It may seem like an impossible task to study for the AP® English Literature exam. At this point, you’re probably buried in piles of novels, poetry, and obscure literary terms. But how can you make sense of everything? This AP® English Lit review will give you three helpful study tips to boost your confidence, untangle the overwhelming web of material, and get you that coveted 5!
The AP® English Literature exam consists of two parts. The first part is an hour-long multiple-choice section consisting of 55 questions. These questions will be based on short passages and poems that you’ll have to read within the allotted time. The second part is the free-response essay section. You will have 120 minutes to write a poetry analysis essay, an essay based on a prose fiction passage, and an essay based on a novel that you’ve read.
Contrary to popular belief, writing well is not a talent you are either born with or not. Writing well-crafted analysis essays and answering questions based on passage requires practice, not innate talent. If you are struggling with knowing what and how to study for this exam, there are three study tips that can help you.
1. Read as many novels and poems as you can
Since this is AP® English Literature, it’s incredibly important to know the plots, themes, and literary techniques of a wide variety of novels and poems. This means you have to do a lot of reading. Some of the books you read might be boring, but try and stick with them. Once you start reading for meaning and become comfortable with analyzing works of fiction, you will find that no book is ever really that boring.
Review this list of works that have been referred to in the AP® exams since 1971. Go through and pick out as many books as you can. Read them critically and make sure you grasp the plot and theme of each novel you choose. A good tip here is to pick at least three works to read, study, and know like the back of your hand. Usually, you can use at least one of these books that you know backwards and forwards in an essay response.
It’s important to realize that you will not have time to read every work of literature on this list. It’s impossible and the exam creators know this. Just make sure you read a wide variety of novels to give yourself the best chance on the AP® Lit exam.
If you are completely at a loss as to what to read, start with these works. They can be used for many different types of essay questions:
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Quick tip: Don’t forget that you can use novels you’ve read in previous years for your essays. Just make sure to review them before the exam.
Poetry should not be forgotten, either. Many students struggle with understanding and analyzing poetry because they can often sound completely foreign and strange. This is where practice comes in. The more you read poetry and the more you attempt to grasp the meaning and concepts of those poems, the easier it will become for you to craft entire essays based on them. As you are reading a poem, try and write it out, line by line, in your own words. This can help you understand what’s going on and clear the poetry fog from your mind. Failing that, analyze poetry in a study group. Sometimes hearing insight from other people can give you the push you need to fully understand what’s going on in a poem that seems complex.
2. Take diagnostic tests and practice exams regularly
To find out where you are, make sure to take a diagnostic test. You can find tons of practice tests all over the Internet. It is also wise to invest in an AP® English Literature review book, such as Barron’s or Princeton Review. These books come with practice tests of varying difficulty to help familiarize yourself with the exam and to see where you need improvement. As you’re taking practice tests, jot down the multiple-choice questions you’re struggling with. After taking a few tests, you’ll hopefully be able to see which types of questions you need improvement on.
Do not forget to practice the essay questions. Essay topics can seem very daunting, especially when you’re first starting out. It’s helpful to review College Board’s AP® English Literature website. Here you can find tons of past essay questions, real student responses, and scoring guidelines and rubrics. Look at what makes an essay a 9 and what makes an essay a 3. Before reviewing the responses, write the essay yourself. Afterwards, self-grade your essay based on the rubric and feedback.
Make sure you also write essays that a teacher, friend, or family member can grade objectively. Their criticism is essential to improving your essays.
The most important thing here is to write, write, write. The more you write essays, the more comfortable you become with the format and the more at ease you’ll be during the actual exam.
3. Make flashcards of literary terms and key novels
Flashcards can be a lifesaver while preparing for the AP® English Lit exam. They are a great way to self-quiz and self-study. For this exam, it will be helpful to make flashcards on literary terms and on a variety of classic novels and short stories. While it’s not essential that you make a flashcard on every one of these terms, it will be extremely helpful to write out as many as you can. Include a definition written in your own words and an example of the term in action.
Similarly, make flashcards for popular classic novels. Since you won’t have time to read every novel that might feature on the exam, make flashcards for the ones you won’t get to read. Jot down the basic plot, important characters, themes, and literary techniques. Also, include important direct quotes from the books as well. This can help you immensely when it comes time to write your essays.
Studying for the AP® English Literature and Composition exam can seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. But if you read a wide variety of novels and poems, take lots of practice tests, and make good flashcards, you will have nothing to worry about. The most important thing is to stay calm and believe in your ability to get a good score on the exam. Armed with these study skills and a positive outlook you are ready to tackle this exam!
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