To many high school students, AP English Literature and Composition may appear to be one of the most intimidating AP courses offered. They may think that literary analysis is a mysterious, completely subjective enterprise, and wonder what sort of knowledge they will gain from delving into the granular details of eighteenth-century odes or seventeenth-century soliloquies. Perhaps the greatest fear that underlies student apprehension about AP English Literature and Composition is that students aren’t sure that the class will be “useful” for them—they imagine that they will gain lots of trivial knowledge about old books and nothing more; however, this could not be further from the truth: by equipping students with the intellectual tools needed to take apart a literary text, AP English Literature and Composition helps them develop as thinkers and writers. Deep analysis of literary works challenges students not only to take apart written works and find out what makes them effective and pleasurable, but also to express their discoveries in prose form. The two enterprises feed off of one another: in taking apart the most well-respected and well-loved works of literature, students learn about different literary elements and devices that they can then appropriate and incorporate into their own writing. Learning how to express themselves better in prose bolsters the same critical thinking skills that students employ when analyzing texts; it’s all one giant cycle. Whether you need top English tutors in Orlando, English tutors in Memphis, or top English tutors in Phoenix, working with a pro may take your studies to the next level.

AP English Literature and Composition courses survey English literature of a variety of genres and styles from a number of periods. While there is no single standard curriculum or required / recommended reading list, students are expected to develop their abilities to read actively, so challenging texts are to be expected. The works selected may be translated from languages other than English, though this is left up to each individual instructor. Students should develop their knowledge of biblical and classical stories, which often provide the groundwork for later texts via allusions or in their entirety. Also, certain works discussed in class may include controversial elements that have been deemed appropriate for the level of a mature twelfth-grade reader. Varsity Tutors offers resources like free AP English Literature Diagnostic Tests to help with your self-paced study, or you may want to consider an AP English Literature tutor.

In developing as writers, students are expected to demonstrate their skill by using appropriately varied vocabulary and sentence structure, a thoughtful and logical organization of their ideas, the ability to select and use a suitable tone given the intended audience of a piece, an appropriate mix of generalizations and illustrative details, and an effectual use of rhetorical devices in making and supporting arguments about how they have interpreted literary works.

AP English Literature and Composition courses are typically capped by the AP exam that determines whether or not a student may receive college credit for his or her work. The AP English Literature and Composition exam lasts for three hours and consists of two sections. The first section, a multiple-choice section, lasts for one hour and accounts for 45% of a student’s exam score. The student’s score for the multiple-choice section is calculated solely based on the number of questions which he or she gets right; no points are deducted from a student’s score for questions answered incorrectly or questions left unanswered. So, students should guess if they do not know an answer on the multiple-choice portion of the exam. The second section, an essay-based free response section, accounts for 55% of a student’s exam score. Students are given one hundred and twenty minutes during which to compose responses to about three essay prompts. Certain prompts may present students with a passage and ask them to analyze particular aspects of it; other prompts may present a quotation and ask students to reference a work they have previously read in composing their response. A list of texts may be included with the response, but it these are suggested texts; students are allowed to refer to texts that are not on the list.

If you’re thinking about taking an AP English Literature and Composition course or are currently enrolled in one, you can make good use of Varsity Tutors’ free AP English Literature and Composition Practice Tests. Each Practice Test consists of between ten and twelve AP English Literature and Composition problems drawn from a comprehensive selection of texts from various periods of various styles and genres. Each question is accompanied by a detailed explanation, so that if you miss one, you can figure out where you went wrong and not make the same mistake again in the future. Also, you can elect to answer questions drawn from a varied assortment of AP English Literature and Composition topics, or focus on studying one particular topic or literary element that you feel you don’t understand as well as you want to. In addition to the AP English Literature Practice Tests and AP English Literature tutoring, you may also want to consider taking some of our AP English Literature Flashcards.

You might also be interested in taking a Full-Length AP English Literature and Composition Practice Test. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to begin your preparation by taking one of these free online practice tests. The comprehensive format gives you an opportunity to work on your test-taking pace and evaluate each of your skills, and since they are designed to simulate the actual AP English exam, you’re gaining valuable test experience as well. Like those for the topic-focused practice tests, the results page includes comprehensive explanations of the answers and accurate information on each question’s relevant concepts. The complete practice tests provide the benefit of helping you pare down your AP English Literature and Composition review by focusing your study time on the topics you want to review. Use the other Learning Tools to brush up on your skills, and when you’re ready, you can take another full-length AP English Literature and Composition practice test to check your progress.

By making use of not only these AP English Literature and Composition Practice Tests, but the other AP English Literature and Composition resources offered by Varsity Tutors, you can develop your skills of literary analysis and make sure that you know what you need to know for the AP English Literature and Composition exam!