Preparing for the AP Language Exam
In 2015, a satirical Tumblr account formerly known as CollegeBoardOfficial posted “Thank your mom this Mother’s Day by isolating yourself in your room and cramming for AP tests.” (Both Mother’s Day and AP exams occur in May.) Well, we at North Avenue believe in respecting mothers – do so by starting to study for those AP exams now!
The AP English Language and Composition course, ”affectionately” dubbed AP Lang, is one of the most popular AP courses, typically taken during junior year. In this post, we’ll explore the structure of this AP exam as well as some helpful tips that will allow you to spend your Mother’s Day (May 8th this year, kids!) bringing your mom breakfast in bed (as it should be).
About the AP Lang Exam
AP Lang emphasizes competency with rhetorical devices, which are techniques an author uses to persuade or inform their audience. This class aims to advance students’ abilities in developing argumentative writing and critical analysis of nonfiction texts, including memoirs, essays, and travelogues. This makes it an ideal course for students interested in developing a broader skill set that can be applied to the humanities, social sciences, and even the natural sciences. Common texts covered include Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, and Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle.
The AP Lang Exam is divided into two sections. The first part gives students 1 hour and 45 minutes to answer 45 multiple-choice questions based on short written passages. The second part poses three free-response questions to which students have to respond with a Synthesis essay, a Rhetorical Analysis essay, and an Argument essay (view examples here).
Studying for the AP Lang Exam
Not sure where to start, beyond your teacher-issued materials? Here are some tips for independently preparing for the AP Lang exam:
Consider the “SOAPSTone” approach to reading. SOAPSTone is an acronym for a series of questions you should ask yourself while reading nonfiction works: Who is the Speaker? What is the Occasion? Who is the Audience? What is the Purpose? What is the Subject? What is the Tone? This method forces students to consider that all well-constructed composition is carefully planned and to engage with the work critically and reflectively.
Learn essential rhetorical terms. Do you know what Aristotelian appeals are? What about juxtaposition? Or inductive reasoning? The AP Lang exam tests students on their fluency with rhetorical strategies that authors most commonly use. Make flashcards to familiarize yourself with the terms, then extend your mastery of these rhetorical devices by identifying these strategies in the work of others and deploying them yourself.
Practice both multiple-choice questions and free-response essays. Official sample multiple choice questions are available in College Board’s AP Lang Course Description and past free-response questions and scored student responses are also available on College Board’s AP Central website (see links above). We also regularly host remotely proctored practice APs.
The AP Language and Composition exam is a high-level, challenging exam for students of all skill levels. If you need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of expert AP tutors.