To complete the AP English Literature and Composition Exam, a student is given three hours. This exam consists of two sections; one section consists of multiple-choice questions and the second section is the critical essays. In Section one, students are given one hour to answer 55 multiple-choice questions. The multiple-choice questions test students' ability to read analytically prose and poetry.
Easy A
Tips on Passing The AP English Exam Multiple-Choice Section
About US
- Zara and Daniela
- 12th grade students at Information Technology High School. We are in Ms. Conn's AP English class and we are blogging a study guide for the AP Exam on May 5th, 2011.
Here's what to expect!
- There will definitely be multiple-choice questions on the contextual analysis. These types of questions are testing the reader to see if they actually understood the embodied work as a whole.
- Some questions ask for the authors purpose and the evidence. You must remember to concentrate on Structure and Rhetorical, Diction, and Themes during these types of questions.
- Figurative Language will be included in multiple-choice questions. The question will ask you why these were included and why they are important to the work and the best interpretation of it.
- Pay attention to the fancy grammar. In the AP, at times you will come across words that you might have never seen or heard of before but don't let that scare you. Look at context clues to help you figure out a definition if that happens.
Types of Questions
Pay close attention to:
- Similes & Metaphors: Comparisons are used the passage to show the importance it has on the story and how it contributes to the story as a whole.
- Theme: What was the author’s purpose of writing the story? What is he trying to get across to the reader?
- Straightforward questions/basic definitions
- Roman Numerals: These questions are time consuming, and they make you go back to the reading for textual support. This will ask you to accommodate all choices and pick the best answer.
- “All. . . except” questions are problematic and you have to consider every possibility. If you are unsure go back to the text.
- Inference: What can you infer from the text? Stick to the theme of the passage and what you already know. Most of the time they will give you the lines from the passage and you can refer back.
Strategies to Remember!
- As you’re reading the passages UNDERLINE and CIRCLE important details.
- Pay close to attention to the: title, dates, and places.
- Remember to use POE.
- Eliminate the answers you know are wrong.
- Don’t be afraid to go back to the passage.
- Get rid off answers that are synonymous
- As you read focus on the structure, style, figurative language, symbolism, imagery, tone and theme.
- Don’t understand the question? Try rephrasing it.
- When they infer you to a particular section, read before and after the text.
What to do if time is running out? HELP
- Avoid roman numeral questions, they take up too much time so guess and move on
- Scan the questions and look for questions that direct you to specific lines
- Look for questions that relate to literary elements “ Line 10 is an example of: C symbolism”