GEN - AP Exam Lesson

AP Exam

In each of the next four units, you will delve into a particular part of the AP language exam. Before doing so, examine the following presentation for an overview of the requirements of the test.

 

Test Prep Tips

  • The AP Language Exam is given over three hours. It is a timed test.
  • The test is comprised of the following sections:
    • Approximately 60 multiple choice questions with one minute allotted for each question including reading time – 45%
    • Three essays: rhetorical analysis, argument, and synthesis – approximately 40 minutes each plus 15 minutes of reading time –  55% 
  • Organization of AP Language and Composition Exam
    • 3 hours 15 minutes total
      • Multiple-choice section: 1 hour
      • Essay: 2 hours 15 minutes
        • Three possible types of essay: analysis, argument, and synthesis

You are responsible for dividing your time appropriately.

  • Multiple-Choice Scoring
    • There is no penalty for incorrect answers.
    • Answer each question to the best of your ability.
    • The multiple-choice section is 45% of your overall score. 
  • Types of Multiple Choice Questions
    • The straightforward question
    • The question that refers you to specific lines and asks you to draw a conclusion or to interpret
    • The ALL… EXCEPT question
    • The question that asks you to make an inference or to abstract a concept not directly stated in the passage
    • The Roman numeral question
    • The footnote question 

Specific Techniques for Multiple Choice Questions

  • Process of elimination
  • Substitution - Fill in the blank
  • Using context
  • Anticipation
  • Intuition - The "educated guess" 

Question Categories 

  • Questions about rhetoric
  • Questions about the author’s meaning and purpose
  • Questions about the main idea
  • Questions about organization and structure
  • Questions about rhetorical modes 

Approach to Multiple Choice Section

  • Answer easy questions immediately
  • For more difficult questions, write in your book. Mark eliminated choices.
  • On questions that you find very difficult, return after you have answered the following questions. They may help shed some light on previous questions that you had trouble with.
  • Complete each section of questions at one time.
  • Narrow the choices down, then go ahead and guess.

Difficult Passages 

  • Read the passage quickly to get the main idea and then read it again annotating important points.
  • Pay special attention to tone as you read. 

 

Special Multiple-Choice Tips

The focus of this unit is the dreaded multiple-choice questions. The multiple-choice section accounts for 45 percent of the overall score. Students generally have about 55 questions to answer in 60 minutes. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers; no points are awarded for unanswered questions. Because test takers are not penalized for incorrect answers, they should answer all multiple-choice questions. The questions are based on the rhetorical strategies of various passages.

Here are a few tips on multiple choices questions.

  • The degree of difficulty of the questions varies immensely. Be quick and sure with easier questions. Harder questions should be attacked by eliminating wrong choices.
  • Often, questions will refer back to a specific point in the passage. Be sure to read the surrounding text closely.

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