AP Lit. Exam Preparation 

Below is a list of resources that students in previous school years have found extremely helpful in preparing for the exam.  If you come across an online resource that helps you, please send it to me so I can post it to help others.

The AP Literature exam is in early May.  Be sure to begin preparing early and often.  Reading, annotating, writing, and deeply engaging in class discussion will help prepare you, but timing for the exam is something that will need to be practiced outside of class in timed sessions.  

The exam consists of two parts:

• Part 1:  One hour to answer 55 Multiple choice questions over poetry and short passages from novels or plays.  Study your vocabulary list for tone words and literary devices.  Practice the AP style of multiple choice.  Remember to pick the option that can BEST be argued for as an answer. 

• Part 2:  Two hours to write three essays.  The suggested time spent is 40 minutes per essay.  One is a poem analysis, short passage analysis, and AP open prompt over a previously studied work of literature. 

Resources to Help You Prepare for the Exam: 

• AP Literature Writing Prompts 1970-today https://mseffie.com/iOpeners/Open_Questions.pdf

• Shmoop has a great online resource that allows students to take AP practice sessions for preparing for the exam.  If you have a Shmoop account through foreign language class it will work for you for AP Lit.  Even if you don't have a shmoop account, there are several free resources available that students find valuable regarding AP Literature and Poetry. https://www.shmoop.com/ap-english-literature/  and https://www.shmoop.com/poetry/ 

• CrackAP also has an online resource to practice multiple choice questions. Once you submit your answers, it will explain what is right and why. http://www.crackap.com/ap/english-literature-and-composition/ 

• The College Board (the group that designs and administers the exam) has a great website that shows previously year's exams along with student examples.  Many students find it helpful to use this to practice essay planning, timing, and then compare themselves to the scores shown on the student examples.  https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-english-literature-and-composition/exam

• 3 free AP Literature Practice tests online https://www.highschooltestprep.com/ap/english-literature/ 

• Barron's AP Literature Online Test through Adobe Flash

http://barronsbooks.com/AP/englit/ 

• Prep Scholar has an a great overview of the AP Lit. exam. 

https://blog.prepscholar.com/ap-literature-exam 

• Shmoop also has an overview of the exam along with previously mentioned practice materials. 

https://www.shmoop.com/ap-english-literature/ 

*There are more resources available in my classroom.  Let me know what you want to practice and I will make you a copy that will help fit your need.  The key is to target your weakness.  Contact me and we can design an individualized study plan for you.