The AP English Literature and Composition Exam An introduction to the test

About the Exam The three-hour exam usually consists of a one-hour multiple-choice section and a two-hour free-response section. Section I: Multiple-Choice The multiple-choice section tests your critical reading skills. You'll read several passages and answer 50-60 questions about the content, form, and style of each. You will read two or three prose fiction passages and two or three poems. Total scores on the multiple-choice section are based on the number of questions answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers and no points are awarded for unanswered questions.

Section II: Free-Response In this section you'll write three essays, one on a given poem, one on a passage of prose fiction—each analyzing how form and content relate to the meaning—and a third essay on your choice of a novel or play. You must show your ability to analyze and interpret literary texts in clear and effective prose.

Scoring the Exam The multiple-choice section counts for 45% of your grade. The free-response section contributes the remaining 55% Your score on the exam is reported on a scale of 1-5. In general, the numbers are interpreted to mean: 5= extremely well qualified 4= well qualified 3= qualified 2= possibly qualified 1= not recommended for AP credit

What you’ll need to do… On the exam you’ll be asked to analyze a number of poems and prose passages by considering, among other things, their structure, style, and dominant themes. You may also be asked to recognize and discuss such elements as figurative language, point of view, and tone.

What you’ll need to do… You will also need to be familiar with several novels and plays by established authors, as you will have to choose a famous work and write an analysis, taking into account such matters as meaning, form, structure, or the extent to which the work reflects the values of the time in which it was written.