AP® Lang Multiple Choice Tips

One of the most common questions I’m asked during my review sessions is “do you have any AP® Lang multiple choice tips?”

 

Answering 45 questions in 1 hour can be intimidating. No wonder students want strategies for AP® Lang multiple choice.

 

What is on the AP Lang exam?

The multiple choice section is the first portion of the AP® Lang exam. During this time students will encounter 2 reading passages and 3 writing passages. Students will not have access to the FRQs, the essays, at this time.

Types of AP Lang Multiple Choice Questions

There are two types of AP® Lang multiple choice passages students will encounter: reading and writing.

 

The reading passages tend to be longer and more complex. For the AP® Lang reading multiple choice questions, students are assessed on their comprehension of a nonfiction passage. For these questions, students may be asked about tone, purpose, function, word choice, etc.

 

Unlike previous versions of the exam, there is not a “guaranteed” time period for the passages. Therefore, I encourage students to grapple with both older and contemporary texts.

 

For the AP Lang writing multiple choice questions, students will be asked “editing” questions about a “draft.” These questions typically involve transitions, combining sentences, adding/deleting sentences, author’s purpose, etc.

 

Strategies for AP Lang Multiple Choice

• Answer all the questions. There is no penalty for guessing.
• Don’t spend too long on one question.
• Use the process of elimination to eliminate 2-3 answer choices. (You’ll have 5 total answer choices per question.)
• Look closely at the nuances of word choice within the answer choices.
• Make sure your selected answer actually answers the question being asked.
• When taking a practice test, if you answer a question incorrectly, once you know the correct answer, go back to the passage and think about why that answer is the best choice.
• Take note of any “trends,” question types you are commonly successful with and question types you commonly struggle with. Practice the questions you struggle with. If struggling with multiple question types, focus on 1-2 at a time.

 

What AP® Lang Multiple Choice Tips Do I Need to Know for Reading Passages?

 

 

• Determine what the passage is about. This might seem obvious, but it is necessary to consider the literal and possibly abstract meaning of the passage.
• Some questions will be about specific paragraphs or lines. These can usually be answered more quickly than the questions that pertain to the whole passage. Therefore, if you are running out of time, prioritize the questions that ask about specific lines or paragraphs.
• Read the surrounding lines. For questions about a word in context or a specific set of lines, there are often context clues before and/or after the mentioned lines. If students only read the lines mentioned and not the entire paragraph (or the surrounding sentences,) then they are more likely to choose the wrong answer. Reading the surrounding lines, not just the mentioned line, leads to a stronger understanding of the purpose of the words or rhetorical choice.
• If the passage is confusing, look for the verbs.
• Annotate the passage as needed. Sometimes taking a note for each paragraph or noting the shifts can help with engaged reading and better comprehension.
• The correct answer should be supported by the text.
• Some questions ask about material that is explicitly stated in the text. Be sure to look for the answer supported in the passage.
• Consider reading the questions first. This tip won’t work for everyone, but in the past, I’ve had several students, especially those who were worried about pacing, read the questions (not the answers) first. They’d bracket or underline the lines or paragraphs mentioned in the questions. This technique helps some students read with a purpose.

 

What AP® Lang Multiple Choice Tips Do I Need for the Writing Passages?

 

• Understand how to use transition words correctly. This includes the more common ones, such as however and therefore and the less common ones like subsequently and moreover.
• When asked if the writer should add or delete a sentence, consider the value of the sentence. Does the sentence add valuable information such as a definition or clarifying info? Or, does the sentence add unnecessary info that distracts from the main idea of the passage?
• Practice combining sentences effectively to best convey the intended meaning.

 

AP Lang Multiple Choice Questions to Practice

There are a few ways to practice AP® Lang multiple choice questions.

1. Answer the 17 questions in the AP® Lang Course Exam Description (page 122.)
2. Use released SAT® or ACT® Practice tests. Focus the nonfiction reading passages. For the SAT® writing and language test or the ACT® English test, focus on the questions that have a question stem, not the questions about verb choice or punctuation.
3. Marco Learning has a free practice test on their website.
4. Practice on AP® Classroom. If your teacher assigns something on AP® Classroom, take it seriously. If your teacher does not use AP® Classroom, ask if they might be able to assign questions for you to practice with.
5. Take mock exams seriously (if your school offers one.)

 

How to Pass AP Lang Multiple Choice

Remember that the AP® Lang multiple choice questions make up 45% of a student’s composite score. With 45 questions, that means each question is essentially one point.

 

Generally speaking, I encourage my students to aim for about 55% or approximately 23/45 questions if they are aiming for a 3 composite.

 

For my students aiming for a 4 composite, I encourage them to aim for 65-70%.

 

For those aiming for a 5 composite, I encourage aiming for 80%.

 

Please keep in mind that these are general recommendations or guidelines, not guarantees.

 

Also remember that the 3 essays, the free response questions, make up 55% of a student’s composite score.

 

By developing strategies for AP® Lang multiple choice, students are able to build a “cushion” as they write their essays on the exam.

 

Also remember that the exam is in May. While some students’ scores remain consistent all year, many students see a fluctuation of scores, and that’s okay.

 

If you’re preparing for the AP® Lang exam, I hope these strategies for AP Lang multiple choice help ease your stress.

 

Out of all my AP Lang multiple choice tips, my top tip is to practice. The more familiar you are with the types of questions and rationale behind correct answers, the easier the task becomes.

 

For more tips how to pass the AP® Lang exam, check out this blog post.