AP Literature Test Information
Last Minute Tips
Multiple Choice
1. You don’t have to go in order. Select the passages you feel more confident about to answer first since MOST students run out of time. If poetry is your weakness, save those sections for last.
2. Be careful when filling in bubbles if you skip around.
3. Study the main literary devices from our list.
4. Don’t leave any blank. Even if you have 10 questions left, guess! At least you’ll have 20% chance of being correct.
Free Response Essays
1. Remember that essay 1 is about poetry. Remember to refer to the speaker and stanzas when you discuss the poem. Try to discuss tone if possible. (Remember TPSFASTT) "Poetry titles" are written with quotes around them.
Essay 2 is about how the author develops a character or characters. Characters are developed through the literary devices. Usually the topic is about 1 of 3 things: 1. the character themselves 2. the character in relation to others or 3. the character in relation to their environment
Essay 3 is an open-ended theme question. Don’t worry if your book is not on the list. Write about it! Remember to write about literary devices (style analysis)
Please pre-write for every essay (see the outline below)
3. Don’t forget to discuss universal truth in all 3 essays. This shows you really understand the big issues portrayed in the novel.
4. Show off your literary analysis skills. We did some deep analysis this year so try and recreate it in your writing.
5. Please don’t leave any essay unfinished. This will guarantee that you won’t pass. Even if you feel like one of your essays is week, don’t give up on the other
6. Don’t try to find the perfect way to state things. That will waste too much time. Focus on clearly explaining your point rather than trying to use elevated vocabulary. That won’t help you pass.
Enter the test confidently because you are all well prepared. Even if the test is hard stay focused and try your best for the entire 3 hours (or else!). I believe in you guys!!!
1. You don’t have to go in order. Select the passages you feel more confident about to answer first since MOST students run out of time. If poetry is your weakness, save those sections for last.
2. Be careful when filling in bubbles if you skip around.
3. Study the main literary devices from our list.
4. Don’t leave any blank. Even if you have 10 questions left, guess! At least you’ll have 20% chance of being correct.
Free Response Essays
1. Remember that essay 1 is about poetry. Remember to refer to the speaker and stanzas when you discuss the poem. Try to discuss tone if possible. (Remember TPSFASTT) "Poetry titles" are written with quotes around them.
Essay 2 is about how the author develops a character or characters. Characters are developed through the literary devices. Usually the topic is about 1 of 3 things: 1. the character themselves 2. the character in relation to others or 3. the character in relation to their environment
Essay 3 is an open-ended theme question. Don’t worry if your book is not on the list. Write about it! Remember to write about literary devices (style analysis)
Please pre-write for every essay (see the outline below)
3. Don’t forget to discuss universal truth in all 3 essays. This shows you really understand the big issues portrayed in the novel.
4. Show off your literary analysis skills. We did some deep analysis this year so try and recreate it in your writing.
5. Please don’t leave any essay unfinished. This will guarantee that you won’t pass. Even if you feel like one of your essays is week, don’t give up on the other
6. Don’t try to find the perfect way to state things. That will waste too much time. Focus on clearly explaining your point rather than trying to use elevated vocabulary. That won’t help you pass.
Enter the test confidently because you are all well prepared. Even if the test is hard stay focused and try your best for the entire 3 hours (or else!). I believe in you guys!!!
Open Topic Question:
Most Frequent Books Listed as Titles to Write About
Preparing for the Open Topic Question
Use this data sheet for three novels and plays: You may choose from Fences, The Handmaids Tale, The Stranger and Invisible Man and others you have studied in the past. Do not copy off of the internet, this is plagiarism. You will turn it all in as one document into Turnitin prior to May 8th.
or
Include:
1. Title of work, author and date written.
2. Significance of title of work.
3. Characters (major or minor) with brief description of each, and his or her role in the work. (Include at least 2 adjectives for each and some commentary.)
4. Brief plot outline.
5. Major themes of work (single words and phrases) with elaboration for each. (These need to be universal, not plot driven.)
6. Author's techniques (style) which are integral to the work.
7. Author's purpose in writing the book, as well as tone, point of view, or anything else that may help in understanding or analyzing the piece.
8. Larger issues that may have prompted this work, or on which the author may have meant to comment, including historical perspective, allusions or homages to other works, and any social impact of the book. (May or may NOT be the same as theme.)
or
Include:
1. Title of work, author and date written.
2. Significance of title of work.
3. Characters (major or minor) with brief description of each, and his or her role in the work. (Include at least 2 adjectives for each and some commentary.)
4. Brief plot outline.
5. Major themes of work (single words and phrases) with elaboration for each. (These need to be universal, not plot driven.)
6. Author's techniques (style) which are integral to the work.
7. Author's purpose in writing the book, as well as tone, point of view, or anything else that may help in understanding or analyzing the piece.
8. Larger issues that may have prompted this work, or on which the author may have meant to comment, including historical perspective, allusions or homages to other works, and any social impact of the book. (May or may NOT be the same as theme.)
Timed Writing Resources (Q1, Q2, Q3)
TIPS FOR TIMED WRITING:
2 minutes BREAK DOWN PROMPT
3 minutes READ/ANNOTATE/CHOOSE
Try to isolate 2 quotations (PROSE) or LINES/WORDS (POETRY) or EXAMPLES (OPEN TOPIC)
3 minutes OUTLINE
30 minutes WRITE THE ESSAY
2 minutes PROOFREAD
2 minutes BREAK DOWN PROMPT
3 minutes READ/ANNOTATE/CHOOSE
Try to isolate 2 quotations (PROSE) or LINES/WORDS (POETRY) or EXAMPLES (OPEN TOPIC)
3 minutes OUTLINE
30 minutes WRITE THE ESSAY
2 minutes PROOFREAD
Multiple Choice
- 5 answer choices are typically given
- A question left blank receives zero credit (don’t leave blanks…guess)
- Number right = raw score
- 45‑55 correct scores a 5;
39‑44 correct = 4;
29‑38 correct = 3;
15‑28 correct = 2;
0‑14 correct = 1
Scoring
- 55% is for the essays (82.5 points) (pts. X 3.055) + (pts. X 3.055) + (pts. X 3.055) = essay raw score
- 45% is for the multiple choice (67.5 points)
- 150 – 100 pts. = 5
- 99 – 86 pts. = 4
- 85 – 67 pts. = 3
- Total composite score is 150
- Grades 2 and 1 fall below this range. You don’t want to go there.
AP Pass- This site includes a score calculator for you to use after the practice test.
Saturday Practice Session Agenda
Saturday Practice Session Agenda
What to Know about Literary Devices?
Here is a list of important need to know terms from The Princeton Review book and a site to get the definition: Literary Terms
Jeopardy Review
Jeopardy Review
Test Prep Homework
Here is the test prep homework schedule
Peterson AP English Study Guide | |
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