ap english and literature exam

ap english and literature exam

Preparing for the AP English and Literature Exam

1. Understanding the Exam Format

Understanding the Exam Format. This exam is not rocket science but a test meant to see how much you know about language and composition. You have all the information, and you have it because you have thrived in AP English. You have had great success and most likely enjoy everything about the language, words, sentences, phrases, the structure and style of an essay, and how to read and write. The English language has rules and challenges we enjoy playing with; how often do people ask you what is a word or how to spell something—whether right or wrong? It is always fun and interesting. Each time we engage in a meaningful conversation that enables us to engage in an environment where we may express our ideas, concerns, or thoughts with clarity and success on any given topic, people stop what they are doing to be part of the dialogue. Everyone is aware of the English language and how it functions, identifying any personal assistance if one lacks mastery. Our experiences, knowledge, and abilities are not the test. Let’s not forget who we are because of an exam. In a few short hours, you will be you again. Let’s have fun answering the questions: 50-50 on some, 20-80 on others, and hit the home run by answering an occasional easy question!

The exam has three parts: (1) the language multiple-choice and writing multiple-choice questions in the first hour of the exam; (2) essay topics; and then (3) the open essays. In the first section, the writers will likely have 90 minutes to complete 55 reading comprehension, grammar, and writing multiple-choice questions divided into two parts. The first part is approximately 45 multiple-choice, stimulus-based reading comprehension questions on at least five different readings, in general, 55 minutes, before you must take a compulsory ten-minute break.

2. Developing Effective Study Strategies

For an AP student with an in-depth exploratory analysis, the AP exam can be structured in any particular subject. As a student, it is important to take the AP exam straight after the AP course since by this time students already had an extensive practice of critical thinking, reasoning, and accurate representation of the ideas required to use higher-level cognitive skills when engaging in the AP course. With the exception of special circumstances, this strategy would be highly beneficial if the teacher added a few weeks to work on essay skills before the exam. Having the opportunity of receiving AP credit by taking the exam would cover a required admission course, a schedule that will be enriched with elective courses in subsequent academic years.

Developing effective study strategies. The AP exams assess students on college-level work in courses frequently offered in high schools for which there is a traditional college equivalent, such as English Literature and English Language. Each exam is developed by a committee composed of experts in the subject area, and these committees ensure the exams are appropriate for college-level courses that provide a comprehensive understanding of a subject. Also, they ensure that students who receive college credit or placement represent the knowledge and skills that are expected of a well-prepared high school student. The process includes course maturity studies, content reviews by college and AP instructors of most recommended courses, faculty feedback during exam reviews, and the statistical analyses of all existing exam data. Additionally, students have the capacity to take the AP exam in conjunction with their AP course or to self-study for the exam.

3. Mastering Literary Analysis Techniques

Critical reading is the effort to explore and understand the textual meanings. The level of interpretation and conclusion carried out during the critical reading process is directly related to the effort of the exploration effort. The textual meanings available are in proportion to the possibilities of being “collected” and constructed. The choices cognitive made depend on the effort, on the knowledge, but also on the disposition. To highlight internal meanings, it is useful, as well as necessary, to give the text a certain informality to dismantle the linguistic phenomena, cataloged in the system one, among the various manifestations. The breakdown serves to highlight characteristic insignificant features of the story or of the narrative space and to detect the generic determined textual surface values and in function of the central theme on which the production moves.

In literary analysis, more important than the content of the literary work is the main idea, and that is what the reader must be able to describe, analyze, and interpret, referring to the various elements of language. This would seem to be an elitist and threatening concept, likely to alienate the more casual reader from the world of reading by forcing analysis and detailed investigation on him. But it can also be seen as a call to rigor and precision. Often, the fundamental structures of a narrative or a story or a poem are invisible, but the tasks of the literary critic are those of practical, accurate configurations, able to produce formal conceptualizable structures that crystallize themselves in an effective interpretative model. If textual analysis is precise and accurate, turning his attention to the textual-edimentary level—saying what this particular text says about itself, in essence—then it reveals structures and fundamental issues that can be attributed to depths.

4. Enhancing Reading Comprehension Skills

If you are reading a passage that reflects feelings or emotions or delves into a deeper meaning, hold onto that information and analyze the piece from a literary perspective. Discussing certain elements such as metaphor, simile, diction, atmosphere, and the journey of the characters can improve reading comprehension skills. Create an anchor chart within the classroom and have students place information and feelings derived from that passage. Find words within the passage that were vivid and descriptive and discuss feelings that were generated from joint understandings. If a passage happens to deliver a succinct and reflective mood, it could create an experience between reader and author. Has this feeling ever occurred in any traits of which you have control? Follow this exercise in order to create a deeper meaning for the passage.

Practice empathic reading, meaning reading the material as if you were living the experience. Even though you are reading a novel, try to understand the characters and everything that is going on in the story. If you are reading a narrative or some type of story that is motivated by the thoughts of the author, place yourself into the minds of the characters by experiencing the emotions the way the writer describes it. You could even read a sentence or paragraph and then suppress the text to see if you can recall the emotions or action described in the passage. This could go a long way in getting you adapted to being in the moment.

The purpose of enhancing reading comprehension skills is to ensure that students have a precise understanding of the written passage. You want to be able to determine the intent clearly articulated by the author, the style employed, as well as theme, structure, and organization. Also, you will want to be able to recognize the hidden motives in the writing.

5. Practicing with Sample Exam Questions

Taking the class and doing your reading are helpful, but this study guide is an integral part of your study plans. Many students in the past have been helped by using the questions at the end of the book that are similar to those that you will encounter on the test. Unlike your classroom teachers and peers, who see you every day and haven’t been published by a legitimate company, you don’t know what will be on the test. To help narrow things down and direct your reading and thinking, practice with these. Somewhere along the line, someone will have probably told you that you can prepare by learning vocabulary. This is true. You will usually have at least a few very hard vocabulary questions that can easily trip you up. There is no magic number when it comes to vocabulary words, but ‘the more, the better’ is the general rule that will probably get you through if you have been working hard in class along with this test. To enhance your ability to remember, you can visit the official website of Kaplan for AP English Literature and Composition. There, download the Ultimate Vocabulary Builder Sampler for free practice.

You’ve got the writing skills. Now you just need to know how to prepare for the exam, right? There is an AP English Exam that tests basic skills as well as a literature-specific exam. Through pre-testing for the literature exam, you have already taken a giant leap in a good direction. Because the questions on the test will be mostly over material that you have recently gone over in class, the best way to prepare for the test is to do diligent work over the course of the year. Read and understand the assigned material. Keep up with your readings, and participate in class. If you need to miss class, always make sure to get missed notes or assignments from a friend before you leave. Even if your teacher doesn’t require it, reading for AP literature is a good idea. There are several beneficial sources out there, such as Kaplan’s AP English Literature and Composition. As you go about your daily studying outside of the classroom, take notes. Note key things that may reappear or may help. If you are planning on reading the notes as study material later, write them in an organized manner, or if you have trouble comprehending the material, write notes in an annotation form.