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Ultimate Guide to the AP English Literature and Composition Exam

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The English Literature and Composition exam is one of the most popular AP exams among self-studiers and enrolled students alike. In 2019, a total of 380,136 students took the AP Literature exam, making it the third most favored AP exam, trailing only English Language and U.S. History in popularity. If you are interested in taking the AP Literature exam—and are taking a class or self-studying—read on for a breakdown of the test and CollegeVine’s advice for how to best prepare for it.

When is the AP Literature Exam?

2020’s AP English Literature and Composition exam day is Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 8 AM. Check out our blog 2020 AP Exam Schedule: Everything You Need to Know to learn more about this year’s AP exam dates and times. 

What Does the AP Literature Exam Cover?

The AP Literature course engages students in careful reading and critical analysis of fictional literature, leading to a deeper understanding of the ways in which writers provide both meaning and pleasure to their readers—considering structure, style, theme, and smaller-scale elements such as figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. 

Although there is no required reading list, the College Board formerly provided a list of prospective authors in its past AP Literature course description. Regardless of which specific titles are read in preparation for the exam, students should be familiar with works from both British and American authors written from the 16th century to the present. Ten of the commonly studied works in AP Literature courses are:

• Great Expectations , Charles Dickens 
• Invisible Man , Ralph Ellison
• Beloved , Toni Morrison 
• King Lear , William Shakespeare 
• Heart of Darkness , Joseph Conrad 
• The Portrait of a Lady , Henry James 
• Wuthering Heights , Emily Bronte 
• Their Eyes Were Watching God , Zora Neale Hurston 
• To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee 
• A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , James Joyce 

How Long is the AP Literature Exam? What is the Format?

The AP Literature exam is one of the longer AP exams, clocking in at 3 hours. It is comprised of two sections. 

Section 1: Multiple Choice

1 hour | 45 Questions | 45% of Score

The first section of the AP Literature exam is one hour long and consists of 45 multiple-choice questions—23-25 Reading questions and 20-22 Writing questions. The multiple-choice questions are grouped in five sets of questions, with each set linked to a passage of prose fiction or poetry that contains between 8 and 13 questions. Students receive two sets of questions about both prose fiction and poetry, with the fifth set varying between prose fiction and poetry. The function of the multiple choice section is to assess a student’s ability to: 

1. Understand and interpret word choice, comparisons, and figurative language

This is one of the most common questions types on the AP Lit exam. Students are frequently asked to infer the meaning of certain words and phrases, and how they impact the rest of the passage. You will also be asked to identify and interpret figurative language.

Source: The College Board

2. Understand the theme of the poem or passage

You should be able to summarize and articulate what the excerpt is about and what sort of message it conveys.

3. Paraphrase or reformulate selected lines from the passage

Students are tested on their reading comprehension by being asked to select the reformulated response that most closely aligns with the original excerpt.

4. Explain the function of…

• The narrator or speaker: Know how a narrator’s or speaker’s perspective controls the details and emphases that affect how readers experience and interpret a text.

• Characters : Grasp how characters allow the reader to explore values, beliefs, assumptions, biases, and cultural norms.

• The plot and structure : Understand what the author conveys by the arrangement of the sections of text, their relationship to each other, and sequence, along with how the reader’s interpretation of the text is affected by these choices.

• Symbols and motifs : Describe the purpose of symbols and motifs and how they contribute to the meaning of the passage.

5. Identify parts of speech, verse forms, and meters

You’ll occasionally need more technical knowledge of parts of speech (adjective, adverb, etc.) and verse forms (blank verse, free verse, sonnet, etc.). You should also have a basic knowledge of poetic meter (iambic pentameter, trochaic tetrameter, etc).

Section 2: Free Response

2 hours 15 minutes | 3 questions | 55% of Score

The second section of the AP Literature exam is two hours (plus a 15-minute reading period) and contains three free response questions. These prompts test three core abilities:

• A literary analysis of a poem
• A literary analysis of a piece of prose fiction (this may include drama) 
• An analysis that examines a specific concept, issue, or element in a meritorious literary work selected by the student. 

The free response essays are graded by college and AP Lit teachers following a standardized rubric.

Below are 3 example free response questions from 2019’s AP Literature Exam: 

1. “Carefully read P. K. Page’s 1943 poem “The Landlady.” Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the speaker’s complex portrayal of the landlady. You may wish to consider such elements as imagery, selection of detail, and tone.”

2. “Carefully read the following excerpt from William Dean Howells’ novel The Rise of Silas Lapham (1885). Then, in a well-constructed essay, analyze how the author portrays the complex experience of two sisters, Penelope and Irene, within their family and society.  You may wish to consider such literary elements as style, tone, and selection of detail.”

AP Literature Exam Score Distribution, Average Score, and Passing Rate

The AP Literature exam is extremely challenging, with less than half (49.7%) of students achieving a passing score of 3 or higher. The average student score is 2.62—only Physics (2.51) and Human Geography (2.55) have lower average scores. If you’re curious about other score distributions, see our post Easiest and Hardest AP Exams .

Best Ways to Study for the AP Literature Exam

One of the first steps you should take when preparing for the AP Literature exam is to look at its full course description . This will help guide your studying and understanding of the knowledge required for the AP Literature exam. Below are a few more steps you can take to ace the AP Literature exam. 

Step 1: Assess Your Skills

Practice Questions and Tests: Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge. The College Board’s AP English Literature Course and Exam Description offers some sample multiple-choice questions, and the College Board also provides six sample AP Lit free-response questions with scoring commentaries . Older versions of the AP English Literature exam are also available; you can find a copy of the 2012 AP Lit exam and the 1999 AP Lit exam . Search around the web and you’ll likely turn up even more practice exams with answers keys —some will even have explanations of the questions. You’ll also find practice tests in many of the official study guides, and some even include a diagnostic test to act as your initial assessment.

Identify Areas in Need of Improvement: Once you have taken some kind of formative assessment, score it to identify your areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. It can be helpful to have a friend (or even better, a teacher) score your free-response essays, since they are more subjective than the multiple-choice section. With an accurate formative assessment, you’ll have a better idea of where to focus your studying efforts.

Step 2: Know Your Material

In the case of the AP Literature exam, this means focusing on your reading and writing skills.

Become an Active Reader: When reading, take care to go slowly and reread important or complex sections. Pause often to consider meaning, context, and intent. Become an active reader, underlining and taking notes as you go. Remember that the importance of the text comes not only from the author, but also from how the text affects you, the reader. Pay attention to how you feel and why you feel that way. Visit the College Board’s Reading Study Skills for more information.         

Write Frequently: Prepare for the writing section of your exam by writing frequently. According to the College Board, the goal is to become a “practiced, logical, clear, and honest” writer through the writing process. This means that you will plan, draft, review, redraft, edit, and polish your writing again and again. To be a successful writer on your exam, you will need to organize your ideas ahead of time, use your text wisely to support a clearly stated thesis, and provide a logical argument. Finally, you should pay close attention to your use of grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Visit the College Board’s Writing Study Skills for more information. 

Get Expert Advice: For more specific guidance about test preparation, consider using a formal study guide. One good choice is Barron’s AP English Literature and Composition, 6th Edition . This study guide contains a review of test topics covering details test takers need to know about poetry, fiction, and drama, and includes five full-length practice tests. Some users do criticize it for providing few examples of scored student essays, but plenty of those are available on the College Board scoring examples page . 

The Princeton Review’s Cracking the AP English Language & Composition Exam, 2020 Edition: Proven Techniques to Help You Score a 5 is another solid choice containing a summary of test strategies and a focused review of course content. 

Alternatively, there are many online study resources available. Some AP teachers have even published their own study guides or review sheets online. You can find one such guide here .

Consider using an app to study: A convenient way to study is to use one of the recently-developed apps for AP exams. These can be free or cost a small fee, and they provide an easy way to quiz yourself on-the-go. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one—their quality varies widely. One that does receive good reviews is the McGraw Hill 5 which also saves you some money by covering 14 different AP subjects.      

Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions

Once you have your theory down, test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches. There are some available in the College Board’s course description.

Try to keep track of which concept areas are still tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Keep in mind that the key to answering questions correctly is understanding the passage, so practice active reading skills as you’re tackling the multiple-choice questions. This includes underlining, mouthing words, and circling key points. Remember, the answer will always be found in the text, and often the question will tell you exactly where in the text to look for it.

Step 4: Practice Free-Response Essays

Focus on Writing Skills: Use a rich vocabulary, varied sentence structure, and logical progression of ideas. Make sure that your words flow easily from one to the next. According to the College Board’s scoring criteria , writing that suffers from grammatical and/or mechanical errors that interfere with communication cannot earn a the maximum score of a 6, no matter how strong your thesis, compelling your argument, or convincing your evidence is.  

Cultivate Cohesive Writing: You should also strive to write a thoughtful and persuasive analysis of the literature. Begin by writing a quick outline to structure your piece. Make sure that your introduction leads to a clearly stated thesis and use supporting paragraphs to build this argument. Use quotes judiciously in your answers and focus on writing with sophistication and clarity.

Practice, Practice, Practice: The best way to prepare for these free-response questions is through repeated exercises analyzing short prose passages and poems, and through practicing with open analytical questions. 

Understand Scoring: As you prepare for the writing portion of your exam, be sure to review how your free responses will be scored. Each free-response essay is graded on a scale from 0 to 6 with points awarded for three elements: Thesis (0-1 point), Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points), and Sophistication (0-1 point). A comprehensive explanation of the College Board’s scoring rubric is found on their website.  

Study the free-response questions and scored student responses with written explanations provided by the College Board . The most effective way to use these is to read and respond to the prompts first, then review the student samples and scoring explanations. Use this feedback to practice another prompt and repeat the cycle until you are confident that your responses are as strong as the top scorers’. 

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

As you did at the beginning of your studying, take a practice test to see which areas you’ve improved in and which still require practice.

If you have time, repeat each of the steps above to incrementally increase your score.

Step 6: Exam Day Specifics

If you’re taking the AP course associated with this exam, your teacher will walk you through how to register. If you’re self-studying, check out CollegeVine’s How to Self-Register for AP Exams .

For information about what to bring to the exam, see CollegeVine’s What Should I Bring to My AP Exam (And What Should I Definitely Leave at Home)?

CollegeVine can’t predict how you’ll score on your AP Literature exam, but we can help take the guesswork out of college admissions. Our free chancing engine uses a data-driven algorithm taking into consideration criteria such as GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities to tell you your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges and universities.

Check out these other Collegevine articles for more information about AP exams. 

• 2020 AP Exam Schedule
• How Long is Each AP Exam?

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, every ap literature practice test available: free and official.

Advanced Placement (AP)

When you're studying for your AP Literature Exam, you're going to want to use practice tests and questions to hone your skills. But where can you find AP literature practice tests? And are all practice exams equally useful for you? 

The real exam has 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions, but there are practice tests with every conceivable number and combination of question types.

In this article, you'll learn where to find every official College Board AP English Literature and Composition practice exam, free unofficial tests, and paid practice test resources. You'll also find out which tests are high-quality and how you can best use different practice exams to fulfill your studying needs.

Official Free AP Literature Practice Tests

The gold standard of AP English Literature practice tests and AP English Literature practice exam questions are College Board released materials . That's because the College Board administers the AP exams, so their practice questions are most like the actual AP questions you'll see on the test.

There are three different kinds of resources offered by the College Board: complete released exams from past years, released free-response questions from past years, and sample questions from the "AP Course And Exam Description."

Official Released College Board Exams

There are three official released College Board Exams. However, only the most recent one (from 2012) is complete. The 1999 and 1987 exams have the standard 55 multiple-choice questions, but both are missing parts of the three question free-response section. You can still use them as complete exams if you supplement them with released free-response questions from past years which we recommend since official multiple-choice problems are hard to come by.

2012 AP English Literature and Composition Exam

This is the best AP Lit practice test available. It's the most recent exam released by the College Board, and it follows the format of the current test with 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions. Definitely make use of this test!

1999 AP English Literature and Composition Exam

This test excludes the poetry and prose analysis questions of the free-response section and only has the student choice question. So, to take it as a complete exam, you'd need to supplement it with questions 1 and 2 from the released free-response questions below . You can actually get question 2 for the 1999 test from the official free-response questions bank, but the excerpt for question 1 can't be reprinted, so you'll need to supplement with another poetry analysis question.

1987 AP English Literature and Composition Exam For reasons that are not totally clear, this exam excludes the third essay question, the poetry analysis. If you want to take this as "complete" exam practice, use a free-response poetry analysis prompt from the bank of free response questions linked below.

Or supplement with this tree-poem.

Official Free-Response Questions

There may not be very many complete released exams, but there are tons of free-response questions available from previous administrations of the test. These are great practice, not just for writing complete essays, but for practicing writing thesis statements, outlines, and so on.

What's also great about these is that most of them come with sample response and scoring guidelines, so you'll be able to see exactly what makes a high-quality AP essay by College Board standards. Be aware, though, that some of the prose and poetry excerpts can't be reprinted due to copyright concerns.

Below is the link to all the free-response questions available. The questions go all the way back to 1999, and since there haven't been many changes to the free-response part of the exam, all of these questions can be useful during your studying.

AP English Lit Free Response Questions 1999-2021

Sample Questions From the Course and Exam Description

The 2019 AP English Literature Course and Exam Description has practice multiple-choice questions and free-response questions.They don't add up to a complete test--there are only 19 multiple-choice questions instead of 55–but there are three free response questions (enough for a full test). Even though there aren’t many multiple-choice questions, they are great for simple practice.

If you're looking for more questions like these, you can revisit the old exam description booklets as well . (Just keep in mind that some of the other information in the booklet may be out of date!)

Your Teacher

Your AP teacher may have access to copies of old AP exams that you can use for practice. They probably can't let you take them out of the classroom, but they may be allowed to loan them to you in a supervised setting. This is because teachers can purchase resources directly from the College Board that students can't. Asking your teacher may not bear fruit, but it's worth a try.

Why are you asking me for AP Lit practice tests? I'm your Econ teacher!

Free Unofficial AP Literature Practice Tests

In addition to the free College Board resources, there are also several places online where you can get free, unofficial practice tests. Be aware that, because these resources aren't College-Board created or approved, they are of variable quality. For each of these resources we'll describe what's offered and how it compares to official College Board tests.

Varsity Tutors AP Literature Practice Tests

This site has multiple-choice practice quizzes divided by concept--things like "interpreting the passage," "claims and argument," and "interpreting excerpts." The questions aren't worded exactly the same way as AP test questions, but they are still okay for testing your passage-interpretation skills. Basically, the questions test for similar skills, but don't necessarily mimic AP test questions in style.

Also, the site provides the date, title, and author of each work, which is not something you'll receive on the AP exam. You can make a free account at the site to track your scores, but it's not necessary to be able to take the tests.

Kittens not included with free practice tests, unfortunately.

Albert AP English Literature Quizzes

Albert offers multiple-choice quizzes divided into prose, poetry, and drama categories. You are given the title, date, and author of the work--which you will not receive on the real AP exam. Like the Varsity Tutors quizzes, Albert offers questions that test similar skills as the AP exam, but the questions are worded differently.

High School Test Prep Tests

This site offers three short multiple-choice practice tests. You're given the title and author of the work. The questions for these tests are fairly surface-level, so I would only use these if you are working on your reading comprehension skills.

CrackAP English Literature Quizzes

CrackAP has over 40 short AP Lit quizzes. Each quiz gives a passage then has 15 multiple-choice questions on it. The questions are somewhat easier than you'll find on the real AP exam, but if you need some quick practice, this can do the trick. This resource also has examples of past free response questions, which can be useful study tools, too!

Practice Quiz AP English Literature

This site offers a 20-question multiple-choice quiz on two passages--one poetry, and one prose. The passages are extremely basic, however, so I would only use this resource if you are working on your reading comprehension skills.

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The queens of AP Lit practice give you their blessing.

Paid Unofficial Practice Tests

There are also several paid resources that offer unofficial practice questions.

This is a subscription service with questions for tons of different tests—SAT, ACT, and AP exams.They also have videos and other review resources. We  can't really speak to the quality of the questions because the entire service is behind a paywall of about $25 a month.

The Princeton Review AP Literature Study Guide 2021

Published study guides are an excellent way to practice for the AP Literature exam. These books are put together by experts who have inside knowledge of the test, and The Princeton Review is one of the best out there.

This study guide has three practice tests, along with other types of sample questions and expert explanations to help you improve your analytical skills.

Barron's AP English Literature and Composition, 7th Edition

Like The Princeton Review study guide, the Barron's AP Literature study guide is another great resource for students looking for extra exam prep. This guide has four practice tests and sample essay questions , along with an expert walk-through of the AP Literature exam itself.

If you're looking for a guide that gives you practice and provides tips for mastering the exam, this would be a good pick!

This subscription service offers access to tons of test prep, including the SAT, ACT and lots of AP courses. Their AP Literature resources include two full-length practice tests, three sets of flashcards to help you study, and several instructional videos.

Prices for subscriptions start at $39 dollars per month, and some plans include live tutoring and writing instruction . If you choose to subscribe, you get access to all of their course and test-prep materials, so if you’re taking several AP classes, this could be a good source.

I definitely advise paying for all of these resources with whatever loose foreign change you have lying around.

How to Use AP Literature Practice Tests

How to use a given practice test depends somewhat on the resource itself. We'll offer some recommendations here on how to best use different resources.

Complete Official Released Tests

The best way to use a complete official practice test is to do a practice-run for the exam . So find a quiet room, bring a timer or watch so you can time sections, and get to work! This will help you get familiar with the exam experience so you'll feel more comfortable on exam day!

Since there are two complete AP Lit practice tests, it makes sense to take one early on in your studying time, and one later. You can get a parent, tutor or teacher to grade the exams. The early test will help you figure out what you need to work on, and the later test will show you how you've improved! Since the AP English Literature test is more skills-heavy than content-heavy, you shouldn't feel totally lost taking a practice test even in the middle of the school year.

Official Released Free-Response and Sample Questions

Official resources that aren't complete tests are best for practicing individual sections of the test. The sample multiple-choice questions in the "Course and Exam Description" make for great AP English Literature multiple-choice practice--they'll help you get familiar with the style of the questions and practice close-reading.

The wealth of released free-response questions are great resources for building your timed essay-writing skills. You can practice complete essays or develop essay outlines.

Unofficial Practice Tests and Resources

Since unofficial practice tests aren't going to be quite as similar to the real AP exam as official College Board materials, they won't be quite as useful for preparing for the format of the exam or its questions. However, they can be very valuable close-reading practice. And since that's a critical skill for the exam, it's still worth it to use unofficial resources.

Be very quiet. She's close-reading.

Key Takeaways

Practice tests and questions are a hugely important resource as you prep for the AP Lit exam. The gold standard of practice resources are those that come from the College Board, but there are many other places where you can get practice questions that will help you hone your close-reading skills for the exam. Most of the resources listed in this article are free, but a few are paid.

Remember: official College Board practice tests are best for simulating the exam experience. Actual College Board questions are good for focused preparation for individual sections of the exam--especially the essays. Unofficial resources are best used for further honing your close-reading skills after you’ve practiced with the official materials.

Now that you know where to find these resources, you're ready to start studying for your AP Literature exam!

What's Next?

Wondering what you should be reading for AP Lit? Check out our list of 127 great books to help you prepare for the AP Literature exam.

Need more study guidance for your APs? See my five-step AP prep plan. Or see our guide on when to start studying for your APs.

If you're looking for practice tests for other AP exams, see our assembled practice tests for AP US History , AP Chemistry , AP Biology , AP World History , and AP Psychology .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

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Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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Princeton Review AP English Literature & Composition Prep, 24th Edition

5 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Strategies & Techniques

By The Princeton Review

Part of college test preparation, category: test preparation | teen & young adult test prep books.

Aug 01, 2023 | ISBN 9780593517116 | 8-3/8 x 10-7/8 --> | ISBN 9780593517116 --> Buy

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About Princeton Review AP English Literature & Composition Prep, 24th Edition

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO HELP SCORE A PERFECT 5! Ace the AP English Literature & Composition Exam with The Princeton Review’s comprehensive study guide. Includes 5 full-length practice tests , thorough content reviews, targeted strategies for every section, and access to online extras. Techniques That Actually Work • Tried-and-true strategies to help you avoid traps and beat the test • Tips for pacing yourself and guessing logically • Essential tactics to help you work smarter, not harder Everything You Need for a High Score • Fully aligned with the latest College Board standards for AP® English Literature & Composition • Comprehensive coverage of all test topics • Engaging activities to help you critically assess your progress • Access to study plans, helpful pre-college information, and more via your online Student Tools Practice Your Way to Excellence • 5 full-length practice tests (4 in the book, 1 online) with detailed answer explanations • Practice drills for poetry and prose passages • Sample essays with tips to help you effectively plan and organize your writing on the day of the exam

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📌 exam date: may 8, 2024.

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The Best AP English Literature and Composition Review Books of 2024

• Post by: Professor Conquer
• Last updated on: January 24, 2024

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Not sure what the best AP English Literature review books are? No worries. In this comprehensive guide, we breakdown our top picks for AP English Literature study aids.

Because of how wide the scope of the English language is and how there are many approaches that different colleges take in their English courses, the College Board split the subject matter into two exams. The second of the two is AP English Literature and Composition exam. It is one of the most difficult exams around given how only 47.4% of those who took the exam got a score of 3 or higher.

Given that English literature itself is as wide a subject as any other, it can be difficult to prepare yourself for the challenges of the AP English Literature and Composition especially if you do not have a guide that can help you get started ( we have 52 AP English Literature tips and test taking strategies here ). In that regard, review books are indispensable. These study aids allow you to follow a flow that usually follows the outline set by the College Board. You also gain access to useful tips, strategies, and practice questions and exams.

But because there are plenty of review books for AP English Literature and Composition, you might get confused as to which ones fit your preferences. If you want to just get back to studying, get our top choice for AP English Literature prep book here .

Last update: 2024-03-20

If you prefer looking over everything, we have put together a list of what we believe are the best AP English Literature review books for this exam:

Our Favorites (the best AP English Literature Review books)

CliffsNotes AP Literature and Composition: 2021 Exam by Allan Casson

A masterpiece by Cliffs Notes that is specifically made for the AP English Literature and Composition exam, this review book probably has everything you need to make your review worthwhile. It not only prepares your knowledge of the topics in the outline of the College Board but it also improves the way you understand the exam and the strategies needed to get the highest score possible.

The book first introduces you to the format of the AP English Literature and Composition exam and the different techniques and strategies you can opt to use to take on the multiple-choice and essay questions that will come out in the exam. It then helps you recall what you have learned in your high school and AP literature classes with a subject review that is quite comprehensive.

The best part about this top AP Lit review book are the practice exams. The material comes with six full-length practice exams to help get your mind and answering techniques in shape just in time for the AP English Literature and Composition exam. The practice exams each have their own answers and explanations to make sure you are well apprised of where you went wrong and where you need to improve.

For its price, CliffNotes AP Literature and Composition is an affordable book that is well-loved by satisfied customers on Amazon. The one thing that is most common in the reviews are the practice exams. Since the AP English Literature and Composition exam is quite a difficult test to study for, practice becomes more than a necessity. And because this review book has six practice tests, you will get all the practice you need to get the highest score possible in the exam.

What makes it unique:

• It not only covers the necessary topics you need to study for in the exam but also the details and information you need to know to perform better.
• The book has more practice tests than most other review materials on the market.

Why choose this book:

• It is quite balanced without having to sacrifice the quality of the review experience it offers.
• Choose this book if you want a review that does not merely focus on the topics but also on practice and strategies.

• Swovelin M.A., Barbara V (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 352 Pages - 09/08/2020 (Publication Date) - CliffsNotes (Publisher)

AP English Language and Composition Premium, 2023-2024 by George Ehrenhaft

There isn’t a lot that Barron’s cannot do when it comes to making AP exam review materials. In this case, this book contains an in-depth, well-balanced, and comprehensive preparation that will surely get you ready to ace the AP English Literature and Composition exam. Because of that, it ranks as one of the better review materials on the market.

Barron's blasts you with a comprehensive review of the test topics and of the things that you should know of such as understanding poetry, drama, and other forms of fiction and literature. It also has a section that covers the definition of the most important terms that will come out in the exam. In that sense, you will be more than prepared when it comes to substantive knowledge of the subject matter.

On top of its comprehensive review, this book also helps your answering techniques with sample questions that each all have their own answers and explanations. There are even sample student essays that have expert critiques. And because you need a lot of practice when it comes to performing well in the AP English Literature and Composition exam, this book comes with five full-length practice tests.

Positive reviews on Amazon all rave about how comprehensive and helpful this book is. It is almost an indispensable tool and study aid for anyone reviewing for the exam. And the one thing satisfied customers love about it is that the practice tests are indeed helpful when it comes to preparing them. It isn’t even that expensive as its price is on the lower to mid-end of resources we reviewed for best AP English Literature study guides.

• It not only dwells on specific topics that will come out in the exam but also focuses on improving your understanding of the exam format.
• The book improves the way you tackle certain types of questions you will be encountering in the exam.
• Go for this review material if you want to have a study aid that does well in just about any area whether it’s by equipping you with the proper knowledge of the topics covered or by helping you practice for the exam.

• Ehrenhaft Ed. D., George (Author)
• 396 Pages - 08/02/2022 (Publication Date) - Barrons Educational Services (Publisher)

AP English Language & Composition Prep, 2022 by The Princeton Review

If there is anything that’s true about The Princeton Review, it is that it does not skimp on the quality of its review materials. AP English Language & Composition Prep, 2021 is a review book of the highest quality that surely aims to help you improve your knowledge and techniques so that you will get a perfect score of 5 in the exam.

Like most of the other books by The Princeton Review, this material contains a comprehensive review of the topics in the outline of the College Board while also giving you the latest information about the upcoming AP English Literature and Composition exam. The topics also come with activities and questions that will keep you engaged and interested in the review.

This review book also equips you with tried and tested strategies and techniques are proven to work. You will also be given tips on how to tackle different questions in the exam and how to pace yourself for what seems like a very long exam. These techniques are designed to help you work both harder and smarter during the entire review process.

Known for delivering challenging questions, The Princeton Review has included two full-length practice tests that each have their own answers and explanations. These practice tests are considered more difficult than the actual AP English Literature and Composition exam. There are also poetry drills and sample essays that can help develop your skills and techniques.

It is a pretty affordable book that has gotten a lot of positive reviews online. Satisfied customers say that every detail and strategy in this book has helped them get high grades in the exam. Meanwhile, there are those that love the book because of how it has helped them improve their analytical skills.

• It gives out useful techniques and tips that improve the way you handle yourself during the exam.
• The practice tests and questions are quite challenging in such a way that you are able to fully gauge and prepare yourself for the actual test.
• As one of the best AP Lit review books, this one does not fall short in any of the areas you need to get a high score in the exam.
• While it does not have a lot of practice tests, the ones in the book are a lot more challenging than what its competitors can offer. Choose this book if you want to challenge yourself.

Enjoying this article? Get our 137-page guide to doing well in high school here.

• The Princeton Review (Author)
• 304 Pages - 08/03/2021 (Publication Date) - Princeton Review (Publisher)

The Runners-Up for Best AP English Literature Review Books (still good but a little lacking)

Ap english literature and composition study guide: exam prep and practice test questions for the ap english literature and composition exam by advanced placement prep team accepted.

This review book was specifically designed by Accepted, Inc. as a study guide that will help you get the most out of your review time for the AP English Literature and Composition exam. In a sense, it delivers a quick review that does not dwell on a lot of unnecessary details while never compromising on the quality of the comprehensive topic overview it delivers.

As mentioned, the book contains a detailed review of the topics that will be covered by the exam according to the outline of the College Board. It also quickly goes through the basics of both the subject matter and of the exam to make sure you master the fundamental details and information needed for the more difficult concepts.

And like many other review books, Accepted, Inc.’s material comes with tips and strategies that can give you the edge in the upcoming exam. There are also practice tests that can develop your answering skills. These tests mirror exactly what will come out in the exam and will promise to shape your mind to perform at peak level in time for the actual thing.

If there was a knock on this review book , it is that the practice tests do not have explanations in the answer key. It never hurts to know how or why you got the wrong answer in the practice test because of how it improves the way you approach similar questions in the future. Other than that, it is quite a good book for the price.

• It was specifically designed to mirror the topics in the outline of the College Board.
• The book contains a detailed overview that seems to be easier and quicker to read than most materials.

Why choose this top AP English Literature review book:

• At about 122 pages, it is a rather quick read that does not sacrifice quality and detail. If you are in a rush, it’s the perfect choice for you.
• Accepted, Inc. Advanced Placement Exam Prep Team (Author)
• 122 Pages - 01/03/2020 (Publication Date) - Accepted, Inc. (Publisher)

Master the AP English Literature and Composition Exam by Peterson’s

Not one of the more well-known review books for the AP English Literature and Composition exam, this material by Peterson’s is actually a good choice for you if you want a book that offers a detailed review of the topics you need to know to get a 5 in the exam.

Helping you review, digest, and understand the most important concepts you need for the upcoming exam, the book contains strategies that you can make use of to get a better score. Also, the review part of the book is also well-designed enough for teenagers to easily understand.

The book contains hundreds of practice questions you can use to help you improve your critical and analytical thinking skills when it comes to literature. All of these questions have their own answers and explanations to guide you through your mistakes. It also contains three full-length practice exams that can fully test how well-prepared you already are for the actual exam.

For a book that contains a lot of questions and a thorough and comprehensive review of the AP English Literature and Composition exam, its middle of the mark price is a good one considering the quality of this book. Nevertheless, it still isn’t the most complete book on the market when you consider the overall review experience you can get out of it.

What makes it unique as an AP Lit review book:

• It focuses a lot on helping you improve your answering skills by giving you hundreds of practice questions.
• The three full-length practice tests are pretty challenging themselves.
• If you prefer mastering the skills needed for the AP English Literature and Composition exam, we highly suggest this book because of the hundreds of problems and questions it contains.

• Peterson's (Author)
• 348 Pages - 10/18/2017 (Publication Date) - Peterson's (Publisher)

The Best Value for Your Money (good and affordable)

Ap english literature & composition crash course by dawn hogue.

When it comes to affordable materials that get their job done in an efficient and high-quality manner, there probably aren’t any AP English Literature review books that can contend with Crash Course . Giving you a literal crash course, this book offers a quick review that does not waste a lot of time on things that the exam won’t even cover. It’s the perfect choice for students that don’t have the luxury of time.

The book contains a more targeted and focused type of review that does not tend to dwell on unnecessary information. In that sense, it goes straight to the point and will only contain the things you need to know for you to get a 5 in the exam. This means that it’s a book that values the time you have left before the exam.

Not focusing on the content review alone, the book also contains advice and strategies that can help give you the edge. There are expert tips that are tried and tested in previous exams and there are those that will surely improve the way you answer different types of questions you will be encountering in the AP English Literature and Composition exam.

And, to wrap everything up, you will also be given a chance to take a practice test online . The test is time-tested to make you feel like you are actually taking the real thing. After taking the practice test, you will be given the answers and explanations to each question so that you will be able to know where you went wrong and how to improve yourself.

At a price on the lower-end of the resources we reviewed, it is an affordable book that also promises to be a quick read. This is why it is a favorite among satisfied Amazon customers, who all rave about how it won’t waste your time in making you study things that won’t even make sense in the actual exam.

• It summarizes the important concepts and information in a quick and precise manner.
• The book does not tend to overwhelm you with hundreds of details, tips, and questions. Instead, it just goes straight to the point.
• It is perfect for the time-crunched student.
• You can also go for this book if you have already read all of the more detailed textbooks and review books. It can basically act as a supplementary material to be used a few days before the exam.

• Hogue, Dawn (Author)
• 288 Pages - 09/06/2019 (Publication Date) - Research & Education Association (Publisher)

Last update: 2024-03-21

Summary of the Best AP English Literature and Composition Review Books

Wrapping everything up, here are the AP English Literature and Composition review resources we went over today:

It takes time and experience to know which review books work best for you. However, since you don’t have the time and the money to try every review book on the market, it’s better for you to take note of the list we put up specifically to cater to your needs. You can never go wrong with any of those books especially if you also put in the necessary time and effort in your review.

Did you find this guide on the best AP English Literature review books helpful? If so, share it with a friend!

Looking for more reviews of AP study guides? Check out our archives for AP World Languages , AP Math & Computer Science , AP History & Social Sciences , or our general Advanced Placement section .

Or if you’re looking for AP English Literature tips and test taking strategies, check out our 52 AP English Lit tips here .

Finally, if you’re taking AP Lit, you may also benefit from the best SAT Subject Test in Literature prep books post here .

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Free AP English Literature and Composition Resources

What do i need to memorize for the ap english literature and composition exam, ap english literature and composition exam format, section ii: free response, how should i study for the mcq ap english literature and composition exam, how should i study for the frq ap english literature and composition exam, when do ap english literature scores come out, is ap english literature and composition hard (previous scores), explaining the ap english literature and composition exam scores.

Published February 16, 2024

Everything You Need to get a 5 English Literature and Composition

Natasha Potter

MSU Alumni, Creative Advertising Major, Marketing Associate at Knowt 😃

Hey there! This article is all about our tips for how to study for the AP English Literature and Composition exam to get a solid 5. I'll break down the tricks, so with the right strategies and resources, nailing the exam is totally doable!

Hey, no worries if you're in a last-minute cramming session for AP English Literature! We totally get it, and trust me, we've all been there too! So, if you're wondering how to ace the AP English Literature and Composition exam when you're running out of time, here are some awesome resources and AP English Literature exam tips created by fellow students that will help you cram like a boss.

This ULTIMATE AP English Literature and Composition Guide - pretty much everything you need to know for the exam, written by a former AP Chinese Language student!

AP English Literature Flashcards

Our Favorite additional Site for English Literature and Composition Unit breakdown

AP Lit Exam in a Nutshell:

So, the AP Lit exam is a 3-hour ride. You've got an hour for the multiple-choice part, tackling five prose and poetry pieces with 55 questions. Then, the free-response section takes up two hours, featuring three essays – one on poetry, one on prose, and a wildcard where you choose the work.

Now, the deets: multiple-choice is 45% of your score, and the free-response is the other 55%. They rate your essays on a 0-6 scale, and your raw scores get a facelift into a final 1 to 5 score.

How to Prep Like a Pro:

Read some books, know four to five works for the student-choice essays.

Dive into poetry.

Hone those close reading and analysis skills.

Get cozy with common literary devices.

Flex your essay-writing muscles.

Pop quiz yourself!

On the big day, get up close and personal with those passages. Mark them up in a way that clicks for you – it'll pay off on both multiple-choice and free-response. Oh, and definitely sketch out your essays before you dive into writing. With these tips, you're on the fast track to AP Lit glory! 

The AP English Lit and Comp Exam sticks to the same types of questions, weightings, and scoring rules every year, so you and your students won't be caught off guard on exam day. The reading passages' difficulty stays within a consistent range from year to year too. Now, instead of the old holistic rubrics, the free-response questions get scored using analytic rubrics.

Section I: Multiple Choice

55 Questions | 1 Hour | 45% of Exam Score

First up is Section I, the Multiple Choice part. It's got 55 questions, lasts an hour, and makes up 45% of the total score. There are 5 sets of questions with 8–13 questions per set. Each set kicks off with a passage from prose fiction, drama, or poetry with varying difficulty. At least 2 prose fiction passages (maybe with drama) and 2 poetry passages are always in the mix.

3 Questions | 2 Hours | 55% of Exam Score

Then, there's Section II, the Free Response part. Three questions, 2 hours, and it's worth 55% of the total score. Students write essays tackling 3 free-response prompts from these categories: a literary analysis of a given poem, a literary analysis of a given passage of prose fiction (which might include drama), and an analysis digging into a specific concept, issue, or element in a work they choose. For Question 3, students should pick a piece of fiction that fits the bill—something of similar quality to what they've read in their AP class(es).

Reading Comprehension:

These questions gauge your ability to grasp the passage on a fundamental level without requiring intricate interpretation. Your success hinges on reading the text attentively. Sometimes, you might need to backtrack and review sections to ensure a clear understanding.

These questions prompt you to infer something—like a character's viewpoint or an author's intention—based on the passage. The answer won't be explicitly stated but can be assumed from what's clearly written. Don't let the idea of making inferences trip you up; there's a best-supported answer rooted in the passage. In many ways, inference questions resemble second-level reading comprehension—knowing not just what a passage says, but what it means.

Identifying and Interpreting Figurative Language:

These questions task you with recognizing figurative language or interpreting the meaning of a figurative phrase. They're identifiable when mentioning figurative language explicitly or including a figurative phrase in the question itself. Understanding the meaning of figurative phrases usually involves considering the phrase's context in the passage—what surrounds it and what it refers to.

Literary Technique:

These questions revolve around why an author employs certain techniques, from specific phrasing to repetitive words. Identify them through words/phrases like "serves chiefly to," "effect," "evoke," and "in order to." Ask yourself: Why did the author use these words or this structure?

Character Analysis:

These questions prompt you to describe aspects of a character, referring to attitudes, opinions, beliefs, or relationships with other characters. It's a specialized inference question, inferring the broader personality of a character from passage evidence, more common in prose passages than poetry.

Overall Passage Questions:

Certain questions ask you to identify or describe elements of the passage or poem as a whole, such as its purpose, tone, or genre. Look for phrases like "in the passage" and "as a whole." Answering requires a bird's-eye view, considering the overall picture created by the details.

Some questions focus on specific structural elements like shifts in tone, digressions, or the form of a poem. They might pinpoint a part of the passage/poem, asking what it accomplishes. Identifying and understanding shifts—structural, tonal, or in genre—is crucial for these questions.

Grammar/Nuts & Bolts:

Occasionally, you might encounter specific grammar questions or super-specific inquiries like the meter of a poem. These questions delve into the technical aspects of having a strong command of the English language, less about literary artistry and more about linguistic precision.

Essay 1 and 2

Alright, so the first couple of essays are all about diving into literary analysis. You'll get a passage to check out—one from a poem and the other from some prose. Your mission? Break down that excerpt and analyze it for a specific theme, device, or development. They'll throw in some info like who wrote it, when it was roughly penned, and some context to point you in the right direction.

Now, for the grand finale essay, it's all in your hands. You get to pick a work and analyze a theme of your choice. It's your time to shine, the spotlight's on you!

Now, let's talk about the last essay. It's all about chatting up a specific theme in a work that you pick. They'll toss you a list of cool works that hit the theme, but you're also free to go rogue and pick any "work of literary merit."

Scores will typically come out in July every year, but you can also refer to the official CollegeBoard Annual calendar to monitor any chances.

Nailing a 5 on the AP English Literature and Composition exam might sound like a tough nut to crack. Just check out the 2020 stats – only 12.5% of students snagged that coveted 5. But, hey, don't let the numbers spook you! While it might make you want to throw in the towel, acing this exam is totally doable with some good old hard work, prep, and a sprinkle of determination. In this post, we're dishing out a bunch of AP English Literature tips to help you own your exam.

The AP English Lit and Comp exam are all about flexing those critical thinking muscles and diving deep into literary excerpts. It's a three-hour journey with a multiple-choice section (45% of your grade) and a free-response section (the big 55%).

The secret sauce to that sweet 5? Practice. Yep, you heard it right – practice till you drop. And guess what? We've got your back. Check out the ultimate list below – AP English Lit practice tests, study guides, real-deal prose essay examples, killer test-taking strategies, and more. Think of this page as your one-stop-shop for the ultimate AP English Literature review.

Alright, let's break down the exam scoring in a chill way. The multiple-choice part rocks 45% of your overall score, and the three essays, aka the free-response gig, take up the other 55%. So, each essay is worth around 18% of your total grade.

Now, on to the 1-5 score system – you don't need to nail every point to snag a 5. In 2022, about 16.9% of AP English Lit test-takers rocked that sweet 5. Not too shabby, right? It was the 14th highest 5 score out of the 38 AP exams floating around.

Multiple-Choice Scoring

Easy peasy – you get 1 point for every correct answer. No penalty for guessing, so take a shot at every question. But, only guess if you can kick out the answers you know are wrong and up your chances of nailing the right one.

Free-Response Scoring

This one's a bit more intricate. Each essay gets a score from 0 to 6 based on the College Board rubric. And this rubric has your back, including question-specific rubrics that are pretty darn similar with just tiny tweaks.

They'll grade you on three things:

Thesis (0-1 points)

Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)

Sophistication (0-1 points)

So, that's the lowdown on how they tally up your genius essay skills. Keep it cool and aim for those points! 

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., ap literature book list to help you prep for the exam.

There is not a required AP Literature Book List reading list for the AP English Literature and Composition Exam, but the College Board provides a long list of authors and poets with whom you should be familiar and whose work is of the caliber and density that you are expected to understand. The list may seem overwhelming, but fear not! The following tips on how to approach poems, novels, novellas, and plays for the exam, along with a curated list, will make preparing for the AP Literature Exam a little easier.

When you approach a poem on the AP English Literature exam, always read it at least twice before you go to the questions. The purpose of the first read is to get all the words in your head. Then, in your second read, focus on understanding what you’ve read in the simplest way possible. Don’t worry about symbolism Don’t worry about deeper meanings. The questions will direct you toward those aspects of the poem. Use your second read to look for the main idea. Practice reading the following poems at least twice to familiarize yourself with finding the main idea:

“Autumn Song” by W.H. Auden

“One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop

“There’s a certain Slant of light” by Emily Dickinson

“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes

“Crossing the Swamp” by Mary Oliver

"Lady Lazarus" by Sylvia Plath

“Sunday Morning” by Wallace Stevens

“I Will Keep Broken Things” by Alice Walker

“The Prelude” by William Wordsworth

“The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats

Longer Works

To be prepared for the Literary Argument, you should know at least three works very well. Two of them should be longer works that you’ve studied in class. We’ll call these the primary works.

Your primary works should be fairly hefty. One of Shakespeare’s plays or a thick, complex novel will do anything that is so rich in incident and form that no matter what the literary argument question asks, you have something to say. The following full-length works are all good choices.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Shorter Works

The third work you should prepare for the Literary Argument will act as a safeguard in case, for some reason, you can’t apply your knowledge of the other works to the question at all, or in case you need to back up your points with another example. This will be your secondary work. Trust us, the question stem may say that you need to choose only one work to discuss, but an exam reader will be hugely impressed if you can adeptly discuss two or three pieces of literature. Listed below are examples of shorter novels, novellas, and plays that are acceptable to the AP Readers.

Novellas and Short Novels:

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

Ballad of the Sad Café by Carson McCullers

Candide by Voltaire

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Hopefully this overview of how to prepare for the exam and introduction to the AP Literature book list will make studying for the AP Literature Exam more manageable.

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