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ap lang essays cheat sheet

Ultimate Guide to the AP English Language and Composition Exam

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The AP Language and Composition exam is one of the most popular exams taken year after year. In fact, in 2019, over 10% of the more than five million students who took AP exams took the Language and Composition test. AP Lang is most often taken by high school juniors, many of whom go on to take the AP English Literature exam their senior year. Plenty of seniors and even sophomores take this test too though, contributing to its popularity. If you’re planning to take the AP Language and Composition exam, whether you have taken the class or self-studied, look no further. Here’s our complete guide to the AP Lang exam, full of expert tips and free study resources.

When is the AP Language and Composition Exam?

On Wednesday, May 6, at 8 am, the College Board will hold the 2020 AP Language and Composition exam. For a comprehensive listing of all the AP exam times and AP score distributions from 2019, check out our post 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know .    

About the AP Language and Composition Exam

The AP Language and Composition exam is based primarily on the study of rhetoric, wherein an author attempts to persuade, inform, or motivate an audience using established techniques. The College Board encourages students who are interested in studying and writing various kinds of analytic or persuasive essays on nonliterary topics to take this course. It tests students on their reading comprehension, rhetorical analysis, synthesis of information, and written argumentation.

Big Ideas: The AP Language and Composition exam is built on a foundation of four big ideas. Big ideas are threads that run throughout the AP Language and Composition course that are vital for making connections and developing a deeper understanding of concepts found within it. The four big ideas are: 

  • Rhetorical Situation: Understanding what an author is communicating, how they convey that message, and what the impact of their rhetorical strategies are.
  • Claims and Evidence: Making claims and justifying them, while acknowledging or responding to opposing arguments. 
  • Reasoning and Organization: Guiding a reader’s understanding of text through its organization and the development of its argument. 
  • Style: The stylistic choices writers make and their impact. 

Course Skills: Along with exploring and connecting concepts with big ideas, students will develop eight course skills—four sets of two paired reading and writing skills—necessary for analyzing and composing arguments. The course skills and the weight they’re given on the multiple-choice section of the AP Language and Composition exam are: 

  About the AP Language and Composition Exam Content

The Language and Composition exam is one of the longer AP exams, clocking in at 3 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish. The Language and Composition exam is structured in two sections—one featuring multiple-choice, the other free-response questions. 

Section 1: Multiple Choice 

1 hour | 45 questions | 45% of score

There have been some changes to the AP Language and Composition Exam for 2020. The first section remains one hour long and is still worth 45% of your score, but the number of questions has shrunk from 52-55 to 45. The variance in types of questions asked is also now more clearly defined—questions are now presented in 5 sets with 23-25 reading questions (reading and analyzing nonfiction texts) and 20-22 writing questions (“read like a writer” and consider revisions to stimulus texts), both of which will use shorter stimuli than previous exams. Below is the structure of the multiple-choice section of the AP Language and Composition exam. 

Sample of a multiple-choice reading question: 

ap lang sample questions

Sample multiple-choice writing question: 

ap lang sample question

Section 2: Free Response

2 hour 15 minutes | 3 questions | 55% of score

The second section takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete and consists of 3 free response questions worth 55% of your score. These prompts are each of a different type: one synthesis question, one passage analysis, and one argumentative essay.

Synthesis Question: The synthesis question asks students to consider a scenario and then formulate a response to a specific element of it using at least three accompanying sources for support. Sources used in the essay need to be cited to be considered legitimate.  

Sample synthesis free response question: 

ap lang sample question

Analysis Question: The analysis question asks students to read a short passage and analyze and discuss various devices used by the author, such as strategies, argumentative techniques, or motivations. 

Sample analysis free response question: 

ap lang sample question

Argument Question: The argument question gives a position in the form of an assertion from a documented source and asks students to form their own argument to defend, challenge, or qualify it using supporting evidence. 

Sample argument free response question: 

ap lang sample question

The format of the free response section is unchanged this year; however, the scoring has shifted from a holistic rubric to an analytic rubric. The new rubric hasn’t been released, but you can gain insight into what type of answers the College Board is looking for by reading the sample free response questions found in the AP Language and Composition Course and Exam Description . 

AP Language and Composition Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate

In 2019, 54.3% of the students who took the AP English Language and Composition exam received a score of 3 or higher. Only 9.9% of students who took the exam achieved the top score of 5, and 14.5% of students who took the exam scored a 1. That said, students take the course seriously and prepare diligently will often find that the test is not as difficult as the results indicate.

 If you’re curious about other score distributions, see our post Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .

ap lang essays cheat sheet

Best Ways to Study for the AP Language and Composition Exam

Step 1: assess your skills.

Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge. Though the College Board AP Language and Composition website provides a number of sample test questions, it does not provide a complete sample test. You can find a practice test in many of the official study guides, and some even include a diagnostic test to act as your initial assessment. Varsity Tutors offers a handful of free AP Language and Composition diagnostic tests on its website. You’ll also find a free practice exam from College Countdown to use for your assessment. 

Once you have taken some kind of formative assessment, score it to identify your areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. It can be helpful to have a teacher or friend score your free-response essays, as these are a bit more subjective than the multiple-choice section. With an accurate formative assessment, you’ll have a better idea of where to focus your studying efforts.

Step 2: Know Your Material

In the case of AP English Language and Composition, this means focusing on your reading and writing skills.

When reading, make sure to preview important elements such as the title, author’s name, and any other information available like the table of contents or introduction. As you read, make sure to stop periodically to consider the main ideas and the way the author supports them. Underline important evidence as you go. Reread complex or important sentences.      

One consultant to the College Board writes about the “SOAPSTone” approach to reading, which is an acronym for a series of questions that students should ask themselves when analyzing a 

piece of prose. The questions are:

  • Who is the Speaker?
  • What is the Occasion?
  • Who is the Audience?
  • What is the Purpose?
  • What is the Subject?
  • What is the Tone?

For more about using this technique, read about it on the College Board website .

Writing high-quality free-response essays takes practice and time. Make sure to organize your ideas using a rough outline before you begin writing. Use direct evidence from the text to support your ideas, and quote judiciously with correct citations. As you’re writing, be aware of rhetorical elements and use them effectively.

For more specific information about the test, consider using a formal study guide, such as Barron’s AP English Language and Composition, 7th Edition or the Princeton Review’s Cracking the AP English Language & Composition Exam 2020, Premium Edition . 

Alternatively, there are many online study resources available. Some AP teachers have even published their own study guides or review sheets online, like this AP Lang guide by Mrs. Smith at Pinnacle High School.

Another way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. These are a great way to get practice questions in while on-the-go. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one, as their quality varies widely. This AP Lang app by Varsity Tutors has decent reviews, and might be worth checking out.

Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. Here are some AP Lang practice questions and tests , and more are available in the College Board’s course description .

Try to keep track of which areas are still tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Keep in mind, the key to answering questions correctly is understanding the passage, so practice active reading skills as you tackle the multiple-choice questions. This includes underlining, mouthing words, and circling key points. Remember, the answer will always be found in the text.

Step 4: Practice Free-Response Essays

As indicated on your exam, it is recommended that you spend 15 minutes reading the question, analyzing, and evaluating the sources, and 40 minutes writing your response. Try to stick to this timeline when practicing your free-response essays to see if it works for you. You do not have to follow it on exam day, but having a good idea of how much time it typically takes for you to plan and write will be an advantage.

As you tackle your open responses, identify what each is asking you to do. When asked to synthesize, you know you will be taking pieces of evidence from multiple sources to form a single argument. Use specific examples and make them stand out by explicitly stating, “For example…” or “As Source C indicates in paragraph 3…” Also, be sure to cite your sources appropriately while writing.

When writing an analysis of rhetorical strategies used, first consider the elements of SOAPSTone as discussed above. Also consider the five canons of rhetoric . This means thinking about the author’s invention, arrangement, and style. Memory and delivery are obviously less apparent in written pieces, but their roles in a speech are still important. As you read, try to underline specific places that highlight relevant examples.   

Finally, when writing your own persuasive argument, support your ideas with concrete examples from current events, literature, etc. Try to vary your sources to build credibility and address counterpoints to craft an even stronger response.

As you prepare for the writing portion of your exam, be sure to review how your free responses will be scored. The College Board supplies free response questions and authentic scored student responses with written explanations dating back to 1999; these are an invaluable tool for this exercise.

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

Take another practice test to evaluate the progression of your knowledge, as well as identify persistent areas of weakness. Study.com offers a free online practice AP Language and Composition exam . Over time, you should begin to notice areas in which your studying should be increased and those which you are strong in. Repeat the above steps if time permits to incrementally increase your score. 

Step 6: Exam Day Specifics

If you’re taking the AP course associated with this exam, your teacher will walk you through how to register. If you’re self-studying, check out our blog post How to Self-Register for AP Exams .

For information about what to bring to the exam, see our post What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Home)?

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

For more guidance about the AP exams, check out these other informative articles: 

2020 AP Exam Schedule

How Long is Each AP Exam?

Easiest and Hardest AP Exams

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Advanced Placement (AP)

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If you're planning to take the AP English Literature and Composition exam, you'll need to get familiar with what to expect on the test. Whether the 2023 test date of Wednesday, May 3, is near or far, I'm here to help you get serious about preparing for the exam.

In this guide, I'll go over the test's format and question types, how it's graded, best practices for preparation, and test-day tips. You'll be on your way to AP English Lit success in no time!

AP English Literature: Exam Format and Question Types

The AP Literature Exam is a three-hour exam that contains two sections in this order:

  • An hour-long, 55-question multiple-choice section
  • A two-hour, three-question free-response section

The exam tests your ability to analyze works and excerpts of literature and cogently communicate that analysis in essay form.

Read on for a breakdown of the two different sections and their question types.

Section I: Multiple Choice

The multiple-choice section, or Section I of the AP Literature exam, is 60 minutes long and has 55 questions. It counts for 45% of your overall exam grade .

You can expect to see five excerpts of prose and poetry. You will always get at least two prose passages (fiction or drama) and two poetry passages. In general, you will not be given the author, date, or title for these works, though occasionally the title of a poem will be given. Unusual words are also sometimes defined for you.

The date ranges of these works could fall from the 16th to the 21st century. Most works will be originally written in English, but you might occasionally see a passage in translation.

There are, generally speaking, eight kinds of questions you can expect to see on the AP English Literature and Composition exam. I'll break each of them down here and give you tips on how to identify and approach them.

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"Pretty flowers carried by ladies" is not one of the question types.

The 8 Multiple-Choice Question Types on the AP Literature Exam

Without further delay, here are the eight question types you can expect to see on the AP Lit exam. All questions are taken from the sample questions on the AP Course and Exam Description .

#1: Reading Comprehension

These questions test your ability to understand what the passage is saying on a pretty basic level . They don't require you to do a lot of interpretation—you just need to know what's going on.

You can identify this question type from words and phrases such as "according to," "mentioned," "asserting," and so on. You'll succeed on these questions as long as you carefully read the text . Note that you might have to go back and reread parts to make sure you understand what the passage is saying.

1Comprehension.png

#2: Inference

These questions ask you to infer something—a character or narrator's opinion, an author's intention, etc.—based on what is said in the passage . It will be something that isn't stated directly or concretely but that you can assume based on what's clearly written in the passage. You can identify these questions from words such as "infer" and "imply."

The key to these questions is to not get tripped up by the fact that you are making an inference—there will be a best answer, and it will be the choice that is best supported by what is actually found in the passage .

In many ways, inference questions are like second-level reading comprehension questions: you need to know not just what a passage says, but also what it means.

2inference.png

#3: Identifying and Interpreting Figurative Language

These are questions for which you have to either identify what word or phrase is figurative language or provide the meaning of a figurative phrase . You can identify these as they will either explicitly mention figurative language (or a figurative device, such as a simile or metaphor ) or include a figurative phrase in the question itself.

The meaning of figurative phrases can normally be determined by that phrase's context in the passage—what is said around it? What is the phrase referring to?

Example 1: Identifying

3Identifying_Figurative_Language.png

Example 2: Interpreting

4Interpret_figurative_language.png

#4: Literary Technique

These questions involve identifying why an author does what they do , from using a particular phrase to repeating certain words. Basically, what techniques is the author using to construct the passage/poem, and to what effect?

You can identify these questions by words/phrases such as "serves chiefly to," "effect," "evoke," and "in order to." A good way to approach these questions is to ask yourself: so what? Why did the author use these particular words or this particular structure?

5literary_technique.png

#5: Character Analysis

These questions ask you to describe something about a character . You can spot them because they will refer directly to characters' attitudes, opinions, beliefs, or relationships with other characters .

This is, in many ways, a special kind of inference question , since you are inferring the broader personality of the character based on the evidence in a passage. Also, these crop up much more commonly for prose passages than they do for poetry ones.

6character_analysis.png

#6: Overall Passage Questions

Some questions ask you to identify or describe something about the passage or poem as a whole : its purpose, tone, genre, etc. You can identify these by phrases such as "in the passage" and "as a whole."

To answer these questions, you need to think about the excerpt with a bird's-eye view . What is the overall picture created by all the tiny details?

7Overall_Passage.png

#7: Structure

Some AP Lit questions will ask you about specific structural elements of the passage: a shift in tone, a digression, the specific form of a poem, etc . Often these questions will specify a part of the passage/poem and ask you to identify what that part is accomplishing.

Being able to identify and understand the significance of any shifts —structural, tonal, in genre, and so on—will be of key importance for these questions.

7.1Structure.png

#8: Grammar/Nuts & Bolts

Very occasionally you will be asked a specific grammar question , such as what word an adjective is modifying. I'd also include in this category super-specific questions such as those that ask about the meter of a poem (e.g., iambic pentameter).

These questions are less about literary artistry and more about the fairly dry technique involved in having a fluent command of the English language .

8Nuts_and_Bolts.png

That covers the eight question types on the multiple-choice section. Now, let's take a look at the free-response section of the AP Literature exam.

bolts-150617_640.png

Keep track of the nuts and bolts of grammar.

Section II: Free Response

The AP Literature Free Response section is two hours long and involves three free-response essay questions , so you'll have about 40 minutes per essay. That's not a lot of time considering this section of the test counts for 55% of your overall exam grade !

Note, though, that no one will prompt you to move from essay to essay, so you can theoretically divide up the time however you want. Just be sure to leave enough time for each essay! Skipping an essay, or running out of time so you have to rush through one, can really impact your final test score.

The first two essays are literary analysis essays of specific passages, with one poem and one prose excerpt. The final essay is an analysis of a given theme in a work selected by you , the student.

Essays 1 & 2: Literary Passage Analysis

For the first two essays, you'll be presented with an excerpt and directed to analyze the excerpt for a given theme, device, or development . One of the passages will be poetry, and one will be prose. You will be provided with the author of the work, the approximate date, and some orienting information (i.e., the plot context of an excerpt from a novel).

Below are some sample questions from the 2022 Free Response Questions .

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Essay 3: Thematic Analysis

For the third and final essay, you'll be asked to discuss a particular theme in a work that you select . You will be provided with a list of notable works that address the given theme below the prompt, but you can also choose to discuss any "work of literary merit."

So while you do have the power to choose which work you wish to write an essay about , the key words here are "literary merit." That means no genre fiction! Stick to safe bets like authors in the list on pages 10-11 of the old 2014 AP Lit Course Description .

(I know, I know—lots of genre fiction works do have literary merit and Shakespeare actually began as low culture, and so on and so forth. Indeed, you might find academic designations of "literary merit" elitist and problematic, but the time to rage against the literary establishment is not your AP Lit test! Save it for a really, really good college admissions essay instead .)

Here's a sample question from 2022:

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As you can see, the list of works provided spans many time periods and countries : there are ancient Greek plays ( Antigone ), modern literary works (such as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale ), Shakespeare plays ( The Tempest ), 19th-century English plays ( The Importance of Being Earnest ), etc. So you have a lot to work with!

Also note that you can choose a work of "comparable literary merit." That means you can select a work not on this list as long as it's as difficult and meaningful as the example titles you've been given. So for example, Jane Eyre or East of Eden would be great choices, but Twilight or The Hunger Games would not.

Our advice? If you're not sure what a work of "comparable literary merit" is, stick to the titles on the provided list .

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You might even see something by this guy.

How Is the AP Literature Test Graded?

The multiple-choice section of the exam comprises 45% of your total exam score; the three essays, or free-response section, comprise the other 55%. Each essay, then, is worth about 18% of your grade.

As on other AP exams, your raw score will be converted to a score from 1-5 . You don't have to get every point possible to get a 5 by any means. In 2022, 16.9% of students received 5s on the AP English Literature test, the 14th highest 5 score out of the 38 different AP exams.

So, how do you calculate your raw scores?

Multiple-Choice Scoring

For the multiple-choice section, you receive 1 point for each question you answer correctly . There's no guessing penalty, so you should answer every question—but guess only after you're able to eliminate any answer you know is wrong to up your chances of choosing the right one.

Free-Response Scoring

Scoring for multiple choice is pretty straightforward; however, essay scoring is a little more complicated.

Each of your essays will receive a score from 0 to 6 based on the College Board rubric , which also includes question-specific rubrics. All the rubrics are very similar, with only minor differences between them.

Each essay rubric has three elements you'll be graded on:

  • Thesis (0-1 points)
  • Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)
  • Sophistication (0-1 points)

We'll be looking at the current rubric for the AP Lit exam , which was released in September 2019, and what every score means for each of the three elements above:

To get a high-scoring essay in the 5-6 point range, you'll need to not only come up with an original and intriguing argument that you thoroughly support with textual evidence, but you’ll also need to stay focused, organized, and clear. And all in just 40 minutes per essay!

If getting a high score on this section sounds like a tall order, that's because it is.

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Practice makes perfect!

Skill-Building for Success on the AP Literature Exam

There are several things you can do to hone your skills and best prepare for the AP Lit exam.

Read Some Books, Maybe More Than Once

One of the most important steps you can take to prepare for the AP Literature and Composition exam is to read a lot and read well . You'll be reading a wide variety of notable literary works in your AP English Literature course, but additional reading will help you further develop your analytical reading skills .

I suggest checking out this list of notable authors in the 2014 AP Lit Course Description (pages 10-11).

In addition to reading broadly, you'll want to become especially familiar with the details of four to five books with different themes so you'll be prepared to write a strong student-choice essay. You should know the plot, themes, characters, and structural details of these books inside and out.

See my AP English Literature Reading List for more guidance.

Read (and Interpret) Poetry

One thing students might not do very much on their own time but that will help a lot with AP Lit exam prep is to read poetry. Try to read poems from a lot of eras and authors to get familiar with the language.

We know that poetry can be intimidating. That's why we've put together a bunch of guides to help you crack the poetry code (so to speak). You can learn more about poetic devices —like imagery and i ambic pentameter —in our comprehensive guide. Then you can see those analytical skills in action in our expert analysis of " Do not go gentle into that good night " by Dylan Thomas.

When you think you have a grip on basic comprehension, you can then move on to close reading (see below).

Hone Your Close Reading and Analysis Skills

Your AP class will likely focus heavily on close reading and analysis of prose and poetry, but extra practice won't hurt you. Close reading is the ability to identify which techniques the author is using and why. You'll need to be able to do this both to gather evidence for original arguments on the free-response questions and to answer analytical multiple-choice questions.

Here are some helpful close reading resources for prose :

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center's guide to close reading
  • Harvard College Writing Center's close reading guide
  • Purdue OWL's article on steering clear of close reading "pitfalls"

And here are some for poetry :

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison's poetry-reading guide
  • This guide to reading poetry at Poets.org (complete with two poetry close readings)
  • Our own expert analyses of famous poems, such as " Ozymandias ", and the 10 famous sonnets you should know

Learn Literary and Poetic Devices

You'll want to be familiar with literary terms so that any test questions that ask about them will make sense to you. Again, you'll probably learn most of these in class, but it doesn't hurt to brush up on them.

Here are some comprehensive lists of literary terms with definitions :

  • The 31 Literary Devices You Must Know
  • The 20 Poetic Devices You Must Know
  • The 9 Literary Elements You'll Find In Every Story
  • What Is Imagery?
  • Understanding Assonance
  • What Is Iambic Pentameter in Poetry?
  • Simile vs Metaphor: The 1 Big Difference
  • 10 Personification Examples in Poetry, Literature, and More

Practice Writing Essays

The majority of your grade on the AP English Lit exam comes from essays, so it's critical that you practice your timed essay-writing skills . You of course should use the College Board's released free-response questions to practice writing complete timed essays of each type, but you can also practice quickly outlining thorough essays that are well supported with textual evidence.

Take Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is a great way to prepare for the exam. It will help you get familiar with the exam format and overall experience . You can get sample questions from the Course and Exam Description , the College Board website , and our guide to AP English Lit practice test resources .

Be aware that the released exams don't have complete slates of free-response questions, so you might need to supplement these with released free-response questions .

Since there are three complete released exams, you can take one toward the beginning of your prep time to get familiar with the exam and set a benchmark, and one toward the end to make sure the experience is fresh in your mind and to check your progress.

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Don't wander like a lonely cloud through your AP Lit prep.

AP Literature: 6 Critical Test-Day Tips

Before we wrap up, here are my six top tips for AP Lit test day:

  • #1: On the multiple-choice section, it's to your advantage to answer every question. If you eliminate all the answers you know are wrong before guessing, you'll raise your chances of guessing the correct one.
  • #2: Don't rely on your memory of the passage when answering multiple-choice questions (or when writing essays, for that matter). Look back at the passage!
  • #3: Interact with the text : circle, mark, underline, make notes—whatever floats your boat. This will help you retain information and actively engage with the passage.
  • #4: This was mentioned above, but it's critical that you know four to five books well for the student-choice essay . You'll want to know all the characters, the plot, the themes, and any major devices or motifs the author uses throughout.
  • #5: Be sure to plan out your essays! Organization and focus are critical for high-scoring AP Literature essays. An outline will take you a few minutes, but it will help your writing process go much faster.
  • #6: Manage your time on essays closely. One strategy is to start with the essay you think will be the easiest to write. This way you'll be able to get through it while thinking about the other two essays.

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And don't forget to eat breakfast! Apron optional.

AP Literature Exam: Key Takeaways

The AP Literature exam is a three-hour test that includes an hour-long multiple-choice section based on five prose and poetry passages and with 55 questions, and a two-hour free-response section with three essays : one analyzing a poetry passage, one analyzing a prose passage, and one analyzing a work chosen by you, the student.

The multiple-choice section is worth 45% of your total score , and the free-response section is worth 55% . The three essays are each scored on a rubric of 0-6, and raw scores are converted to a final scaled score from 1 to 5.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the exam:

  • Read books and be particularly familiar with four to five works for the student-choice essays
  • Read poetry
  • Work on your close reading and analysis skills
  • Learn common literary devices
  • Practice writing essays
  • Take practice tests!

On test day, be sure to really look closely at all the passages and really interact with them by marking the text in a way that makes sense to you. This will help on both multiple-choice questions and the free-response essays. You should also outline your essays before you write them.

With all this in mind, you're well on your way to AP Lit success!

What's Next?

If you're taking other AP exams this year, you might be interested in our other AP resources: from the Ultimate Guide to the US History Exam , to the Ultimate AP Chemistry Study Guide , to the Best AP Psychology Study Guide , we have tons of articles on AP courses and exams for you !

Looking for practice exams? Here are some tips on how to find the best AP practice tests . We've also got comprehensive lists of practice tests for AP Psychology , AP Biology , AP Chemistry , and AP US History .

Deciding which APs to take? Take a look through the complete list of AP courses and tests , read our analysis of which AP classes are the hardest and easiest , and learn how many AP classes you should take .

Want to build the best possible college application?   We can help.   PrepScholar Admissions combines world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've guided thousands of students to get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit and are driven to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in:

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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AP Language Synthesis and Argumentative Essay Cheat Sheet

ap lang essays cheat sheet

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Help your students breeze through the argumentative and synthesis essay fast with this cheat sheet. Guaranteed to increase understanding and proficiency

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Last Minute AP Cheat Sheets and Formula Charts

5 min read • february 18, 2021

📣Attention! The cram charts and formula review sheets below are out of date and from 2020, when the exams we abbreviated with fewer units. We decided to leave this post up in case you want to check them out, but we have updated everything with FRESH cheat sheets available for the 2021 AP exam season .

Alright, it's that time of year. AP exam weeks are here! Are you feeling pretty good or are you in total panic mode? Are you looking for AP Exam cheat sheets?

This year, the exams are totally different because of COVID-19. You'll have online exams with only FRQs (no multiple choice) and just 45 minutes to take it. The content on each exam has been cut down since schools are closed and the College Board has published a ton of information about how this year's test will work. See the College Board updates

But in some ways, this year is no different. You have one shot to take an exam that can earn you college credit. You'll need to know a massive amount of content and be ready to write very specific types of essays. That means it's craaaaaaaaam time! OK, let's get to the downloadable cheat sheets already!

There is no cheating involved in these primo 1-pagers. We've put together a series of cram charts for each subject so you can see the entire course on one page. They are in order of when the exams are happening! Hope these help with review!

Learn about the 2020 exam schedule and get your frequently asked questions answered in our Guide to the 2020 Exam Updates .

AP US Government

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Gov Review on Sunday, May 10 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-gov

🏛 #APGOV cram chart brought to you by the @thinkfiveable streamers! 😲😲 #thinkfiveable Join the cram finale: https://t.co/MX7bS65KtU pic.twitter.com/oIpO8dfFUZ — Fiveable 🏅 (@thinkfiveable) May 10, 2020

AP Human Geography

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP HuG Review on Monday, May 11 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-hug

🚜Preparing for the 2020 #APHuG exam? #TeamFiveable put together some dope last-minute resources for you, including a cram overview chart! 👉🏽 https://t.co/vhUD6TVXQe #aphug #apexams #thinkfiveable #fiveable pic.twitter.com/UWxnYq5JaQ — Fiveable 🏅 (@thinkfiveable) May 10, 2020

AP Calculus

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Calculus Review on Monday, May 11 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-calc

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1260054957396504577

AP European History

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Euro Review on Tuesday, May 13 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-euro

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1259675252994473985

AP English Literature

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Lit Review on Tuesday, May 13 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-lit

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1260023408701526016

AP Chemistry

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Chem Review on Wednesday, May 13 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-chem

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1259680766629498883

AP Physics 1

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Physics 1 Review on Wednesday, May 13 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-physics

🎡 Physics makes our heads spin. Thankfully, we have some dedicated Physics 1 students and teachers who are able to grasp things way better than us and prepped some 🔥 resources for ya. Download HD 👉🏾 https://t.co/S36JGw2tAV #apphysics #apexams #thinkfiveable #fiveable pic.twitter.com/HTROlXE7gQ — Fiveable 🏅 (@thinkfiveable) May 11, 2020

AP US History

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of APUSH Review on Thursday, May 14 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/apush

#APUSHers , where you at? Everything you need to know for the 2020 AP US History exam, condensed into one chart. Pair with other Fiveable resources and practice prompts for best results 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 Download HD 👉🏻 https://t.co/GN7gZlFiiX #apush #teamfiveable #fiveable pic.twitter.com/Yro2hAts28 — Fiveable 🏅 (@thinkfiveable) May 11, 2020

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Bio Review on Sunday, May 17 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-bio

🧬Preparing for the 2020 #APBioexam ? #TeamFiveable put together some dope last-minute resources for you, including a cram overview chart!  Download HD 👉🏻 https://t.co/p3ZX03n5Ku #apbio #apexams #thinkfiveable #fiveable pic.twitter.com/PICiUoCm1G — Fiveable 🏅 (@thinkfiveable) May 11, 2020

AP Environmental Science

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of APES Review on Sunday, May 18 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/apes

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1261417248494948354

AP Psychology

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Psych Review on Monday, May 18 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-psych

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1261498209572204549

AP English Language

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Lang Review on Tuesday, May 19 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-lang

✍️🏿Preparing for the 2020 #APLang exam? #TeamFiveable put together some dope last-minute resources for you, including a cram overview chart on Rhetorical Analysis!  Download HD👉🏿 https://t.co/V5a7OrU8LQ #aplang #apexams #thinkfiveable #fiveable pic.twitter.com/GD0n1oBYYe — Fiveable 🏅 (@thinkfiveable) May 11, 2020

AP Microeconomics

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Micro Review on Tuesday, May 19 from 4-9p ET (replay included)

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1260034275576963086

AP World History: Modern

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP World Review on Wednesday, May 20 from 4-9p ET (replay included) 👉 Study Guides, Videos, and Review slides : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-world

https://twitter.com/thinkfiveable/status/1260757271845404672

AP Macroeconomics

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Macro Review on Wednesday, May 20 from 5-10p ET (replay included)

👉 Cheat Sheet / Formula Sheet :  Fiveable Macro Cram Chart 2020

👉 AP Macro Tips + Graphs to Know in Units 1-5 : Five Steps to Successful Studying for AP Macro

AP Statistics

🌶 Cram Finale:   5-hours of AP Stats Review on Thursday, May 21 from 5-10p ET (replay included)

👉 Videos, Trivia and Unit Reviews : http://app.fiveable.me/ap-stats

👉 Cheat Sheet / Formula Sheet :  Fiveable AP Stats Cram Chart 2020

👉 All AP Stats past prompts for FRQ: Free Response Questions List

👉 Updated 2020 Study Guide:  AP Statistics New Format Study Guide

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IMAGES

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  1. Download AP Lang Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart

    1 synthesis essay. 1 rhetorical analysis essay . 1 argument essay . 55% of your score. Note that the exam format is the same whether you take it on paper or digitally. AP English Lang Cheat Sheet PDF & Review Chart. This free, downloadable cram chart covers everything you need to know for the exam, including helpful strategies and tips! Happy ...

  2. AP Lang Exam Guide

    Format of the 2024 AP English Language and Composition exam. This year, all AP exams will cover all units and essay types. The 2024 AP English Language and Composition exam format will be: Section I: Multiple Choice - 45% of your score. 45 questions in 1 hour. Section II: Free Response Section - 55% of your score. 2 hours and 15 minutes for:

  3. AP English Language

    2024 AP English Language exam study guides, practice quizzes, live reviews, ... We'll also give you useful tips and tricks for writing strong essays and answering MCQs with speed and accuracy. ... Download AP English Language Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart. 1 min read. 🌶️ AP Lang Cram Review: Test Overview and Rhetorical ASPECTS ...

  4. AP English Language and Composition Past Exam Questions

    Download free-response questions from past exams along with scoring guidelines, sample responses from exam takers, and scoring distributions. If you are using assistive technology and need help accessing these PDFs in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected]. Note ...

  5. How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay + Examples

    2. Pick one side of the argument, but acknowledge the other side. When you write the essay, it's best if you pick one side of the debate and stick with it for the entire essay. All your evidence should be in support of that one side. However, in your introductory paragraph, as you introduce the debate, be sure to mention any merit the ...

  6. Ultimate Guide to the AP English Language and Composition Exam

    AP Language and Composition Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate. In 2019, 54.3% of the students who took the AP English Language and Composition exam received a score of 3 or higher. Only 9.9% of students who took the exam achieved the top score of 5, and 14.5% of students who took the exam scored a 1.

  7. PDF AP English Language and Composition

    AP® English Language and Composition 2022 Scoring Guidelines . Synthesis Essay 6 points . Since the early 2000s, the United States government and a number of corporations have sponsored initiatives to improve education in the STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

  8. AP English Language and Composition

    Section II: Free Response. 3 Questions | 2 hours 15 minutes (includes a 15-minute reading period | 55% of Exam Score. Students write essays that respond to 3 free-response prompts from the following categories: Synthesis Question: After reading 6-7 texts about a topic (including visual and quantitative sources), students will compose an ...

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    -15 minutes to read synthesis essay sources and plan essay -Two hours for three essay questions, includes rhetorical analysis and argument - Counts as 55% of the final score Multiple Choice Questions Remember Plan time carefully. You have one hour for about 54 questions or about 1 question a minute. Survey the whole multiple choice section.

  10. PDF AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

    6 - Adequate. Essays earning a score of 6 adequately argue a position on whether a school should establish, maintain, revise, or eliminate an honor code or honor system. They develop their argument by adequately synthesizing at least three of the sources. The evidence and explanations used are appropriate and sufficient.

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    in front of you the multiple-choice booklet and your answer sheet. You may never discuss the multiple-choice exam content at any time in any form with anyone, including your teacher and other students. If you disclose the multiple-choice exam content through any means, your AP Exam score will be canceled. Open your answer sheet to page 2.

  12. 2021 AP Lang Review Sessions, Practice & Study Guides

    Fiveable is best place to study for your AP® exams. Free AP English Language study guides for AP Cram Sessions 2021. ... Download AP English Language Cheat Sheet PDF Cram Chart. 1 min read. 🌶️ AP Lang Cram Review: Test Overview and Rhetorical ASPECTS ... We'll also give you useful tips and tricks for writing strong essays and answering ...

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    AP. ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION 2015 SCORING COMMENTARY. Question 2 (continued) Sample: 2C Score: 3. This essay inadequately analyzes the rhetorical choices, identified as "persuasive diction, moving pathological appeals, decisive short syntax, and authoritative ethos," that Cesar Chavez employs.

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    CHEAT SHEET. So I compiled a list of all rhetorical strategies that could be used on this rhetorical analysis essay for the ap exam! Please let me know if I missed anything or it I should make anything else! Thank you. AP Lang Rhetorical Strategies. Hey thanks for the gold mine of information! if you can join here and share it with the ap lang ...

  15. Cheat sheet how to write a rhetorical analysis

    Cheat Sheet: AP Rhetorical Analysis Paragraphs and Essays Things you must know in order to accurately analyze a text: SOAPS. Rhetorical Strategies a. Appeals (ethos, logos, pathos) b. Style (diction, syntax, details, imagery, tone, etc.) c. Structure (format, beginning to end, function of paragraphs, syntax)

  16. PDF AP English Language and Composition Free-Response ...

    AP English Language Scoring Rubric, Free-Response Question 1-3 | SG 1 Scoring Rubric for Question 1: Synthesis Essay 6 points Reporting Category Scoring Criteria Row A Thesis (0-1 points) 4.B 0 points For any of the following: • There is no defensible thesis. • The intended thesis only restates the prompt.

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  19. Expert's Guide to the AP Literature Exam

    The AP Literature Exam is a three-hour exam that contains two sections in this order: An hour-long, 55-question multiple-choice section. A two-hour, three-question free-response section. The exam tests your ability to analyze works and excerpts of literature and cogently communicate that analysis in essay form.

  20. AP English Language: Rhetorical Analysis "Cheat Sheet"

    Description. Are your students still struggling with writing a rhetorical analysis essay for AP Lang? Here is a handy-dandy "cheat sheet" that gives easy-to-follow steps to craft a solid rhetorical analysis essay focused around methods of organization or text structure. Reported resources will be reviewed by our team.

  21. PDF AP® English Language and Composition

    Suggested time—40 minutes. (This question counts as one-third of the total essay section score.) Many people spend long hours trying to achieve perfection in their personal or professional lives. Similarly, people often demand perfection from others, creating expectations that may be challenging to live up to.

  22. AP Language Synthesis and Argumentative Essay Cheat Sheet

    Help your students breeze through the argumentative and synthesis essay fast with this cheat sheet. Guaranteed to increase understanding and proficiency ...

  23. Last Minute AP Cheat Sheets and Formula Charts

    Last Minute AP Cheat Sheets and Formula Charts. 📣Attention! The cram charts and formula review sheets below are out of date and from 2020, when the exams we abbreviated with fewer units. We decided to leave this post up in case you want to check them out, but we have updated everything with FRESH cheat sheets available for the 2021 AP exam ...