As you prepare for the AP® English Literature Exam, it’s easy to disregard the multiple-choice section as a given. However, the AP® English Literature multiple-choice questions make up 45% of the total score. In 2016, only 7.6% of students scored a 5 on the Exam. In order to boost your chances of being in those elite few, this year, follow the guide herein towards success.

The AP® English Literature multiple-choice section is comprised of 55 questions. You are given one hour to answer questions regarding published works of drama, poetry and prose fiction. You can locate AP® English Literature practice questions on Albert.io and College Board.

The following is a comprehensive AP® English Literature study guide. Included are the best practices for studying, completing practice tests and approaching the AP® English Literature multiple-choice section of the Exam.

What is the format of the AP® English Literature Exam?

The goal of the AP® English Literature course is to familiarize students with complex literary works of fiction. Through careful reading and a guided attention to detail students learn critical analysis of creative writing. Additionally, writing is an integral part of the course and exam. Writing assignments focus on the critical analysis of provided literary works. Essays can be expository, analytical or argumentative.

The Exam is 3 hours, in length. It is comprised of three free-response essays and 55 multiple-choice questions. The multiple-choice section is 45% of the total score.

You will have 1 hour to read excerpts from published literary works including poetry, drama, and prose fiction to answer corresponding questions.

Why is the AP® English Literature multiple-choice section important?

Scoring guidelines for the AP® English Literature Exam can demonstrate how important this section of the exam is to your score. We recommend you explore our AP® English Literature score calculator to see for yourself how many questions you could miss and still perform well on the test.

What content is covered in the multiple-choice section of AP® English Literature?

Excerpts are included from noted works of poetry, prose fiction and drama–from the 16th to 21st century. Corresponding questions test the student’s critical reading of the selected passages.

Authors and literary works change yearly, so understanding the content, form, and style of the samples is imperative.

How to prepare for AP® English Literature multiple-choice

Every AP® student has to ready themselves for numerous AP® tests, the SAT®/ACT® and participate in a variety of extracurriculars. This demand for your time and attention can be hard to manage. The old adage is work smarter, not harder. In that spirit, utilize the following AP® English Literature tips to study and read effectively.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best resources for your AP® English Literature study plan can be found on Albert.io and College Board. There are sample multiple-choice questions, complete released exams with answers, comprehensive study guides (like the Ultimate Student’s Starter Kit to AP® English Literature), and AP® English Literature practice questions for specific literary works. A successful AP® English Literature review will incorporate all of the available resources.

Focus On Critical Reading

Critical reading is essential for any AP® English Literature review. It’s important to never skim through passages while studying. You will miss underlying themes and subtext which are important for answering the AP® English Literature practice questions.

Always read at a normal pace in practice and during your exam. Repeat important or elaborate passages to ensure you’ve understood them.Consider the following question as you read, “What is the meaning of this sentence, paragraph, stanza, or chapter?”

Utilize Your Syllabus

At the beginning of the year, collect as many of the books, poems and other works assigned for your AP® English Literature course. This will allow you to read at your own pace and save valuable time looking for assigned texts as they come up.

Take Notes As You Read

When reviewing any book, poem, essay, or other literary work take careful notes which can be used later. Include the exact title, author’s name, and a paraphrasing of the preface or introduction. Also note important themes, styles, and content. When recording specific ideas related to a particular part include page, paragraph, and line number for easier reexamination, later.

Carefully Consider Principal Ideas

Take into account the key concepts in any reading assignment. What evidence or support does the author show? In the writings of journalists, identifying these ideas and reinforcing materials is easy. However, accomplishing the same task for a more subtle work, such as that of Sylvia Plath or F. Scott Fitzgerald, may prove challenging.

Explore The Context

Spending a short amount of time researching the context surrounding an author or their work can expand your understanding of issues they tried to address and how well they succeeded. For example, researching Berlin in 1935 will give you insight to better understand the motivations of Vladimir Nabokov, when he wrote The Gift.

Read Out Loud

When reading complex passages or poetry it is helpful to read aloud. Often, this approach slows your reading and aids in your comprehension of underlying tones and themes.  

Reread When Necessary

It is regularly needed to read a literary work more than once to fully understand complex issues and sophisticated expression.

Consult your Dictionary, Thesaurus or Encyclopedia

Take advantage of these invaluable resources at your local library or online to expand your knowledge of words and content that you are reading. Remember that many English and American texts require familiarity with the major themes of Judaic and Christian religious traditions and with Greek and Roman mythology.

How to answer AP® English Literature multiple-choice questions?

It’s helpful to remember that the AP® English Literature multiple-choice questions are scored based on the number of correct answers given. No deduction is made for wrong answers, and blank answers receive no points. Because there is no penalty for wrong answers, students are encouraged to answer all questions.

If you are unsure of an answer, eliminate as many obviously wrong choices as you can, before making your selection.

What are AP® English Literature multiple-choice questions like?

Each multiple-choice section will begin with a passage from a published literary work of fiction. This can include poetry, drama and prose fiction. The following is an example, from the AP® English Literature and Composition Course Description, of a poem with corresponding questions.

The Eolian Harp
BY SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

    My pensive Sara! thy soft cheek reclined
Thus on mine arm, most soothing sweet it is
To sit beside our Cot, our Cot o’ergrown
With white-flowered Jasmin, and the broad-leaved Myrtle,
(Meet emblems they of Innocence and Love!) line 5
And watch the clouds, that late were rich with light,
Slow saddening round, and mark the star of eve
Serenely brilliant (such would Wisdom be)
Shine opposite! How exquisite the scents
Snatched from yon bean-field! and the world so hushed!  line 10
The stilly murmur of the distant Sea
Tells us of silence.

   And that simplest Lute,
Placed length-ways in the clasping casement, hark!
How by the desultory breeze caressed,
Like some coy maid half yielding to her lover,  line 15
It pours such sweet upbraiding, as must needs
Tempt to repeat the wrong! And now, its strings
Boldlier swept, the long sequacious notes
Over delicious surges sink and rise,
Such a soft floating witchery of sound  line 20
As twilight Elfins make, when they at eve
Voyage on gentle gales from Fairy-Land,
Where Melodies round honey-dropping flowers,
Footless and wild, like birds of Paradise,
Nor pause, nor perch, hovering on untamed wing!  line 25
O! the one Life within us and abroad,
Which meets all motion and becomes its soul,
A light in sound, a sound-like power in light,
Rhythm in all thought, and joyance everywhere—
Methinks, it should have been impossible  line 30
Not to love all things in a world so filled;
Where the breeze warbles, and the mute still air
Is Music slumbering on her instrument.

   And thus, my Love! as on the midway slope
Of yonder hill I stretch my limbs at noon,  line 35
Whilst through my half-closed eyelids I behold
The sunbeams dance, like diamonds, on the main,
And tranquil muse upon tranquility:
Full many a thought uncalled and undetained,
And many idle flitting phantasies,  line 40
Traverse my indolent and passive brain,
As wild and various as the random gales
That swell and flutter on this subject Lute!

   And what if all of animated nature
Be but organic Harps diversely framed,  line 45
That tremble into thought, as o’er them sweeps
Plastic and vast, one intellectual breeze,
At once the Soul of each, and God of all?

   But thy more serious eye a mild reproof
Darts, O beloved Woman! nor such thoughts  line 50
Dim and unhallowed dost thou not reject,
And biddest me walk humbly with my God.
Meek Daughter in the family of Christ!
Well hast thou said and holily dispraised
These shapings of the unregenerate mind;  line 55
Bubbles that glitter as they rise and break
On vain Philosophy’s aye-babbling spring.
For never guiltless may I speak of him,
The Incomprehensible! save when with awe
I praise him, and with Faith that inly feels;  line 60
Who with his saving mercies healèd me,
A sinful and most miserable man,
Wildered and dark, and gave me to possess
Peace, and this Cot, and thee, heart-honored Maid!

1. In the first lines of the poem (lines 1-12) the speaker seeks to convey a feeling of

A. Curiosity
B. Contentment
C. Remoteness
D. Resignation
E. Foreboding

2. In context, “saddening” (line 7) suggests that the

A. Clouds have become darker
B. Speaker is increasingly melancholy
C. Happiness of the speaker will fade
D. Security of the couple will be threatened
E. Prospect of night vexes the speaker

3. The speaker gives explicit symbolic significance to which of the following?

I. The “Jasmine” (line 4)
II. The “Myrtle” (line 4)
III. The “star” (line 7)
IV. The “Sea” (line 11)

A. I and II only
B. III and IV only
C. I, II and IV only
D. I, II, III and IV

The following are important steps to answering AP® English Literature questions such as this example. Read through them, determine if you addressed this practice section correctly, then check your answers.

Read the entire sample, do not skim or read the questions first. This prevents you from making mistakes due to misunderstanding underlying themes. Read at a reasonable pace, as you are being timed.

Analyze the passage for tone, purpose and use of literary devices. These are common questions for the AP® English Literature Exam and can be overlooked, easily.

Read questions carefully prior to answering. Be sure to read instructions as well as the answers to ensure you understand what is being asked.

Reread lines which are directly referenced in questions, e.g. line 7 in question 2 of our example. Before selecting your answer, reread the correlated line to confirm your choice.

Wisely divide your time to read each passage and provide your answers. Remember you have 60 minutes to complete a 55 question exam. If you’re stuck, and completely unsure, move on. Mark these sections so you can return once you’ve answered everything you’re confident of. If you are still wary, eliminate all the answers you can and guess from the remaining choices.

Notes along the page margins can be extremely helpful. As you read the text note context, tone, literary devices and any special points. Quickly jot these in the margin as you read. This will help you answer the questions quickly and efficiently.

Answer Key. 1. B, 2. A, 3. C

How can I practice AP® English Literature multiple-choice?

We, at Albert.io, hope that this summary has helped you to better prepare for the AP® English Literature multiple-choice exam. Keep in mind that there are many resources online both through Albert.io and the College Board to help you formulate a study plan and implement winning test taking strategies.

Since you probably have more questions, check out the Ultimate List of AP® English Literature Tips for some more in depth study help. You might also find the perspective of past AP® test takers helpful as you prepare for the test in May.

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