a text conveys the perspective of characters, narrators, and/or speakers.

Skill: 3.C Explain the function of structure in a text.

Essential Knowledge: STR-1.F A text’s structure affects readers’ reactions and expectations by presenting the relationships among the ideas of the text via their relative positions and their placement within the text as a whole

Now that we’ve taken a look at samples of multiple-choice questions involving prose fiction, let’s turn our attention toward questions that address poetry. 

Skill 7.B: Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. 

Essential Knowledge: LAN-1.D A thesis statement expresses an interpretation of a literary text, and requires a defense, through use of textual evidence and a line of reasoning, both of which are explained in an essay through commentary.

Skill 4.C: Identify and describe details, diction, or syntax in a text that reveal a narrator’s or speaker’s perspective.

Essential Knowledge: NAR-1.X Multiple, and even contrasting, perspectives can occur within a single text and contribute to the complexity of the text.

Skill: 5.D Identify and explain the function of an image or imagery.

Essential Knowledge: FIG-1.O Descriptive words, such as adjectives and adverbs, contribute to sensory imagery.

As you see, these questions force you to engage with literature more critically and technically. CollegeBoard’s main objective is to shape you into a budding literary critic capable of producing college-level work, so they consistently ask questions that look like those above. 

To develop your skills to a level that would be acceptable by a university, then, the test-makers over at CollegeBoard often craft questions involving analysis of literary devices, character perspective, figurative language, and more. The individual skills assessed by these questions are designed to take your thinking to a much higher level.

Free Response Examples: 

The Course and Exam Description (CED) for AP® Lit also provides samples of free response questions. Let’s begin by taking a look at a sample of a poetry-based free response prompt.

Poetry Analysis

Skills: 4.C, 7.A, 7.B, 7.C, 7.D, 7.E

Note how the prompt is somewhat vague and open-ended. While it does ask you to hone in on a specific topic within the poem—aging—through discussion of the writer’s use of poetic elements and techniques, it also does not specify which of those elements and techniques should be discussed:

• Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Emerson uses poetic elements and techniques to convey the speaker’s complex perspective on aging.

So, it is imperative that you come to this exam with a deep and clear understanding of literary devices and motifs such as parallelism, imagery, irony, etc.

If you struggle with literary and rhetorical terms, check out our guide on essential AP® Literature Rhetorical Terms !

In a bit, we’ll provide some additional resources to help you build your knowledge of these literary tools.

Prose Fiction Analysis

Skills: 1.A, 7.A, 7.B, 7.C, 7.D, 7.E

The prompt requires you to read the excerpt and construct a well-developed literary analysis in response. Like the poetry prompt, note how this prompt is somewhat vague and open-ended. Again, it points you in a direction but leaves it up to you on how you’re going to get there:

• Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Kincaid uses literary elements and techniques  to portray the complexity of the narrator’s new situation.

Therefore, it is imperative that you come to the test prepared with knowledge of literary elements and techniques.

Literary Argument 

Skills: 1.E, 2.C, 7.A, 7.B, 7.C, 7.D, 7.E

Unlike the other two essays, this prompt contains neither a prose excerpt nor a poem. Rather, it provides a brief quote and then asks you to expand on its central concept and, in our case, the notion of home. 

It then provides a list of works that would suit your analysis. You are to select one work from the list or choose another work of literary merit and analyze it in the context of the prompt. Again, note how much of the analysis is up to you. The prompt points you in a direction and then leaves you on your own to select how you’re going to get there. 

Therefore, it is imperative that you have not only a solid understanding of literary terms and concepts but also a diverse and deep history of reading. We will direct you toward some additional resources that will strengthen your knowledge below but start by consulting our Ultimate AP® English Literature Reading List to get started!

And if you’re not an avid reader, do not fret! You can guarantee the AP® English Literature and Composition course itself will cover at least one of the books on the list. You will likely be familiar with at least 2-3 of the texts just from taking the course. And if all else fails, you may select your own work of literary merit to discuss!

Free Response Rubric Breakdowns

In previous years, the AP® Lit essays were scored using holistic rubrics on a scale of 0-9. However, after the 2019 exam, the evaluation changed to a new analytic rubric which runs on a scale of 0-6. 

Switching to an analytic rubric from a holistic one can be difficult, especially if you’ve already taken another AP® English class or prepared using the holistic version. But, unlike the holistic rubric, the analytic model tells you exactly what to include in your essay to earn maximum points. 

Consider the new analytic rubric a How-To Guide, designed to earn you a 6 on each essay. And, unlike the AP® Lang exam, all three AP® Lit essays are graded essentially through the same rubric.

Below, we’ll spend some time breaking down the elements of the new rubric. First, let’s take a look at the Thesis row.

Row A: Thesis (0-1 Points)

A well-developed thesis statement is crucial to making your overall argument effective and convincing. Unsurprisingly, the Thesis row on the rubric is essentially all or nothing; you either earn the point or you don’t.

Let’s break down the wording on the rubric to further understand the significance of the thesis point.

It’s important to note what the rubric warns against: 

• No thesis at all
• The thesis only restates the prompt
• The thesis merely summarizes 
• The thesis does not respond to the prompt 

Doing any of these will miss the mark, and a weak thesis often leads to a weak essay. Rather, the rubric emphasizes that you: 

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation of the poem, prose passage, or selected work.

Easier said than done, we know. But notice the key phrase, “defensible interpretation.” The basis of your argument, the rubric insists, is entirely up to you as long as you adequately defend and your point. This means you must be ready to dig into the text, cite textual evidence, and analyze your findings sophisticatedly and persuasively. Your thesis, then, must contain a claim. 

If thesis statements are particularly troubling to you, we recommend tuning into CollegeBoard’s official online workshop . It’s helpful, really. 

Below are two examples of thesis statements from the 2019 exam:

• This thesis statement thoroughly considers both the positive and negative consequences of idealism and explains how this portrayal illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole.
• This thesis statement fails to identify a character and confusingly identifies the government’s repressive efforts as presenting a “fabricated view of an Ideal world.” It ultimately makes no claim and overly generalizes.

Row B: Evidence and Commentary (0-4 Points)

Think of evidence and commentary as the meat of your essay. This is where you will really dig into your argument, cite the text, and make specific claims and arguments.

As mentioned, this portion of the rubric works on a scale of 0-4:

As you see, earning all four points requires direct and specific textual citation and thorough, deep analysis throughout your entire essay. Cite evidence that fits your main argument, do not simply cite for the sake of citation. Always avoid paraphrasing (except on the third free-response question where paraphrasing is acceptable). Do not simply cite text and then give a basic summary. Dig deep and analyze. 

If you struggle with analyzing evidence and developing commentary, check out one of our many practice models ! 

Row C Sophistication (0-1 Points)

Similar to the Thesis row, the Sophistication evaluation is also all or nothing — you either earn the point or you don’t. 

However, earning the sophistication point is not as cut and dry as earning the thesis point. You can’t really pinpoint or locate sophistication in the way you can a thesis statement. If it’s there, it’s everywhere; if not, it’s nowhere. 

So to unpack this complex idea, let’s return to the rubric. 

The rubric states that essays that earn the point “demonstrate sophistication of thought and/or develop a complex literary argument.” 

To be more precise, this means that your essay does these four things: 

• Identifies and explores complexities or tensions within the poem, prose passage, or selected work. 
• Situates your overall interpretation within a broader, more universal context. 
• Accounts for alternative interpretations of the poem, prose passage, or selected work. 
• Employs a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.

Conversely, then, you will not earn the point if your essay:

• Contains sweeping generalizations
• Only hints at other positions or interpretations
• Uses overly complex sentences or language that doesn’t add anything to the argument

Above all, sophistication cannot be reduced to a checkbox. You can’t really add it here or there. It must pervade the entire essay for you to earn the point. It’s a difficult task, but it can be done with a little practice and perseverance. 

For additional tips on writing well-developed analyses, check out our guide on how to tackle prose passages !

What Can You Bring to the AP® English Literature and Composition Exam?

If you’re taking the  digital  exam, you must use a laptop computer (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook). Because the full-length digital AP® Exams require typewritten free responses, the exams can’t be taken on smartphones. For more details,  here is the full digital AP® exam specifications  from College Board.

If you’re traveling to a testing location to take an in-person exam, make sure to arrive early. If you’re testing digitally from home, be sure all of your digital login details are confirmed beforehand.

Given the sheer importance and seriousness surrounding AP® exams, the College Board has imposed very strict rules and regulations regarding what you can and cannot bring into your testing room (if you’re testing in-person at a school). Not adhering to these rules can lead to score invalidation and even room-wide exam cancellation, so it’s important to know what you can and cannot bring with you on testing day!

What You Should Bring to Your AP® English Literature Exam

If you’re taking the paper AP® English Literature exam in-person at school, you should bring:

• At least 2 sharpened No. 2 pencils for completing the multiple choice section
• At least 2 pens with black or blue ink only. These are used to complete certain areas of your exam booklet covers and to write your free-response questions. CollegeBoard is very clear that pens should be black or blue ink only, so do not show up with your favorite neon gel pen!
• You are allowed to wear a watch as long as it does not have internet access, does not beep or make any other noise, and does not have an alarm. It should be a standard analog or digital watch, nothing fancy!
• If you do not attend the school where you are taking an exam, you must bring a government issued or school issued photo ID.
• If you receive any testing accommodations , be sure that you bring your College Board SSD Accommodations Letter.

What You Should NOT Bring to Your AP® English Literature Exam

If you’re taking the paper AP® English Literature exam in-person at school, you should NOT bring:

• Electronic devices. Phones, smartwatches, tablets, and/or any other electronic devices are expressly prohibited both in the exam room and break areas. Seriously, do not bring these into the testing room. You could invalidate the entire room’s scores.
• Books, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes 
• Mechanical pencils, colored pencils, or pens that do not have black/blue ink. Sometimes the lead used in mechanical pencils cannot be read when run through the scantron reader, so it is best to just avoid them altogether. 
• Your own scratch paper
• Reference guides
• Watches that beep or have alarms
• Food or drink

This list is not exhaustive. Be sure to double-check with your teacher or testing site to make sure that you are not bringing any additional prohibited items.

How to Study for AP® English Literature and Composition: 7 Steps

Start with a diagnostic test to see where you stand. Ask your teacher if they can assign you one of our full-length practice tests as a starting point. Your multiple choice will be graded for you, and you can self-score your free response essays using the College Board’s scoring guidelines. If you would prefer to take a pencil and paper test, Princeton Review or Barron’s are two reputable places to start. Be sure to record your score.

Once you’ve completed and scored your diagnostic test, it’s time to analyze the results and create a study plan. 

• If you used Albert, you’ll notice that each question is labeled with the skill that it assesses. If any skills stand out as something you’re consistently getting wrong, those concepts should be a big part of your study plan. 
• If you used Princeton Review, Barron’s, or another paper test, do your best to sort your incorrect answers into the skill buckets from Albert’s AP® English Literature and Composition Standards Practice .

The tables below sort each set of skills into groups based on their Enduring Understandings and Big Ideas.

Big Idea: Character 

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING: Characters in literature allow readers to study and explore a range of values, beliefs, assumptions, biases, and cultural norms represented by those characters.

Big Idea: Setting

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING: Setting and the details associated with it not only depict a time and place, but also convey values associated with that setting.

Big Idea: Structure

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING: The arrangement of the parts and sections of a text, the relationship of the parts to each other, and the sequence in which the text reveals information are all structural choices made by a writer that contribute to the reader’s interpretation of a text.

Big Idea: Narration

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING: A narrator’s or speaker’s perspective controls the details and emphases that affect how readers experience and interpret a text.

Big Idea: Figurative Language

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING: Comparisons, representations, and associations shift meaning from the literal to the figurative and invite readers to interpret a text.

Big Idea: Literary Argumentation 

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING: Readers establish and communicate their interpretations of literature through arguments supported by textual evidence.

Once your list of practice questions is complete, check out our Ultimate List AP® English Literature Tips for some pointers.

Now that you’ve developed a study plan for the multiple choice section, it’s time to tackle the FRQs. You should have self-scored your essays using CollegeBoard’s scoring guidelines . If you notice that there is one particular prompt you struggled with, use Albert’s AP® Lit FRQ Approach Guide to help hone your skills!

Check out Albert’s AP® Lit FRQ prompts for more practice!

If you didn’t struggle with a particular prompt as much as you did a particular part of the rubric, try to figure out what went wrong. Does your thesis restate the prompt instead of proposing your own position? Did you generalize too much? Did you remember to provide evidence but forget to augment it with commentary and analysis? Maybe your word choice wasn’t varied enough to earn the sophistication point.

Whatever element you struggled with, have a look at our comprehensive page dedicated to AP® Lit for some expert advice!

Once you’ve developed an effective study plan using the links and practice above, and you’ve identified the skills which need more practice, it’s time to set your plan in motion. Check and mark your calendar. How many days, weeks, or months do you have until your exam? Pace your studying according to this time-frame. Pro-tip: If you only have a few weeks or days to go, prioritize the skills that you scored the lowest on. 

About halfway through your study schedule, plan to take a second practice test to check your progress. You can either have your teacher assign another full-length Albert practice test or use one of the additional practice tests included in whatever AP® English Literature and Composition review book you purchased. Use these results to inform the rest of your study schedule. Are there skills that you improved on or scored lower on this time? Adjust accordingly, and use our tips in the next section to guide you.

AP® English Literature and Composition Review: 15 Must Know Study Tips

5 AP® English Literature and Composition Study Tips for Home

1.  read as much as possible..

And read widely. Read everything from epic poetry and Victorian novels to New Yorker articles and album reviews to Buzzfeed-style listicles. Read a combination of high and lowbrow texts to make your knowledge more worldly and syncretic.

Make a schedule for personal reading time and stick to it. Reading widely, of course, has incalculable benefits that will not only help you score a 5 on the test but also strengthen your academic performance across the board. 

Reading will help you develop a more impressive vocabulary and a better understanding of varied sentence structure and syntax. The more you read, the better equipped you will be to score a 5 on this exam.

2. Become familiar with the Western Canon.

The Western canon, often referred to simply as “The Canon,” is the body of high-culture literature, music, philosophy, and works of art that is highly valued in the West, i.e., the poems, prose passages, and drama selections that you will mostly see on the AP® Lit exam. 

The canon contains the “classics,” so to speak, and it includes everything from Homer to Junot Diaz. Cultivating a basic understanding of these texts and their authors will not only familiarize you with the history and development of the English tradition but also strengthen your understanding of the so-called “conversation of literature,” the innumerable and complex ways that authors and their works speak to each other and interact. We recommend reading at least the first chapter of Harold Bloom’s book on the subject to get a basic understanding. 

We also insist that you familiarize yourself with the various problems that the perseverance of such a canon produces. During the 80s and 90s, a canon war of sorts took place among English departments, with progressives aiming to dismantle the canon on the grounds that it neglects many African-American, female, queer, and impoverished writers in favor of spotlighting “dead white males.” 

This friction between advocates and opponents of the canon is extremely important to the history and status quo of literary criticism, and understanding this battle will deeply enrich your understanding of literature and increase your chances of scoring a 5 on the exam.

3. Read Thomas Foster’s How To Read Literature Like a Professor .

This book is a lively and entertaining introduction to the tools frequently used in literary criticism, including symbolism, theme, context, irony, and more. It is an excellent way to begin thinking deeply about literature, and it offers clear examples of close-reading.

It also discusses a wide variety of works that will help familiarize you with the canon. It’s very accessible too. Buy it, read it, mark it up, and keep it by your side throughout class. It’s a great tool. 

4. Make flashcards.

You will need to have a strong understanding of different literary devices, authors, works, and rhetorical techniques, and you don’t want to waste time scrambling for definitions on the day of the exam. 

Make yourself some flashcards with the most common literary devices, authors, works, and rhetorical techniques, and carve out at least 30 minutes per day to review. If you’d prefer to use an online resource, make some flashcards over at Quizlet ! 

5. Form study groups!

The beauty of reading literature is that it often produces different and conflicting responses in people, so discussing literature with your friends is a good way to explore new and diverse perspectives. 

What you bring to a text, for instance, may be completely different from what your friend or peer brings. Discussion is a great way to comprehend and investigate difficult works. And it’s also pretty fun!

5 AP® English Literature and Composition Multiple Choice Study Tips

1. practice, practice..

Practice answering multiple choice questions as often as you can. AP® English Literature and Composition multiple choice questions will address either fiction, poetry, or drama, and they will ask you to identify and analyze various literary devices, techniques, and motifs. So study these very devices. If you find yourself totally stuck, consult our guide on how to tackle the multiple choice section . 

2. Sharpen your close-reading skills.

The true key to acing the multiple choice section of this exam is staying engaged with the passages provided to you and actively reading. That means staying alert through the passages, marking them up, and engaging with them directly, not passively skimming them.

Find a method of active reading that works best for you. Some like to mark up the passage extensively, while others prefer to just read the passage twice and take notes here and there. Select which method works for you and go with it. However, do not just choose the easy or lazy way out. You’ll regret it later when you receive your scores. 

3. Look over the questions before reading the passage.

This is often a semi-controversial piece of advice because it doesn’t work for all readers. But it can be helpful if you’re someone who gets easily distracted when reading old prose passages or difficult poetry! 

If you find your mind wandering when reading AP® Lit passages, glancing at the questions beforehand can give your brain a purpose to focus on and a point of entry into the passage. It’s always easiest to begin searching when you know what you’re looking for.

4. Use process of elimination.

Often, an AP® Lit multiple choice question will have one or two answer choices that can be crossed off pretty quickly. So try and narrow your choices down to two possible answers, and then choose the best one. 

If this strategy isn’t working on a particularly difficult question or it seems to hold you up longer than you’d like, it’s perfectly okay to circle it, skip it, and come back to it at the end. Do not get hung up on eliminating choices. Rather, use this strategy to make your reading more efficient and quicker. 

5. It doesn’t hurt to guess.

Obviously, while guessing on every single question isn’t a good strategy and will lead to a 1 on the exam, an educated guess on particularly difficult questions that you truly don’t know how to answer can help. You are scored only on the number of correct answers you give, not the number of questions you answer, so it makes sense to guess on questions that you seriously have no idea how to answer.  

5 AP® English Literature and Composition FRQ Study Tips

1. practice your writing skills by answering questions from collegeboard’s archive of past exam questions or explore our free response practice modules ..

Typically, the same skills are assessed from year to year, so practicing with released exams is a great way to brush up on your analysis skills, and our review practice allows you to pinpoint skills you may need help with.

2. Explore and use the rubric!

The best part about the updated AP® English Literature and Composition revised rubrics and scoring guidelines is that it’s very clear to discern which elements are needed to earn full credit for your essay. Granted, it can be tough to include each element—especially that tricky sophistication section—but the rubric’s outline offers a clear and concise portrait of the perfect essay .

Be sure to construct your thesis statement into a clear and definable interpretation. Provide specific evidence and compelling commentary that supports your thesis. If you check these boxes, then you will have a much greater chance of developing a clear and defensible interpretation. 

3. Pay attention to the task verbs employed in your free response prompts .

Task verbs are verbs that essentially indicate what it is you should do in your free response. The three common task verbs include: 

• Analyze: Examine methodically and in detail the structure of the topic of the question for purposes of interpretation and explanation.
• Choose: Select a literary work from among provided choices.
• Read: Look at or view printed directions and provided passages.

4. Have a solid understanding of literary devices.

Most of the FRQ’s require you to not only specifically identify a passage’s array of literary and rhetorical devices but also analyze and unpack how those devices construct mood, meaning, tone, and more. Study up, read the aforementioned Foster book , and take a look at our list of 15 Essential Rhetorical Terms to Know For AP® English Literature . 

5. Fine-tune your thesis statement.

Your thesis statement is arguably the most important sentence in your essay. It informs the reader of your central argument and summarizes your interpretation, and it sets the tone for the rest of your essay. It is imperative that you master the tricky art of the thesis statement before taking your exam. 

Many university writing centers offer online education on thesis statements that can prove extremely beneficial. Consult UNC Chapel Hill’s thesis statement handout for extra help!

The AP® English Literature and Composition Exam: 5 Test Day Tips to Remember

Be sure you put at least something in your stomach before taking the exam, even if it might be in knots from nerves. You don’t need to eat a deluxe breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits, etc. (unless that’s your routine), but you do need to eat at least something . Your brain and your body need the energy. If you’re hungry during the exam, it might be harder for you to focus, leading to a lower score or an incomplete exam.

2. Make sure you know the location of your testing site before taking the test.

You do not want to be scrambling and running around the school trying to find your testing room on the day of the exam. Know your room number and know how to get there. There’s truly nothing worse than running around your school trying to find a room when a hugely-important test is underway. 

If you’re getting a ride from a parent or friend, be sure they know the address beforehand. If you’re taking public transit, check the schedule. If you are taking your exam at your own school, don’t get too comfortable. Be sure you know the room number! This is something small but impactful that you can do to reduce your stress the morning of your exam.

3. Prepare everything you need the night before.

Waking up and scrambling to choose an outfit, find pencils, or make breakfast will just stress you out and put you in a negative headspace. Plan your outfit the night before to reduce stress and have an easy breakfast ready to go.

Being prepared saves time and cuts back unnecessary stress. 

And wear something comfortable. You don’t want to be adjusting your outfit throughout the test. It’ll just be distracting. 

4. Bring mints or gum with you.

The rules say that you can’t have food or drink in the testing room, but mints and/or gum are usually allowed unless it’s against your testing site’s own rules. If you find yourself getting distracted, pop a mint or a stick of gum in your mouth! This can help to keep you more awake and focused.

5. Remember to breathe and just relax.

Seriously, just breathe. If you’ve followed the rest of the tips in this post, listened to your teacher, read up on your literary devices, and done your homework, then you’re well-prepared for this exam. Trust yourself. Know that you have done all you can do to prepare and don’t cram the morning of the exam. Last-minute studying helps no one, and it often just leads to stress!

AP® English Literature and Composition Review Notes and Practice Test Resources

Ap® collegeboard’s official youtube channel.

This YouTube channel provides tons of tips, advice, and strategies for tackling the AP® English Literature and Composition exam. It offers online seminars and classes on a diverse range of Lit-related topics such as plot structure, unpacking symbolism, and crafting strong commentary. The best thing about it is that real-life teachers lead the classes, so they feel very personalized.

If you’re a more visual learner who thrives on video content, then this channel is perfect for you!

How-to Guide for Literary Analysis Essays

While we 100% do not condone using Sparknotes textual summaries to get your way through AP® English Literature, we do recommend taking a look at some of their guides and workshops and using them as supplementary resources. This how-to guide offers a 7-step method of approaching literary analysis that might help you get the ball rolling if you’re totally stuck.

This guide is perfect for anyone needing to brush up on their writing skills or anyone needing to find a solid step-by-step approach to writing the free response questions.

AP® English Literature Jeopardy Game

This online Jeopardy game is not only tons of fun but also super helpful in developing your memory and strengthening your understanding of basic literary elements and devices. It contains categories involving poetry terms, general Lit, syntax, style, and figurative language. It’s a great way to review basic terms for the exam, and you can play with up to ten people through its make-your-team feature.  

This is a perfect review for anyone looking to quickly review literary terms in a fun way.

Ms. Effie’s Lifesavers

If you’re a seasoned AP® English teacher, Ms. Effie (Sandra Effinger) probably needs no introduction! Ms. Effie’s Lifesavers website has helped many AP® Lang and AP® Lit teachers plan effective and thoroughly aligned lessons and assignments. Sandra was an AP® Reader for many years, so she knows her stuff. She has tons of free content on her page, as well as a Dropbox full of AP® English goodies for anyone who makes a donation via her PayPal. You’ll find resources for both AP® Language and AP® Literature here. 

Ms. Effie’s webpage is perfect for all students. Really, it has material that would benefit those looking for quick reviews, deeper analysis of free response questions, or help with multiple choice questions.

Summary: The Best AP® English Literature and Composition Review Guide

Remember, the structure of the AP® Lang exam is as follows:

Because AP® English Literature and Composition is a skills-based course, there’s no way to know what specific passages, poems, authors, or concepts might make it onto the official exam. But, we do know exactly which skills will be assessed with which passages, so it’s best to center your studying around brushing up on those skills!

Use the provided charts to help you understand which skills you should focus on, and use Albert’s AP® English Literature and Composition Course Guide to brush up on your understanding of each skill and its corresponding essential knowledge.

Start with a diagnostic test, either on Albert or with a pencil and paper test via Princeton Review or Barron’s . Once you’ve completed and scored your diagnostic, follow our 7 steps on how to create an AP® English Literature and Composition study plan. 

And remember: start reading now! The more you read, the more equipped you will be to ace this exam. Review the Western Canon, study your literary terms, and begin critically engaging with writers!

Practice answering multiple choice questions on Albert and free-response questions from The College Board’s archive of past exam questions. 

If you’ve followed the rest of the tips in this post, listened to your teacher, and done your homework, you’re well-prepared for this exam. Trust that you have done all you can do to prepare and don’t cram the morning of. Last-minute studying helps no one!

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2007: Free-Response Questions

2007: Form B

2006: Free-Response Questions

2006: Form B

2005: Free-Response Questions

2005: Form B

2004: Free-Response Questions

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Unit 1 – claims, reasoning, & evidence.

Unit 1 Overview: Claims, Reasoning, and Evidence

Identifying the purpose and intended audience of a text

Examining how evidence supports a claim

Developing paragraphs as part of an effective argument

Unit 2 – Organizing Information for a Specific Audience

Unit 2 Overview: Organizing Information for a Specific Audience

Analyzing audience and its relationship to the purpose of an argument

Building an argument with relevant and strategic evidence

Developing thesis statements

Developing structure and integrating evidence to reflect a line of reasoning

Unit 3 – Perspectives & How Arguments Relate

Unit 3 Overview: Perspectives and How Arguments Relate

Interpreting character description and perspective

Identifying and avoiding flawed lines of reasoning

Introducing and integrating sources and evidence

Using sufficient evidence for an argument

Attributing and citing references

Developing parts of a text with cause-effect and narrative methods

Unit 4 – How writers develop arguments, intros, & conclusions

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Developing introductions and conclusions

Adjusting An Argument to Address New Evidence

Unit 5 – How a writer brings all parts of an argument together

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Developing commentary throughout paragraphs

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Using modifiers to qualify an argument and convey perspective

Using transitions

Unit 6 – Position, Perspective, & Bias

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Incorporating multiple perspectives strategically into an argument

Recognizing and accounting for bias

Adjusting an Argument to New Evidence

Analyzing Tone and Shifts in Tone

Unit 7 – Successful & Unsuccessful Arguments

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Examining complexities in issues

Considering how words, phrases, and clauses can modify and limit an argument

Examining how counterargument or alternative perspectives affect an argument

Exploring how sentence development affects an argument

Unit 8 – Stylistic Choices

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Choosing comparisons based on an audience

Considering how sentence development and word choice affect how the writer is perceived by an audience

Considering how all choices made in an argument affect the audience

Considering how style affects an argument

Unit 9 – Developing a Complex Argument

Unit 9 Overview: Developing a Complex Argument

Strategically conceding, rebutting, or refuting information

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How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay (With Example)

November 27, 2023

Feeling intimidated by the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay? We’re here to help demystify. Whether you’re cramming for the AP Lang exam right now or planning to take the test down the road, we’ve got crucial rubric information, helpful tips, and an essay example to prepare you for the big day. This post will cover 1) What is the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay? 2) AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Rubric 3) AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis: Sample Prompt 4) AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example 5)AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Why It Works

What is the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

The AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay is one of three essays included in the written portion of the AP English Exam. The full AP English Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long, with the first 60 minutes dedicated to multiple-choice questions. Once you complete the multiple-choice section, you move on to three equally weighted essays that ask you to synthesize, analyze, and interpret texts and develop well-reasoned arguments. The three essays include:

Synthesis essay: You’ll review various pieces of evidence and then write an essay that synthesizes (aka combines and interprets) the evidence and presents a clear argument. Read our write up on How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay here.

Argumentative essay: You’ll take a stance on a specific topic and argue your case.

Rhetorical essay: You’ll read a provided passage, then analyze the author’s rhetorical choices and develop an argument that explains why the author made those rhetorical choices.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Rubric

The AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay is graded on just 3 rubric categories: Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication . At a glance, the rubric categories may seem vague, but AP exam graders are actually looking for very particular things in each category. We’ll break it down with dos and don’ts for each rubric category:

Thesis (0-1 point)

There’s nothing nebulous when it comes to grading AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay thesis. You either have one or you don’t. Including a thesis gets you one point closer to a high score and leaving it out means you miss out on one crucial point. So, what makes a thesis that counts?

• Make sure your thesis argues something about the author’s rhetorical choices. Making an argument means taking a risk and offering your own interpretation of the provided text. This is an argument that someone else might disagree with.
• A good test to see if you have a thesis that makes an argument. In your head, add the phrase “I think that…” to the beginning of your thesis. If what follows doesn’t logically flow after that phrase (aka if what follows isn’t something you and only you think), it’s likely you’re not making an argument.
• Avoid a thesis that merely restates the prompt.
• Avoid a thesis that summarizes the text but does not make an argument.

Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)

This rubric category is graded on a scale of 0-4 where 4 is the highest grade. Per the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis rubric, to get a 4, you’ll want to:

• Include lots of specific evidence from the text. There is no set golden number of quotes to include, but you’ll want to make sure you’re incorporating more than a couple pieces of evidence that support your argument about the author’s rhetorical choices.
• Make sure you include more than one type of evidence, too. Let’s say you’re working on your essay and have gathered examples of alliteration to include as supporting evidence. That’s just one type of rhetorical choice, and it’s hard to make a credible argument if you’re only looking at one type of evidence. To fix that issue, reread the text again looking for patterns in word choice and syntax, meaningful figurative language and imagery, literary devices, and other rhetorical choices, looking for additional types of evidence to support your argument.
• After you include evidence, offer your own interpretation and explain how this evidence proves the point you make in your thesis.
• Don’t summarize or speak generally about the author and the text. Everything you write must be backed up with evidence.
• Don’t let quotes speak for themselves. After every piece of evidence you include, make sure to explain your interpretation. Also, connect the evidence to your overarching argument.

Sophistication (0-1 point)

In this case, sophistication isn’t about how many fancy vocabulary words or how many semicolons you use. According to College Board , one point can be awarded to AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essays that “demonstrate sophistication of thought and/or a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation” in any of these three ways:

• Explaining the significance or relevance of the writer’s rhetorical choices.
• Explaining the purpose or function of the passage’s complexities or tensions.
• Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.

Note that you don’t have to achieve all three to earn your sophistication point. A good way to think of this rubric category is to consider it a bonus point that you can earn for going above and beyond in depth of analysis or by writing an especially persuasive, clear, and well-structured essay. In order to earn this point, you’ll need to first do a good job with your thesis, evidence, and commentary.

• Focus on nailing an argumentative thesis and multiple types of evidence. Getting these fundamentals of your essay right will set you up for achieving depth of analysis.
• Explain how each piece of evidence connects to your thesis.
• Spend a minute outlining your essay before you begin to ensure your essay flows in a clear and cohesive way.
• Steer clear of generalizations about the author or text.
• Don’t include arguments you can’t prove with evidence from the text.
• Avoid complex sentences and fancy vocabulary words unless you use them often. Long, clunky sentences with imprecisely used words are hard to follow.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis: Sample Prompt

The sample prompt below is published online by College Board and is a real example from the 2021 AP Exam. The prompt provides background context, essay instructions, and the text you need to analyze. For sake of space, we’ve included the text as an image you can click to read. After the prompt, we provide a sample high scoring essay and then explain why this AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essay example works.

Suggested time—40 minutes.

(This question counts as one-third of the total essay section score.)

On February 27, 2013, while in office, former president Barack Obama delivered the following address dedicating the Rosa Parks statue in the National Statuary Hall of the United States Capitol building. Rosa Parks was an African American civil rights activist who was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Obama makes to convey his message.

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices.
• Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

In his speech delivered in 2013 at the dedication of Rosa Park’s statue, President Barack Obama acknowledges everything that Parks’ activism made possible in the United States. Telling the story of Parks’ life and achievements, Obama highlights the fact that Parks was a regular person whose actions accomplished enormous change during the civil rights era. Through the use of diction that portrays Parks as quiet and demure, long lists that emphasize the extent of her impacts, and Biblical references, Obama suggests that all of us are capable of achieving greater good, just as Parks did.

Although it might be a surprising way to start to his dedication, Obama begins his speech by telling us who Parks was not: “Rosa Parks held no elected office. She possessed no fortune” he explains in lines 1-2. Later, when he tells the story of the bus driver who threatened to have Parks arrested when she refused to get off the bus, he explains that Parks “simply replied, ‘You may do that’” (lines 22-23). Right away, he establishes that Parks was a regular person who did not hold a seat of power. Her protest on the bus was not part of a larger plan, it was a simple response. By emphasizing that Parks was not powerful, wealthy, or loud spoken, he implies that Parks’ style of activism is an everyday practice that all of us can aspire to.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example (Continued)

Even though Obama portrays Parks as a demure person whose protest came “simply” and naturally, he shows the importance of her activism through long lists of ripple effects. When Parks challenged her arrest, Obama explains, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood with her and “so did thousands of Montgomery, Alabama commuters” (lines 27-28). They began a boycott that included “teachers and laborers, clergy and domestics, through rain and cold and sweltering heat, day after day, week after week, month after month, walking miles if they had to…” (lines 28-31). In this section of the speech, Obama’s sentences grow longer and he uses lists to show that Parks’ small action impacted and inspired many others to fight for change. Further, listing out how many days, weeks, and months the boycott lasted shows how Parks’ single act of protest sparked a much longer push for change.

To further illustrate Parks’ impact, Obama incorporates Biblical references that emphasize the importance of “that single moment on the bus” (lines 57-58). In lines 33-35, Obama explains that Parks and the other protestors are “driven by a solemn determination to affirm their God-given dignity” and he also compares their victory to the fall the “ancient walls of Jericho” (line 43). By of including these Biblical references, Obama suggests that Parks’ action on the bus did more than correct personal or political wrongs; it also corrected moral and spiritual wrongs. Although Parks had no political power or fortune, she was able to restore a moral balance in our world.

Toward the end of the speech, Obama states that change happens “not mainly through the exploits of the famous and the powerful, but through the countless acts of often anonymous courage and kindness” (lines 78-81). Through carefully chosen diction that portrays her as a quiet, regular person and through lists and Biblical references that highlight the huge impacts of her action, Obama illustrates exactly this point. He wants us to see that, just like Parks, the small and meek can change the world for the better.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Why It Works

We would give the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essay above a score of 6 out of 6 because it fully satisfies the essay’s 3 rubric categories: Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication . Let’s break down what this student did:

The thesis of this essay appears in the last line of the first paragraph:

“ Through the use of diction that portrays Parks as quiet and demure, long lists that emphasize the extent of her impacts, and Biblical references, Obama suggests that all of us are capable of achieving greater good, just as Parks did .”

This student’s thesis works because they make a clear argument about Obama’s rhetorical choices. They 1) list the rhetorical choices that will be analyzed in the rest of the essay (the italicized text above) and 2) include an argument someone else might disagree with (the bolded text above).

Evidence and Commentary:

This student includes substantial evidence and commentary. Things they do right, per the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis rubric:

• They include lots of specific evidence from the text in the form of quotes.
• They incorporate 3 different types of evidence (diction, long lists, Biblical references).
• After including evidence, they offer an interpretation of what the evidence means and explain how the evidence contributes to their overarching argument (aka their thesis).

Sophistication

This essay achieves sophistication according to the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essay rubric in a few key ways:

• This student provides an introduction that flows naturally into the topic their essay will discuss. Before they get to their thesis, they tell us that Obama portrays Parks as a “regular person” setting up their main argument: Obama wants all regular people to aspire to do good in the world just as Rosa Parks did.
• They organize evidence and commentary in a clear and cohesive way. Each body paragraph focuses on just one type of evidence.
• They explain how their evidence is significant. In the final sentence of each body paragraph, they draw a connection back to the overarching argument presented in the thesis.
• All their evidence supports the argument presented in their thesis. There is no extraneous evidence or misleading detail.
• They consider nuances in the text. Rather than taking the text at face value, they consider what Obama’s rhetorical choices imply and offer their own unique interpretation of those implications.
• In their final paragraph, they come full circle, reiterate their thesis, and explain what Obama’s rhetorical choices communicate to readers.
• Their sentences are clear and easy to read. There are no grammar errors or misused words.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay—More Resources

Looking for more tips to help your master your AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay? Brush up on 20 Rhetorical Devices High School Students Should Know and read our Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension . If you’re ready to start studying for another part of the AP English Exam, find more expert tips in our How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis blog post.

Considering what other AP classes to take? Read up on the Hardest AP Classes .

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Christina Wood

Christina Wood holds a BA in Literature & Writing from UC San Diego, an MFA in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in English at the University of Georgia, where she teaches creative writing and first-year composition courses. Christina has published fiction and nonfiction in numerous publications, including The Paris Review , McSweeney’s , Granta , Virginia Quarterly Review , The Sewanee Review , Mississippi Review , and Puerto del Sol , among others. Her story “The Astronaut” won the 2018 Shirley Jackson Award for short fiction and received a “Distinguished Stories” mention in the 2019 Best American Short Stories anthology.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, ap english language essay examples.

Hey everyone :) I'm taking AP English Language and Composition, and I feel like I need to read some high-scoring essay examples to improve my writing. Does anyone have any tips on where to find sample essays with scores and explanations?

Hello! It's a great idea to learn from high-scoring essay examples as it helps you understand what's expected and refine your writing skills. One of the best resources for sample essays is the College Board website, which provides essay samples from actual AP English Language and Composition exams. These samples include scoring guidelines and explanations, so you can see how each essay meets the criteria and why it received the score it did.

Another useful resource is CollegeVine, where you can find essay guides that break down the essentials of effective writing, highlighting techniques and tips to take your essay to the next level. Here's a CollegeVine guide specifically about the AP Lang Argument Essay: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-ap-lang-argument-essay

You might also consider joining a peer essay review group or an online forum like College Confidential, where AP English students often share their essays and provide feedback to one another. Reading through your peers' essays and sharing your own work can be a valuable way to improve your writing and gain fresh insights.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

AP English Language and Composition Practice Tests

The new AP English Language and Composition Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and broken up into two sections.

Section I: One hour (45 percent of total score)

50–60 multiple-choice questions about several nonfiction prose passages

Section II: Two hours and 15 minutes

Three essays (55 percent of total score)

Essay 1: an argument for or against an idea presented in a short passage incorporating provided published sources

Essay 2: an analysis of a prose passage

Essay 3: an essay commenting on the validity of an opinion expressed in a statement or short passage

AP English Language and Composition Glossary

If you are a mobile user, click here: Do AP English Language and Composition Practice Questions .

AP English Language and Composition Multiple-Choice Practice Tests

• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 1
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 2
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 3
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 4
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 5
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 6
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 7
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 8
• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 9
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• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 11
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• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 13
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• AP English Language and Composition Practice Test 53

AP English Language and Composition Free-Response Practice Tests

• AP English Language and Composition Free-Response Practice Test 1
• AP English Language and Composition Free-Response Practice Test 2

AP English Language and Composition Downloads

• AP English Language Practice Test 1 pdf download
• AP English Language Practice Test 2 pdf download
• AP English Language Practice Test 3 pdf download
• AP English Language Practice Test 4 pdf download
• AP English Language and Composition Introduction to the Analysis Essay
• AP English Language and Composition Introduction to the Argumentative Essay
• AP English Language and Composition Introduction to the Synthesis Essay
• AP English Language and Composition Knowledge Review: Analysis
• AP English Language and Composition Knowledge Review: Argument
• AP English Language and Composition Knowledge Review: Synthesis
• More AP English Language and Composition Downloads

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Ap® english language ultimate review packet.

Everything you need to learn and practice for your AP® English Language and Composition exam

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Exclusive practice videos, practice multiple choice questions, and study guides with answer keys

Two full length practice exams with answer keys, samples, and rubrics

US History themed AP English multiple-choice and essay questions. Perfect for APUSH students!

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How to Save Your Digital Interactive Notes.

Unit 1: Rhetorical Situation + Claims and Evidence

How to Save Your Digital Interactive Notes

Video 1.1: Rhetorical Situation

1.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

1.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

1.1: Answer Guide

Video 1.2: Claims + Evidence-video

1.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

1.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

1.2: Answer Guide

Unit 1: Practice Multiple Choice-Digital

Unit 1: Practice Multiple Choice-Print

Unit 1: Practice Multiple Choice Answers & Rationales

Unit 1: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1491-1607)-Digital

Unit 1: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1491-1607)-Print

Unit 1: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1491-1607) Answers & Rationales

YouTube Resources-Evidence Logs & How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Evidence Logs with Examples (Digital)

Evidence Logs with Examples (Print)

Part 1: How to Annotate for Rhetorical Analysis (Sections and Shifts)

Part 2: How to Annotate for Rhetorical Analysis (Method of Development)

Part 3: How to annotate for Rhetorical Analysis (Classical Argument Structure)

Part 4: How to Break Down the Rhetorical Analysis Prompt

Part 5: Two Ways to Write Right Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statements

Part 6: How to Write Strong Topic Sentences

Part 7: How to Integrate Textual Evidence

Part 8: How to Write Detailed Commentary

Part 9: How to Write Strong Conclusions for Rhetorical Analysis Essays

Unit 2: Modes of Persuasion & Rhetorical Choices

Video 2.1: Introducing Modes of Persuasion & Rhetorical Choices

2.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

2.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

2.1: Answer Guide

Video 2.2: Engaging with Rhetorical Elements & Thesis Statements

2.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

2.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

2.2: Answer Guide

Unit 2: Multiple Choice-Digital

Unit 2: Multiple Choice-Print

Unit 2: Practice Multiple Choice Answers & Rationales

Unit 2: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1607-1754)-Digital

Unit 2: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1607-1754)-Print

Unit 2: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1607-1754) Answers & Rationales

Unit 3: Synthesis, Line of Reasoning, Narration, Cause/Effect

Video 3.1: Introducing Synthesis, Line of Reasoning & Methods of Development

3.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

3.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

3.1: Answer Guide

3.2: Synthesis, Line of Reasoning, Narration & Cause/Effect

3.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

3.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

3.2: Answer Guide

Unit 3: Practice Multiple Choice-Digital

Unit 3: Practice Multiple Choice-Print

Unit 3: Practice Multiple Choice Answers & Rationales

Unit 3: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1754-1800)-Digital

Unit 3: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1754-1800)-Print

Unit 3: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1754-1800) Answers & Rationales

Unit 4: Introductions, Conclusions, Definition, Description, & Compare/Contrast

Video 4.1: Introduction Paragraphs & Varied Thesis Statements

Video 4.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

Video 4.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

4.1: Answer Guide

Video 4.2: Conclusion Paragraphs, Description, Compare/Contrast, & Definition

4.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

4.2: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

4.2: Answer Guide

Unit 4: Practice Multiple Choice-Digital

Unit 4: Practice Multiple Choice-Print

Unit 4: Practice Multiple Choice Answers & Rationales

Unit 4: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1800-1848 )-Digital

Unit 4: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1800-1848 )-Print

Unit 4: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1800-1848 ) Answers & Rationales

Unit 5: Body Paragraphs, Coherence, Transitions, & Connotations

Video 5.1: Body Paragraphs, Coherence, Transitions, & Connotations

5.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

5.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

5.1: Answer Guide

Unit 5: Practice Multiple Choice-Digital

Unit 5: Practice Multiple Choice-Print

Unit 5: Practice Multiple Choice Answers & Rationales

Unit 5: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1844-1877)-Digital

Unit 5: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1844-1877)-Print

Unit 5: Practice Multiple Choice (US History 1844-1877) Answers & Rationales

Unit 6: Bias, Synthesis, & Tone

Video 6.1: Personal and Source Bias, Synthesis, & Tone

6.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

6.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

6.1: Answer Guide

Unit 6: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales

Unit 6: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales (US History 1865-1898)

Unit 7: Complexities, Grammar, & Style

Video 7.1: Complexities, Grammar, & Style

7.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

7.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

7.1: Answer Guide

Unit 7: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales

Unit 7: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales (US History 1890-1945)

Unit 8: Organization, Acceptance, & Nonessentials (Parentheticals)

Video 8.1: Organization, Acceptance, & Nonessentials

8.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

8.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

8.1: Answer Guide

Unit 8: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales

Unit 8: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales (US History 1945-1980)

Unit 9: Counterarguments & Irony (plus Rock n' Roll)

Video 9.1: Counterarguments & Irony (plus Rock n' Roll)

9.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Digital)

9.1: Interactive Notes Guide (Print)

9.1: Answer Guide

Unit 9: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales

Unit 9: Practice Multiple Choice & Rationales (US History 1980-Present)

Practice Exam #1

Practice Exam

Practice Exam Multiple Choice Answers & Rationales

Essay Rubrics for Self Assessment

Practice Exam-FRQ 1 (Synthesis)-Student Samples and Commentary

Practice Exam-FRQ 2 (Rhetorical Analysis)-Student Samples and Commentary

Practice Exam-FRQ 3 (Argument)-Student Samples and Commentary

Practice Exam Score Sheet and Conversion Chart

Practice Exam #2 (US History-Based Lang Exam)

Practice Exam-US History-Based

Practice Exam Multiple Choice Answers & Rationales (US History-Based Exam)

Essay Rubrics for Self Assessment (US History-Based Exam)

Practice Exam-FRQ 1 (Synthesis)-Student Samples and Scoring Commentary (US History-Based Exam)

Practice Exam-FRQ 2 (Rhetorical Analysis)-Student Samples and Scoring Commentary (US History-Based Exam)

Practice Exam-FRQ 3 (Argument)-Student Samples and Scoring Commentary (US History-Based Exam)

Practice Exam Score Sheet and Conversion Chart (US History-Based Exam)

About this course

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The AP English Language Exam Review Boot Camp

How much review for the AP Language Exam is TOO much? On a skill-based assessment like this one, students are already at a position of not-quite-there, proficiency, or mastery of a complex web of interrelated skills and processes. Like I said in a recent refresher review post , there is no such thing as cramming for an AP English exam. That might work on a content-based test, but it doesn’t work here.

So why review at all?

Fronting for the AP Lang Exam

If you’ve ever worked in a grocery store, you know what fronting is. That’s bringing the oldest items on a shelf to the front in order to sell them before selling the freshest items. (If you want the best veggies, reach in the back!) Think of exam review like fronting. There’s some dusty old rhetorical analysis stuff back there, and students need to front that material. They remember what a logical fallacy is, but they need a quick refresher of the major ones like non-sequitur, straw man, and hasty generalization.

Streaks vs. Slumps

My hype song is Katie Perry’s “Roar.” Don’t laugh. When I’m about to get on a live webinar, I blast this song on my Alexa so that every board in my home is vibrating. The next time you’re on a live webinar with me, ask me if I roar. It’ll be our little inside joke .

My husband was a baseball player, and he had lucky socks. This man believes strongly in ritual and avoiding jinxes. He once explained to me that a baseball streak is about 90% confidence, a certainty that a player is going to do well. Slumps work the opposite way.

I don’t want my students going in to the exam with a slump mentality, like they’ve struck out 35 times in a row. I want them going in believing that they are about to hit a home run.

So let’s front and build that skill confidence.

The Five-Day Plan

I see a number of teachers in distress over the few class meetings they have left before the exam. Let’s say, hypothetically, that Spring Break, other AP exams, and random award assemblies are eating away at your class time, and you’re only going to see your students five more times before the AP Language exam. Let’s plan that out.

Day 1: Reach Back to Early AP Language Content and Skills

Unless you’re a master at spiraling, you might have some students asking, Now what is rhetoric again ? Reach way back on the shelf and pull forward

• the Rhetorical Analysis thesis
• the Question 2 rubric (Here’s a free student-friendly version if you need one.)
• quick planning strategies like SOAPS, SPACECAT, or the rhetorical triangle

Favorite Review Activity: Give students a released prompt and ten minutes to read, sketch out SOAPS or the planning strategy of their choice, and write a thesis.

Helpful resources:

• Rhetorical Analysis Review Pages
• Rhetorical Analysis Bell Ringers
• This blog post on Rhetorical Analysis Review Tips might give you some ideas as well.

Day 2: Revisit Argument

Don’t cram here.

• Review basic Aristotelian/Classical argument structure.
• Review the kinds of evidence students might use.
• Stress the need for concession and refutation. Show models that work.
• Spend a little time on basic fallacies in case students come across one in the multiple choice passages or in Question 2.

Favorite Review Activity: Give students a prompt and require them to take a “side” if there are clear sides and then flip the students to force them to argue a thesis with which they disagree in order to develop concession skills.

Helpful review resources:

• 10 Argumentative Prompts (These prompt are aligned in content and format with Question 3 of the AP Language exam.)
• Blog post: The Big Picture of AP Lang Argumentation Review

Day 3: Revisit Synthesis

100% skill based, this question simply requires practice and some serious time management.

• Offer a quickie review of parenthetical citation and stress consistency and credit where it is due.
• Reviews best practices (e.g., how many sources to use, the synthesis thesis).
• Review image analysis. Here’s a good blog post on guiding students on analysis of photography, art, and cartoons.

Favorite Review Activity: Create a gallery walk of sources. Students get the prompt on paper and walk from source station to source station with a partner debating which ones to use. They come back to their desks, write a thesis together, and present that thesis to the class along with their source choices.

• Blog post: AP Language Synthesis Review Tips
• Read ’em and Weave Synthesis Unit
• Synthesis Practice Prompt (Part of the unit above)

Day 4: Go Over Multiple Choice Strategies

There are strong readers. There are strong test takers. You might be fortunate enough to have students who are both, but there are ways to make up for one weakness with the other. Use this day to focus on strengthening the mechanics of taking a HARD multiple choice exam in a given time frame.

I once had a student who, with enough time, could get correct any multiple choice question I put in front of her. She was a VERY good reader, but she could not get through more than half of any timed practice. What she and I worked on was perfectionism and her compulsion to double check and second guess herself. These tips worked for her:

• The second guessing happens with the foil, that one answer choice that is the truest test of a student’s ability to analyze or edit. Practice quick elimination with the five answer choices so that students are left with the foil and the correct answer and can choose quickly and get to the next question.
• Go over common stems and make sure students understand what they are being asked. I created a student-friendly stems list, and you can get that here . It will come automatically to the email address you give. (I recommend a personal address so it doesn’t bounce.)
• Have a heart-to-heart about EXCEPT questions. My complaints about bad question design choice have fallen on deaf ears, so there will be a sprinkling of these time killers. On average, a student needs to spend less than a minute on each question. That’s almost impossible with these monsters. I recommend that students eliminate three as quickly as they can, guess, and go on.

Favorite Review Activity: Create a Five Corners game with a couple of questions and have students practice their time management strategies and create a class debate about answers. Here’s a blog post about pulling it off.

Helpful Review Resources:

• Multiple choice blog post roundup
• AP Lang Multiple Choice Super Bundle (This bundle of 14 resources includes two practice tests, 50 bell ringers, and a collection of activities on question design.)

Day 5: Show them how far they have come.

On the last day you have students before the exam, pull out the first essays they wrote. (Kudos if you saved that beginning-of-the-course baseline essay!) and show students where they were. Beside it, put the best, highest-scoring example of their skills (ideally in the same mode).

Sit back and watch them laugh. If you like, ask each student to write two things for you.

• A letter from the student to the teacher explaining the student’s current strengths.
• A letter from the student to herself with reminders about thesis statements, leaving time to proofread, etc.

Discuss controlling what they can control.

• Drink water the night before and the morning of. Our brains are fuzzy when we’re dehydrated.
• Sleep eight hours the night before the exam (three nights in a row, ideally).
• Eat protein for breakfast (milk product, eggs, meat, soy). No soda the morning of! A carb crash serves no one.
• Avoid drama the morning of the exam. Stay off Snapchat and avoid siblings and ex girlfriends at all cost.

Some teachers give out goodie bags the day before the exam. This might be a couple of sharpened #2 pencils, a good black pen, and some mints. An encouraging, hand-written note would be great . . . unless you have 100 students testing.

Pat yourself on the back, friend. You have prepared hormonal, anxious teenagers for an Advanced Placement English Language & Composition exam during a pandemic. Well done, you. Don’t forget to grab this free ten-page multiple choice review.

I’m a recovering high school English teacher and curriculum specialist with a passion for helping teachers leave school at school. I create engaging, rigorous curriculum resources for secondary ELA professionals, and I facilitate workshops to help those teachers implement the materials effectively.

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Ap® english language and composition (intensive, ncaa approved).

• Advanced CTY-Level
• Session-Based
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Learn to write college-level essays, expand your vocabulary, and prepare to take the Advanced Placement® Exam in English Language and Composition during this intensive 12-week course. We’ll study a variety of nonfiction texts to understand the interplay between author’s purpose, message, and audience expectations. You’ll also write your own arguments and research-based and rhetorical analysis essays while developing your skills at analyzing diction, syntax, persuasive appeals, methods of development, and more. After each essay, you will write a reflection explaining and evaluating your writing process. You’ll receive feedback from your instructor and often from your peers, revising your work along the way. You will also practice answering multiple-choice questions similar to those on past AP® exams, and develop strong essay test-taking skills like organization and time management. Through written collaboration with classmates from around the world, you’ll explore new perspectives and develop your own ideas. This writing course has been reviewed and approved by the College Board to use the AP® designation.

Time Commitment: 6-10 hours of independent work per week.  

Course Overview

What we'll do

Over 10 course units, we will develop key reading and writing skills and apply them in activities, workshops, writing assignments, and revisions. We’ll hone our text comprehension and analysis skills with multiple-choice questions based on nonfiction passages. In addition, we’ll write 13 full essays, including three for a final practice exam that mimics a full AP exam. Through our reading and writing, we’ll explore how people communicate their ideas and feelings through language, how readers understand those ideas and feelings, and what types of communication are most effective for each situation. You will continually improve by applying instructor and classmate feedback on your own writing.

What we’ll learn

• To analyze an author’s use of diction, tone, syntax, comparisons, methods of development, figurative language, audience appeals, and formatting
• To write persuasively on a variety of topics based on given evidence and your own knowledge and experiences
• To effectively use strategies such as introducing and concluding an essay, writing strong thesis statements, seamlessly embedding quotations, qualifying arguments, rebutting counterarguments, and creating cohesion in an essay

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Explain how writers’ choices reflect the components of the rhetorical situation
• Make strategic choices in a text to address a rhetorical situation
• Identify and describe the claims and evidence of an argument
• Analyze and select evidence to develop and refine a claim
• Describe the reasoning, organization, and development of an argument
• Illuminate the line of reasoning in an argument with organization and commentary
• Explain how writers’ stylistic choices contribute to the purpose of an argument
• Select words and use elements of composition to advance an argument
• Annotate texts, narrow multiple-choice options, and outline essays to prepare for timed tests
• Communicate effectively and empathetically about topics that affect all people

How we'll measure learning

The objectives for this course align exactly with those released by the College Board for this exam, and course lessons cover all of these objectives. You will demonstrate mastery of course skills with multiple-choice quizzes in every unit and three different types of essays. All multiple-choice questions and essay prompts either appeared on a previous AP exam, or closely mimic AP style and format. In this graded course, each assignment will be assessed using a rubric aligned to AP grading standards.

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Register for an Online course by selecting an open class below. If no open classes are listed, then course enrollment is currently closed. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY

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Testing and Prerequisites

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

Cost and Financial Aid

Application fee.

• Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
• Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)

Financial Aid

We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs (Courses with start dates July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Our application for Academic Year 2024-2025 Online Programs is expected to open in January. We encourage those who may need assistance in the future to apply for aid as early as possible.

Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course . If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected] .  

No textbooks are required for this course

Technical Requirements

This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client , and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app . Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.

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Students may interact in online classrooms and meetings that include peers, instructors, and occasional special guests.

After a you complete a course, your projects may be used to illustrate work for future students. 

You will need to create an account on a third-party site to access course resources.

About Language Arts at CTY

Enhance your skills in creative writing and critical reading, learn to craft effective sentences, and develop an analytical approach to reading and writing through our Language Arts courses. Guided by our expert instructors, you can further develop your communication skills in our interdisciplinary visual fluency courses, and explore topics in communication theory, design theory, and cognitive psychology. Through coursework and online discussions with classmates from around the world, you’ll elevate your writing structure and style, hone your craft, and become an adept wordsmith fluent in the language of literary arts. 

Write, Edit, Publish

Walk in the shoes of a writer, editor, and publisher this fall in Master Class I: Writing, Editing, and Publishing , and then collaborate with peers to create the next issue of our CTY Online student-developed literary journal, Lexophilia , in Master Class II: Writing, Editing, and Publishing , offered in the winter.

Explore Greek Myths

Newly revised for fall 2021, you'll read, discuss, and write about Greek myths in Young Readers’ Series: Greek Myths Revisited , studying exciting, heroic characters and ancient narratives that continue to teach us all valuable lessons about life, love, and family.

Meet our Language Arts Instructors

I realize that I love teaching on an almost daily basis. It comes to me in the form of a student's 'ah-ha' moment, when everything clicks and the student understands a challenging concept. I get goose bumps just thinking about it!

Yvonne Borresen

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PREMIUM PRACTICE FOR A PERFECT 5! Ace the new Digital AP English Language & Composition Exam with The Princeton Review's comprehensive study guide—including 8 practice tests with answer explanations, timed online practice, and thorough content reviews. Techniques That Actually Work • Tried-and-true strategies to help you avoid traps and beat the test • Tips for pacing yourself and guessing logically • Essential tactics to help you work smarter, not harder Everything You Need for a High Score • Updated to address the new digital exam • Comprehensive review of the synthesis, rhetorical analysis, and argumentative essays • Online digital flashcards to review core content • Access to study guides, a handy list of key terms and concepts, helpful pre-college information, and more via your online Student Tools Premium Practice for AP Excellence • 8 full-length practice tests (5 in the book, 3 online) with detailed answer explanations • Online tests provided as both digital versions (with timer option to simulate exam experience) online, and as downloadable PDFs (with interactive elements mimicking the exam interface) • Pacing drills to help you maximize points on the Reading and Writing passages

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Best Tips for AP English Literature and Composition Exam Prep

Andie woodward.

• August 29, 2024

The AP English Literature and Composition is a 3-hour College Board exam. It contains two parts: multiple-choice and free-response. Most students don’t need AP Lit multiple-choice tips since they believe this section is pretty easy. But when it comes to writing three essays, any advice becomes helpful. What if we offer you a step-by-step guide on AP Lit tips that may help you ace both the multiple-choice section and the essays easily?

So, in this post, we are going to share the most effective tips for the AP Lit exam. In the end, you will build confidence for the test and gain study skills that will come in handy even in college. 

How Long Does It Take to Prepare for the AP Literature Exam?

The AP English Literature and Composition exam is about 3 hours long. First, you will have to answer 55 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes! But it gets even more intense. There is also the free-response section that lasts about 120 minutes. Thus, you have to prepare well so as not to crack under pressure. And it will take time if you want to ace the test.

How long it will take you depends on your needs and study habits. If you love reading poetry and literature, you may find that you don’t need months of preparation. People who read regularly build up their comprehension skills over the years and have a rich vocabulary. This is basically what you need, in addition to analytical skills, to pass the test successfully.

If you struggle with reading comprehension and literary terms look like Latin to you, chances are that you need more time. It’s a great idea to start even before the beginning of the school year. Don’t wait a week or two before the test day to start studying! No matter how good you think you are, this approach can backfire and put even more pressure on you.

AP Lit Tips: Effective Preparation for the AP Literature and Composition Exam 

The AP Literature exam will test your ability to understand and interpret literary texts. What’s more? The questions cover literary works of different time periods. How can you possibly prepare for that? Actually, there are some proven techniques you can use right away:

#1 Go Through Each Unit of the AP English Literature Course 

So, where should you start? Believe it or not, your first step should not be tackling practice questions online. And no, it’s not deep reading of the classical work you’ve heard people recommend, either. You will get to these soon. But first, you need to get a clear picture of the AP exam content. Check the College Board website, specifically the AP Literature and Composition course page.  

There is a list of topics for each unit. Some questions will require you to identify literary devices like metaphor or hyperbole, while in others, you’ll have to specify a character’s interactions with settings. The questions may be related to short fiction, poetry, drama, and longer fiction works. 

Source: The College Board  

#2 Get Familiar With the Exam Format

Wonder how to score high on the test? Here’s a secret: students are likely to succeed when they take the time to learn about the AP lit exam’s unique format. You should know what it looks like if you want the odds to be in your favor. 

Take a look at the question types, check the timing for each section, and know what to expect on the test day. Thus, you’ll reduce your anxiety and have an idea of how to study effectively using tips for AP Lit multiple-choice and free-response questions. 

Starting in 2025, each multiple-choice question will have four answer choices instead of five. But more changes might be coming, so be sure to regularly check the official College Board website for any updates.

#3 Read Books That Teach You How to Analyze Literature

You will get a list of recommended readings for your AP class, which should be the basis for your studies. However, it turns out you can’t enjoy classical literature and poetry when you struggle with assessing their literary merit. So, start with reading books that break it all down for you, like Thomas C. Forster’s “How to Read Literature Like a Professor.” 

Source: Amazon

Thus, you’ll brush up your critical thinking and reading skills. Plus, there are tons of materials on how to get the hang of analyzing and interpreting literature. While studying, remember to make notes and bookmark pages. If you want, you can also find some YouTube videos that explain how to interpret different literature.

#4 Read Classical Literature and Practice Writing Essays for the Free-Response Questions

How-to books are great since they provide students with a map for getting started. However, you need to practice a lot to build your skills. Pick up “Jane Eyre,” “The Portrait of a Lady,” and other classical pieces of literature and try to read them thoughtfully.

But don’t simply read. Reread parts of the books that seem difficult, jot down words that are important, and make notes of things, scenes, or anything related to characters’ or plot development. You can use those notes to support your stance in the essay answers. Since you will need to write three essays in the free-response section, practice writing essays and formulating a thesis statement beforehand. 

#5 Get Someone to Review Your Essays 

Want to ace the free-response section? Then, ask for feedback. Usually, these questions require you to present an interpretation of a given literary work. You may have to read a poem, a prose passage, or a drama and give your own interpretation (backed with evidence) in response to a given prompt. The third free-response question typically involves a literary analysis essay based on a given prompt. 

All these bring us back to the original point: students who want to improve must ask for feedback. Ask your English teachers, parents, tutors, or even friends to rate your efforts and give you tips on how to improve. This is how you get better. Usually, teachers may give helpful advice on tackling those questions. At the same time, your friends may be able to spot grammatical errors, which is also something that can help you improve. 

#6 Take Practice Tests to Tackle Multiple Choice Portion of Questions

Students usually pay much attention to the second section of the AP lit test, which is essay writing. But the first section is not a walk in the park either. It contains 55 multiple-choice questions, which are split into 5 sets of questions. Each one has a short prose passage, drama, or poetry, which you must carefully read before choosing a correct answer. You will have just one minute for each question. This is why practicing is so important.

Besides teaching you time management, practice tests also mimic the real test experience. Thus, you’ll know exactly what areas need improvement. The more of these tests you take, the more you sharpen your test-taking ability. You will know which tricks work for you and use your own AP Lit multiple-choice tips to complete this section well. While occasional wrong answers won’t lower your score much, you need to get almost all the answers right to get a high score. 

#7 Make Flashcards to Memorize Literary Terms

Many of the questions on the AP English Literature exam revolve around common literary devices. Some examples are figurative language, similes, metaphors, irony, personification, and more. Since there are so many of them, it’s a good idea to make flashcards to memorize them better and faster. 

On each card, put down the meaning of a term, an example, and maybe a fun illustration in case you need visuals to stimulate your memory. And, of course, remember that all the flashcards in the world won’t do much good unless you review them regularly. Even 15 minutes a day is better than an hour once a week. Not sure how to make DIY flashcards ? There are numerous guides online.

#8 Start or Join a Discussion Group to Ace Free-Response Questions

While multiple-choice questions account for 45% of your total score, free-response questions constitute 55% of it. The free-response section requires you to write 3 essays. That’s why you might need more preparation, especially if writing isn’t your thing. But no worries! Practice makes perfect. 

Apart from just writing, you can join a discussion group. Take part in class discussions (literature classes), or maybe start your own lit group with a few friends. How can it help? If you discuss the plot, character arcs, conflicts, etc., and share your perspectives, you will start to pick up analytical skills quickly. When you polish this skill, you might even look forward to writing those three exam essays.

#9 Get Extra Personalized Help

You may need to get a private tutor if you really struggle with some topics in the AP English Literature and Composition. When is the right time to ask for help? Well, if you have been doing everything right but still can’t grasp the concepts or many things just don’t make sense, it’s worth considering tutoring services. 

You can find an affordable option if you consider online tutoring. There are many options for cheap tutoring services for standardized exam prep. Define what you need, set your goals, and find a tutor who suits you best. Consider their qualifications and experience to be sure you are getting quality services. 

Conclusion 

The AP English Literature and Composition test day can be one of your good memories if you are ready for it. Start preparing early, read recommended books, take practice exams, and apply the AP Lit exam tips mentioned earlier. In the end, you might even find yourself excited about the actual exam. Who knows? 

Prep smarter with unlimited questions and personalized guidance, all at your command. Your digital study buddy is here to guide you to success, one practice question at a time.

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• Study Notes
• College Essays

AP English Notes

• Sample Essays
• Rhetorical Terms
• Bonus Knowledge
• Sample Thesis Statements

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

Paragraph 1

In The Box Man , by Barbara Lazear Ascher, the protagonist reveals that a life of solitude need not always be lonely. Though the Box Man lives a life of solitude as a homeless wanderer, Ascher describes his “grand design” and “grandmotherly finger licking” to convince readers that their assumptions about homeless people are unfounded – and that they can live a dignified life. By describing the Box Man as “dignified” and “at ease”, Ascher paints a vivid picture of a man who chose a life a comfort and solitude and defeated loneliness by becoming his own friend.

Paragraph 2

In Upon the Burning of Our House , Anne Bradstreet ponders her unfortunate circumstances and appreciates that it was God’s will that her house burned to the ground. Bradstreet believed that every misfortune she encountered served to remind her of God’s will – in this case, she was reminded that “All is vanity” – a Biblical allusion meaning that everything in life is futile and the only worthy goal is entry into heaven. Bradstreet’s attitude is further revealed when she says “The world no longer let me love, / My hope and treasure lies above.” Bradstreet clearly feels that worldly life is fruitless; her sole concern is God.

Paragraph 3

In The Grapes of Wrath , John Steinbeck characterize the protagonist, Tom Joad, as a morally conscious person who stands up against evil. The image of Tom’s mother “slow with weariness” sitting and scraping potatoes affects Tom very much – so much that he is willing to give his life to rebel against the people who seek to harm his family. Through the use of imagery and diction, Steinbeck reveals Tom’s noble conscious and characterizes him as a rebellious – albeit rash – young man.

Paragraph 4

In the His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman, the setting is an essential element in the development and outcome of the plot in more ways than one. The protagonist, 11-year old Lyra Belacqua, lives in the precincts of Jordan College in Oxford growing up as an orphan among the old scholars. Her cheerful existence consisted of playing on the rooftops of the college and “waging war” with the local children. This contrasts sharply with the bright and exciting future she soon experiences after she escapes from the drudgery of college life. After escaping, Lyra begins a grand adventure, journeying to the north to meet armored bears, witches, and gyptians. The initial setting is important to the development of the plot because Lyra’s future resourcefulness and quick-wittedness in difficult situations were fine-tuned during the numerous challenges she faced as a child while fighting “wars” with the other local children. In addition, by understanding Lyra’s humble background, the reader can appreciate her future accomplishments.

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More ap english sample essays.

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• 475,578 views (111 views per day)
• Posted 12 years ago

The Best AP English Language and Composition Review Books of 2024

• Post by: Professor Conquer
• Last updated on: January 24, 2024

Spread the love

Looking for the best AP English Language review books to buy for acing the exam? Look no further. In this comprehensive buyer’s guide, we review our top picks, runner ups, as well as best value to help you score a 5 on your AP English Language exam.

Though English may be your native language, passing the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition (commonly simplified to AP English Language) is not an easy task. Only 47.4% of those who took the most recent exam actually got passing grades. This is because it is an exam that requires you not to have full familiarity or even mastery of written English and how to use its rules for composition. That is the exact reason why you should review for the AP English Language and Composition exam ( we have 45 AP English Lang tips to get you started here ).

But because the subject matter tends to be broad, reviewing for the exam can also be tricky especially if you do not know the topics that will be covered. In that regard, the best AP English Language tools you can use are review books. There are plenty of review books you can use to study for the upcoming AP English Language and Composition exam. However, we have put up a list of review books we believe can best help you get the highest score possible for the exam.

If you prefer a video summary, check out the summary section of this guide. If you want to just get back to studying, get our top choice for AP English Language here .

Last update: 2024-08-30

Our Favorites (the best AP English Language review books)

The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric by Renee Shea, Lawrence Scanlon, Robin Dissin Aufses

A textbook rather than a review book, The Language of Composition  is arguably one of the most useful materials you can use. It has a versatile book that can be used as a textbook for your high school English classes and for AP English Language and Composition courses and as a review book for the AP English Language and Composition exam itself.

It was built from scratch by a group of English experts that all have a wide experience in the field of teaching the language. It is a book that was primarily written for the AP English Language and Composition course but is one that teaches you how to write, think, and compose like a college student or even a professional should. In that sense, it is a comprehensive and substantial material that gets the job done.

One of the best parts about this book is that it teaches the subject matter in a fun and interesting way. It can get you engaged and interested with the wide selection of poetry, stories, and essays that are easy to comprehend and relate to. Before you know it, you have already mastered everything you need to know in preparation not only for the upcoming AP English Language and Composition exam but also for college.

While it may be a book that targets high school students, it can be used by anyone looking to improve his/her writing. It has a way of developing you into a good and more imaginative reader and writer by giving different rhetorical strategies. It also gives you different types of perspectives of how language affects other fields in society such as gender, advertising, and even other communities.

When used as a review book , it should be read months before the exam because of how long it is. However, because it was written primarily for the AP English Language and Composition course, it covers everything you need to know to pass the exam itself. In that sense, it functions well as a primary resource.

Priced in the higher end of resources we reviewed, it is quite expensive especially considering that you will only be using it for a course or for review purposes. In that case, it might be better for you to buy a used book or to rent one instead. However, it is a book that anyone should have by their side not only for the AP English Language and Composition exam but also for other purposes such as improving your understanding and knowledge of the subject matter.

What makes it unique:

• It contains a comprehensive discussion of the course matter and was primarily built for the AP English Language and Composition course itself.
• The book dwells on how the English language affect society while also giving you a different perspective on how it is used.

Why choose this book:

• This is your weapon of choice if you have a lot of time to review for the exam.
• The book not only helps you to pass or get a high score in the exam but also trains you to think, read, and write as a college student should.
• Hardcover Book
• Shea, Renee H. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

AP English Language & Composition Crash Course by Dawn Hogue and Advanced Placement

Known for being a quick and affordable read for those looking to save both time and money, Crash Course  delivers a review that is still top-quality despite being brief. In contrast to the first book on this list, this review material offers a more targeted and focused kind of review that does not dwell much in other topics except for the ones that are on the outline of the College Board.

Covering only the things you need to know to get a high score in the AP English Language and Composition exam, Crash Course  gives you quick overview on the different topics you need to master while also helping you improve the way you write essays and answer multiple-choice questions.

It may only be a quick crash course but this top AP English Language review book also gives expert advice and tips you can use as strategies for the upcoming exam. All of these strategies have been tried and tested in the past and will surely help you perform better in your exam. The book also comes with a practice test that can be considered as challenging as the real thing.

While this book is not the complete thing, it is a great choice if it is used in conjunction with AP English Language and Composition textbooks that are a lot more comprehensive. It acts like the summary of the more in-depth course textbooks such as the first book on this list. And, for its price, AP English Language & Composition Crash Course gives you a quality fast-tracked review that is easy on your wallet.

• It has a targeted and focused subject review that helps prepare you for the AP English Language and Composition faster than any other material on the market.
• Unlike AP English Language and Composition textbooks, this material comes with strategies and tips as well as a practice exam.
• Though this book’s aim is to deliver a focused type of review, it is actually one of the more ideal review materials for the AP English Language and Composition because of how it works to make you recall your background in the subject matter.
• You won’t have to waste valuable time reading through things that probably won’t come out in the exam.

• Hogue, Dawn (Author)
• 288 Pages - 09/06/2019 (Publication Date) - Research & Education Association (Publisher)

AP English Language & Composition Prep, 2022 by The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review has always excelled at delivering review books that can certainly give you the edge. In that sense, AP English Language & Composition Prep   is the all-around book you need to get a score of 5 in your upcoming exam because of how it focuses at giving you a well-rounded review of the highest quality possible.

The book contains a comprehensive and in-depth summary and synthesis of the AP English Language and Composition topics. It also gives you a more focused review on the key concepts you need to master for the upcoming exam while also providing tips you can use to improve your English writing and composition skills. This material is also consistently updated accordingly. It contains information that fits to what the College Board prescribes on a yearly basis.

To improve the way you answer the upcoming exam, the book has sample essays that are analyzed and scored accordingly by experts in the subject matter. You can use these samples to guide how you will compose your own essays in the exam. There are also drills that test out how well you can handle multiple-choice questions.

A trademark of The Princeton Review’s books, this material comes with two full-length practice tests that are considered more challenging than the actual one to make sure you don’t get rattled when you take the AP English Language and Composition exam. The practice tests come with their own answers and detailed explanations.

Amazon reviewers consider this book as one of the top materials to use for the AP English Language and Composition exam. They say that it is easy to follow and use compared to the other books on the market. Some have even used it for their high school English courses because of how understandable and relatable it is. 

• It offers a well-rounded review that not only dwells on the topics covered but also on the strategies you may want to use for the exam.
• The full-length practice exams are more difficult than any other exam its competitors can offer.
• It is a balanced book that offers you everything you need to know for the upcoming exam without having to sacrifice quality.
• If you want an AP English Language review book that challenges you with its practice tests and questions, then this is the best choice for you.

• The Princeton Review (Author)
• 304 Pages - 08/03/2021 (Publication Date) - Princeton Review (Publisher)

Enjoying this article? Get our 137-page guide to doing well in high school here.

The Runners-Up for Best AP English Language Review Books (still good but a little lacking)

5 Steps to 5: AP English Language 2022 Elite Student Edition by Barbara Murphy, Estelle Rankin

Following the usual format of the 5 Steps to a 5 line of review books, the AP English Language and Composition version continues the culture of excellence already established by its predecessors and peers. And, with the Elite Edition , you can get extra content that promises to give you the edge in your upcoming exam.

Using the five-step plan this book offers, you are promised a systematic approach and procedure that certainly helps you get that score of 5 in the AP English Language and Composition exam so long as you diligently follow the steps to heart.

To help bolster your chances of getting a 5, the book contains an overview of the topics that will come out in the exam. There are also a lot of practice exercises you can use to gauge your skills and knowledge in writing and composition. And because not every topic is the same, the book offers tips and strategies that are specific to each section or chapter.

If there was a knock to this book, it is that it does not contain a more detailed and in-depth review of the subject matter and its topics. And, because it is a special edition of the normal book, it is more expensive than the normal edition or any of the other its other competitors on the market.

• It offers a systematic five-step plan that is certainly easy to follow and understand.
• The Elite Student Edition comes with a lot more questions and activities that are both engaging and interactive.
• Using its online platform gives you access to more practice exams and to other interesting content.
• If you want to use a more systematic procedure in your review, then this top AP English Language review book best fits you.
• This edition comes with a lot of bonus content both in the book and online.
• Murphy, Barbara L. (Author)
• 560 Pages - 08/10/2021 (Publication Date) - McGraw Hill (Publisher)

Last update: 2024-08-29

CliffsNotes AP English Language and Composition: 2021 Exam by Barbara Swovelin

Not really known for its line of AP review materials, Cliffs Notes was still able to deliver a quality book that is specifically aimed for those taking the AP English Language and Composition exam. It is not as well-known as its other competitors but it is a rather effective and quality study aid that promises to help you get as high a score as possible.

The book offers a detailed explanation and introduction to the format used by the College Board. It then helps you out by providing expert strategies you can use to tackle the different types of questions you will be encountering in the exam. It will then introduce you to an overview of the exam you will be taking and will test your skills out with four full-length practice tests.

What makes this book a runner-up on our list is that it does not contain an in-depth review of the topics that will be covered in the exam. It does cover the subject matter but not in the most comprehensive of ways. It is more like a book that gives tips and strategies rather than a true review book. Nevertheless, we still recommend it because of its high-quality strategies and practice tests.

• It dwells more on introducing to you the type of test you will be encountering and what kind of strategies you may want to take.
• It has more practice tests than most of its competitors.
• Go for this material if you want a book that focuses more on tips, strategies, and sample tests and questions.
• It contains essay topics that have come out in previous AP English Language and Composition exams. You can use those topics to guide the way you answer your exam.

• Swovelin M.A., Barbara V (Author)
• 352 Pages - 09/08/2020 (Publication Date) - CliffsNotes (Publisher)

The Best Value for Your Money (good and affordable)

AP English Language and Composition Premium, 2023-2024 by George Ehrenhaft

Not really known as an affordable line of review books, Barron's AP English Language and Composition   is actually a book that delivers value for a comparatively cheap price. Barron’s has always been known for having great materials for different AP exams. And if you add in the fact that this book is affordable, you have a great material in your hands.

This book is a well-balanced review material since it not only offers a good and complete overview of the topics that will be covered by the exam but it also offers you tips and advice for answering multiple-choice and essay questions . There are also sample essays you can use to help improve your writing.

The review book itself offers five practice exams that aren’t necessarily too difficult but are nevertheless reflective of what is to come in the AP English Language and Composition exam. You can also go online to have access to a bonus practice exam if you feel like taking on more challenges. Overall, the perks this book offers makes it more than worth its lower-end price tag.

• It helps you answer essay questions by giving organized and well-composed responses.
• The book contains sample student essays that each have their own expert critiques.
• It is more affordable than other books that are just about the same in terms of quality and substance.
• Ehrenhaft Ed. D., George (Author)
• 396 Pages - 08/02/2022 (Publication Date) - Barrons Educational Services (Publisher)

Summary of the Best AP English Language Review Books

Here’s a summary of the best AP English Language review books we went over:

For any kind of AP exam, preparation is key. In that regard, the AP English Language and Composition is no different. It focuses more on free-response questions that require you to have a mastery of the English language both in terms of its rules and in its written form. Because of that, review books really are an essential part of making sure you get the highest score possible.

Did you find this guide on the best AP English Language review books helpful? If so, share it with a friend!

Looking for more reviews of AP study guides? Check out our archives for AP World Languages , AP Math & Computer Science , AP History & Social Sciences , or our general Advanced Placement section .

Also, be sure to check out our 45 AP English Language tips and test taking strategies here .

Professor Conquer

Professor Conquer started Conquer Your Exam in 2018 to help students feel more confident and better prepared for their tough tests. Prof excelled in high school, graduating top of his class and receiving admissions into several Ivy League and top 15 schools. He has helped many students through the years tutoring and mentoring K-12, consulting seniors through the college admissions process, and writing extensive how-to guides for school.

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Articles & Advice > Test Prep > Articles

Poetry Study Guide for AP English Language & Literature

Check out our quick poetry review that can help you score high on AP English Tests, both Literature and Language.

by Faith Harron CollegeXpress Student Writer

Last Updated: Jun 7, 2024

Originally Posted: May 8, 2017

Trying to study for Advanced Placement (AP) Tests can be tedious…but if you’ve prepared and need a small refresher, or if you’re in search of a quick poetry history mixed with some review for the English Tests—both Literature and Language—here you go. Let’s begin. 

All about AP Literature

The AP Literature Test includes multiple choice and three types of essays to write. The multiple-choice section can focus on poetry or prose selections, and of the essay types, one will certainly include a poem. The grading scale for the essays ranges from 0–9.

Insider tips

According to long-time teacher of AP English Karri Landeis, the best way to score highly on the essays, particularly the prompt that asks you to analyze poetry, is to maintain focus. “Always read with a pen in hand,” Landeis says, adding that mere underlining often isn’t enough to constitute the beginnings of an essay. If the poem happens to be lengthy or difficult in content, chances are you won’t have enough time to read it multiple times for meaning or go back to a stanza and wonder what the author’s intent may have been.

Instead of simply underlining, Landeis recommends adding small notes, such as where you noticed a poetry device or how the device contributes to the meaning or perspective the prompt asks about. “It’s best to explicitly state the device,” says Landeis. While she acknowledges top essays can be written without doing so, AP readers prefer not to have to dig for your intended meaning when you write. As far as structure goes for the essay itself, a common form includes organizing the paragraphs by each poetic device. However, Landeis recommends that essays rich in complexity are born from chronological order—that is, analyzing the devices in the order they appear and building on previous paragraphs with more insight as the poem continues. 

In the essay’s conclusion, after a restatement of the thesis, Landeis maintains that the greater implications of the theme/perspective from the prompt should be addressed. “Find the one sentence that says it all, and end with that,” Landeis says, adding that doing so ties all the ends up nicely. ¨Write your last sentence like it’s the score you want to receive, because it’s the last thing [AP] readers will see.”

High school poet Zuyi Zhao has already taken both AP English courses. She’s prepared in the past for her exams by both reading and writing in quantity —a practice that has paid off in her eyes. "Analysis comes a lot more easily if you have experience on both sides of the process,” she says, although she adds that it’s important to keep an open mind about poetry as well. "You can’t analyze poetry without enjoying it,” she says.

Related:  Inside Info on AP Courses: Which Ones Should You Take?  

Both of the AP Tests often include vocabulary in the multiple-choice section, and it’s always important to know a variety of literary devices so you can explain them within any of the three essays, Landeis says. Some common terms she uses to prepare her students include:

• Types of stanzas : A stanza is a segment of the poem, often where a line break occurs, and includes a variety of line measurements. Some common line names are given below:  Lines   Name 2          Couplet 3          Tercet 4          Quatrain 5          Quintet 6          Sestet (not sextet) 8          Octave (not octet)   
• Shakespearean/Petrarchan sonnet : These two terms are used interchangeably to describe the same poem. They refer to sonnets that are (as always) 14 lines, but include three stanzas of four lines each (a quatrain) along with a usually rhymed last 2-line stanza (couplet). Landeis uses “abab cdcd efef gg” as a song to remind her students of the common form.
• Italian sonnet : The AP Test will commonly ask students to distinguish between the two. An Italian sonnet consists of a clear octave (8 lines) plus a sestet (6 lines) for the desired 14-line form. Poem identification is another topic the test on Literature often includes, Landeis says.
• Narrative poem: Tells all or part of a story. Many song lyrics (particularly those of circle songs and country music) are narrative poems.
• Lyric poem : Focuses on the individual and thoughts/feelings.
• Metaphysical poetry : Often includes and can be identifiable by its bizarre metaphors (called conceits) and complicated diction.
• Elegy : Lament for something; a poet’s ruminations on something, usually very solemn and dignified.
• Ode : Celebratory poem. Can celebrate/commemorate even the most mundane of objects.

Related: Fun SAT Vocab Prep With the Dictionary of Difficult Words

Poetic devices

Common poetic devices are relevant to both of the AP English Tests, and Landeis reminds students that each device must be identified, stated, and linked to the perspective the prompt asks you to consider. Devices include:

• Alliteration : Repeated identical consonant sounds at the beginnings of words.
• Allusion : A special type of reference to another work of literature, a symbol, an event, or a person. Allusions are commonly from well-known sources.
• Apostrophe : This occurs when a character or speaker calls out to a person (either absent or dead) or inanimate object as if it could respond.
• Caesura : Found exclusively in poetry, a pause in the middle of a line of poetry; often signified with a comma or period.
• Diction : Word choice. The diction should nearly always be preceded by a descriptive adjective signifying its purpose to the work.
• Enjambment: When a thought in poetry does not stop at the end of a line break; it merely continues on in the following line.
• Hyperbole : Deliberate and ridiculous exaggeration. Can be meant seriously or in mockery.
• Metonymy : Associating an object with another word very similar to it (e.g., referring to someone as a “Scrooge” due to their attitude).
• Parallelism : Similar grammar structure between lines or sentences in poetry or prose. Whether a phrase is repeated, or the construction of the phrase is repeated, either works.
• Rhyme and rhythm : Rhyme refers to the similarity or identical nature of sounds at the ends of lines. Rhythm is the pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables. Poetry can have either, while prose mainly concerns itself with rhythm.
• Understatement : The antonym for hyperbole, an understatement is often meant as dry humor when a character or speaker says something is insignificant when it is truly not.  

Knowing these terms should help with the AP English Tests, and remembering to include them in your essay will help you  earn a higher score . They can also assist you when writing your own poetry—after all, if you understand the devices and why an author uses them, you’re one step closer to doing so yourself.

Related:  English Grammar Cheat Sheet for Students  

Writing poetry

To Zhao, who has been writing extensively for about three years—primarily poetry—she enjoys unrhymed free verse but sometimes likes to experiment with different structures. “I don’t write nearly as often as I would like to, but I can write at least for an hour or so a week,” she says, and she would recommend that others do at least some reading and writing as well, especially to help with the AP Tests. To go about writing a poem is a rather obscure process, even to the poet, Zhao says. “Sometimes the [ideas] just come to me,” she says. “Other times, though, the ideas sort of stem from brief phrases or lines that I think of first, kind of like working backward from a poem’s title to the poem’s content.” She recommends drawing from character archetypes for inspiration if you’re interested in writing but stuck . Common history also provides ideas: poems that incorporate famous historical figures like Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, or other historical events have inspired many poets in the past and present.

Once your poem has been written, it’s time for what Zhao calls her favorite part: revision. “Even though as I’m revising, I think I hate the experience, I enjoy the process of finding a clearer and more eloquent way of conveying a sentiment within a poem,” she says. It’s an important sentiment to remember for taking either AP English exam as well: keeping an open mind and ensuring the organization in your essay remains clear and precise makes for a high-achieving score.

Related: 9 Study Tips to Help You Conquer AP Tests

There you have it—with these insider tips, you'll be ready to score high on your AP English Language and Literature Tests. Be sure to practice with this example of a full exam  from the College Board. Good luck!

Find more general AP and other test-taking tips in our Test Prep section to make sure you're never underprepared for an exam again.

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-warnings-from-democrats-about-project-2025-and-donald-trump

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

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AP English Language & Composition Quiz

Test your knowledge and study skills for the AP English Language & Composition Exam. Will you score a 5? What study tools will serve you best? Find out with our quiz!

How many essay questions comprise the “Free Response” section of the AP English Language exam?

Which of the following phrases represents a literary allusion?

The “synthesis” essay provides 6 different source texts for you to read and reference along with a writing prompt. How many sources should your synthesis essay cite?

Is there a “guessing penalty” on the multiple-choice section of the AP English Language Exam?

Vocabulary flashcards are a useful way to study for the AP English Language exam.

AP English Language Quiz: Your Score and Study Recommendations

Answer: The AP English Language exam includes 3 different prompts for 3 different styles of essay. We can help you break down each essay type!

Answer: “Cyclopean” is a reference to “cyclops”, a one-eyed giant from ancient Greek mythology. You may remember reading about a famous cyclops, Polyphemus, in Homer’s The Odyssey.

Answer: FALSE. You don’t need to memorize a lot of definitions, but you may need to choose the best definition for an unfamiliar word based on context clues. Try reading comprehension exercises.

Answer: No, there is no guessing penalty! The Princeton Review’s Process of Elimination and Letter of the Day strategies can help you boost your score, even when you’re not sure about the correct answer choice.

Answer: The synthesis writing prompt will direct you to use at least 3 of the provided sources in your essay. Using fewer than 3 sources will definitely hurt your score. Trying to use more than 3 might over-complicate your essay. The Princeton Review’s time-saving tips can help you maximize the reading period before you start writing!

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The New York Times Book Review I've I want THE 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY read to it read it 1 My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante 26 26 Atonement, by lan McEwan 2 The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson 27 Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 3 Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel 28 Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell 4 The Known World, by Edward P. Jones 29 The Last Samurai, by Helen DeWitt 5 The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen 30 Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward 6 2666, by Roberto Bolaño 31 White Teeth, by Zadie Smith 7 The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead 32 The Line of Beauty, by Alan Hollinghurst 8 Austerlitz, by W.G. Sebald 33 Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward 9 Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro 34 Citizen, by Claudia Rankine 10 Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson 35 Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel 11 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz 36 Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates 12 The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion 37 The Years, by Annie Ernaux 13 The Road, by Cormac McCarthy 38 The Savage Detectives, by Roberto Bolaño 14 Outline, by Rachel Cusk 39 A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan 15 Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee 40 H Is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald 16 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon 41 Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan 17 The Sellout, by Paul Beatty 42 A Brief History of Seven Killings, by Marlon James 18 Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders 43 Postwar, by Tony Judt 19 Say Nothing, by Patrick Radden Keefe 44 The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin 20 Erasure, by Percival Everrett 45 The Argonauts, by Maggie Nelson 21 Evicted, by Matthew Desmond 46 The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt 22 22 Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by Katherine Boo 47 A Mercy, by Toni Morrison 23 Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, by Alice Munro 48 Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi 24 The Overstory, by Richard Powers 49 The Vegetarian, by Han Kang 25 25 Random Family, by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc 50 Trust, by Hernan Diaz I've I want read to it read it

The New York Times Book Review I've I want THE 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY read to it read it 51 Life After Life, by Kate Atkinson 52 52 Train Dreams, by Denis Johnson 53 Runaway, by Alice Munro 76 77 An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones 78 Septology, by Jon Fosse Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin 54 Tenth of December, by George Saunders 55 The Looming Tower, by Lawrence Wright 56 The Flamethrowers, by Rachel Kushner 57 Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich ཤྲཱ རྒྱ སྐྱ A Manual for Cleaning Women, by Lucia Berlin The Story of the Lost Child, by Elena Ferrante Pulphead, by John Jeremiah Sullivan. Hurricane Season, by Fernanda Melchor 58 Stay True, by Hua Hsu 83 When We Cease to Understand the World, by Benjamín Labatut 59 Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides 84 The Emperor of All Maladies, by Siddhartha Mukherjee 60 Heavy, by Kiese Laymon 85 Pastoralia, by George Saunders 61 Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver 86 Frederick Douglass, by David W. Blight 62 10:04, by Ben Lerner 87 Detransition, Baby, by Torrey Peters 63 Veronica, by Mary Gaitskill 88 The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis 64 The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai 89 The Return, by Hisham Matar 65 The Plot Against America, by Philip Roth 90 The Sympathizer, by Viet Thanh Nguyen 66 We the Animals, by Justin Torres 91 The Human Stain, by Philip Roth 67 Far From the Tree, by Andrew Solomon 92 The Days of Abandonment, by Elena Ferrante 68 The Friend, by Sigrid Nunez 93 Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel 69 59 The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander 94 On Beauty, by Zadie Smith 10 70 All Aunt Hagar's Children, by Edward P. Jones 95 Bring Up the Bodies, by Hilary Mantel 71 The Copenhagen Trilogy, by Tove Ditlevsen 96 Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments, by Saidiya Hartman 72 22 Secondhand Time, by Svetlana Alexievich 97 Men We Reaped, by Jesmyn Ward 73 The Passage of Power, by Robert A. Caro 98 Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett 74 Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout 99 How to Be Both, by Ali Smith 75 15 Exit West, by Mohsin Hamid 100 Tree of Smoke, by Denis Johnson I've I want read to it read it