Exam Basics
How many essays are on the AP English Lit exam?
There are 3.
How much time should you spend per multiple choice question?
About 1 minute.
In what order do the essays appear on the exam?
1. Poetry, 2. Prose, 3. Literary Argument
What are the three rubric rows?
A: Thesis, B: Evidence & Commentary, C: Sophistication
When answering a Little Question, what key question should you ask to guide your thinking?
HOW is the message developed? (through literary devices)
About how long you should spend on each essay?
About 40 minutes each.
What should you do FIRST when approaching a passage?
Read/scan through the questions and keywords then read the passage.
Do you have to write essays in the order in which they appear on the exam?
No; write them in whatever order is most strategic for you!
What are the rubric point values?
Row A: 1 point, Row B: 4 points, Row C: 1 point
When answering the Big Question, what key question should you ask to guide your thinking?
What do the author’s choices reveal about the universal message or complex response?
How much time is given for the multiple choice section?
60 minutes
How are poetry questions different from prose questions?
Poetry focuses more on figurative language, structure, and sound devices
What is the universal question every literary analysis essay answers?
How do the author’s choices create meaning? (Universal Message/THEME)
What is the first thing you should do when reading a Free Response Question prompt?
Identify the Little Question/Big Question...What is the task and what are the key verbs (what the prompt is asking you to do)?
Give an example of 3 literary analysis verbs.
Argues, emphasizes, contrasts, illustrates, conveys
How many multiple choice questions are on the exam?
There are 55.
What is a common “trap” answer choice?
One that is partially true but does not fully answer the question.
How many pieces of evidence should each body paragraph include (minimum)?
At least 2
What is a “line of reasoning”?
The logical progression of ideas in an essay
True or False: You can use outside knowledge in poetry/prose essays.
False:You must base your analysis only on the passage provided. Everything you argue must be grounded in the text and supported with evidence from it.
What percentage value of your total AP Lit score is the multiple choice section vs. the free response question section?
Multiple choice = 45%
Free Response Section = 55%
Why can a “technically true” answer still be wrong?
It doesn’t directly answer the specific question being asked.
True or False: You must use direct quotes for Q3.
False (you should plan to use paraphrased evidence)
What does “complexity” mean in an essay?
Showing deeper thinking, nuance, or multiple perspectives
Explain how a strong thesis works for all three essays.
It is defensible! It identifies the author or poet's choices and connects them to a clear interpretation of meaning/theme.