Wondering what is on the AP Lang exam?
The AP® Lang exam can seem like a daunting test, so it’s understandable that students have questions (and worries) about what to expect. In this post, I hope to give you a clear picture of what to expect on the AP Lang exam and ease some of your worries about the test.
Part 1: Multiple Choice
The first section you will see on the AP® Lang exam is multiple choice. You will have 1 hour to answer 45 questions. There are 2 reading passages (with comprehension questions) and 3 writing passages (with “editing” questions.)
On the reading passages, you will be asked questions about the author’s purpose, tone, etc. These questions are similar to what you’d see on the SAT or ACT, but they are a bit more challenging.
On the writing passages, you will be asked about editing sentences, selection transitions, etc. Essentially, you are an editor. This question type is new as of the 2021 exam.
To practice these types of questions, you can use AP Classroom. If you don’t have access to this, using language and writing questions from the SAT exam is a great place to start. You can also look at the most recent version of the AP Lang course description. It has one reading and one writing passage.
I have more AP Lang multiple choice tips here in this YouTube video.
Part 2: The Free Response Questions
There are 3 essays on the AP Lang exam. You gave 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete those 3 essays. This might seem really startling at first, but there are a few general things to know.
First, the essays are considered rough drafts, so having some grammatical and spelling errors won’t spoil your chance of doing well. Additionally, you do not need to have a fully developed introduction or conclusion (in fact, a conclusion is not necessary unless time permits.)
There are several terms to know for the AP Lang essays, and a great place to start is with this YouTube video. Knowing these terms will help you better understand what is expected of you during the essay portion and what you are scored on.
As mentioned above, there are 3 essays: synthesis, rhetorical analysis, and argument.
The Synthesis Essay
In this essay, you will be provided with 6 to 6 sources, with at least one being a visual source. You will develop your own argument and use the sources as your evidence. Think of it like a mini research paper.
You have to cite 3 or more sources in your essay. Remember that these citations are distinct sources, so citing the same source two separate times counts as one citation.
Additionally, many students like starting with this essay because you have the 15-minute reading period. They feel it gives them time to dig into the sources and begin planning how to use them.
If you want more information about the synthesis essay, I have an entire playlist of videos on YouTube just over this particular essay type. You can check out the synthesis playlist here.
The Rhetorical Analysis Essay
This is the second essay type on the AP Lang exam. In this essay, you will be asked to analyze how a writer makes rhetorical choices to convey a message, achieve a purpose, or develop an argument. You might see letters, articles, nonfiction texts, speeches and more for this essay type.
This essay is all about examining the relationship between rhetorical choices and the rhetorical situation. A rhetorical choice is what a writer actively does, so you want to use active verbs for this essay. Essentially, you will be asking yourself why the author is making this choice for this audience on this occasion.
I have an entire playlist on YouTube about the Rhetorical Analysis essay. You can check out the rhetorical analysis playlist here.
The Argument Essay
This essay is similar to a synthesis, except you will be given a quote instead of sources. You do not need to rewrite or reference the quote in your writing.
Therefore, you want to take a clear position, and you will need specific evidence to support your position. You should use evidence from current events, history, outside knowledge, experience, or science to support your argument.
Having strong, clear evidence will make or break this essay, so I suggest learning about a few topics that interest you that you could potentially use in an essay.
Want to know more about the argument essay? I have an entire playlist of videos on YouTube just over this particular essay type. You can check out the argument essay playlist here.
Now that you know what is on the AP Lang exam, you can make a game plan to help you be as successful as possible. For more information about making a game plan, check out the video below.
