AP tests are exams designed to measure a person’s grasp of a particular subject area. Passing one of these exams certifies that you have achieved a level of learning commensurate with that of a student who has passed college classes in the subject. If you’re in high school and are preparing for college, Advanced Placement (AP) courses are a great way to go with earning college credit while still being in high school.
The AP English Language exam focuses on reading, analysis, and writing about imaginative literature such as fiction, poetry, and drama from various periods. Students who wish to take the AP exam should expect to pay a $92 fee and must score a 3 on the exam to be considered as passing. Scores on the AP exam range from 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest score.
What’s on the AP English Language Exam
The AP English Language exam consists of 52 multiple-choice questions that account for 45% of the exam. The AP exam also includes a free-response section with 3 questions total which includes a 15 minute reading period. The free-response section counts for the remaining 55% of the exam.
The questions on the multiple-choice section will test the student’s ability to read closely and analyze the rhetoric of prose passages.
The free-response section tests the student’s skill in composition and requires close reading, thoughtful rhetorical analysis, and purposeful argumentation. It also includes a synthesis prompt that tests the student’s ability to effectively compose an argument of their own by combining and citing supplied sources.