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AP English Exam Essay Tips
USINFO | 2014-01-03 15:17
There are two College Board Advanced Placement English exams, AP English Literature and AP English Language and Composition. While each corresponds to a distinct curriculum, they measure a similar set of skills, including reading comprehension and the ability to compose well-constructed, intelligent and persuasive essays. The following tips should help improve your score on either.
Pacing
●You will spend the majority of your time on both AP English exams writing essays---each test designates 135 minutes to the essay section and 60 minutes to multiple choice questions. Your performance on this section contributes to 55 percent of your total score. Learning how to pace yourself when writing essays will have a big impact on your overall performance. The Cliffs Notes test preparation manual estimates that you will have about 40 minutes per essay. It recommends spending 10 minutes reading the question and organizing your response, 25 minutes writing the essay and five minutes proofreading your work.
Writing Well
●A widely circulated list of suggestions compiled by graders of AP English examinations indicates that students who pay attention to simple rules of composition will ratchet up their scores. Read the prompt and make sure you answer it thoroughly. Plan your response, including a strong thesis statement that sets up your argument without parroting the question and smooth transitions that will guide your reader through your ideas. Write economically, using as few words as possible to make your point, and don't over-inflate your vocabulary.
Multiple Choice
●While the multiple choice questions constitute the smaller portion of the exam, students often report that this section poses their biggest challenge, according to advice for teachers published by The College Board, the organization that develops the AP tests. Students should regularly practice questions that might appear on the exam in conjunction with an AP course. The College Board recommends underlining key words and ideas in the question or passage to maintain your focus. Anticipate what the answer might be before looking at your choices. During practice tests, try to analyze what the questions are asking, paying close attention to key words, to familiarize yourself with the types of questions you might see on the actual exam.
Pacing
●You will spend the majority of your time on both AP English exams writing essays---each test designates 135 minutes to the essay section and 60 minutes to multiple choice questions. Your performance on this section contributes to 55 percent of your total score. Learning how to pace yourself when writing essays will have a big impact on your overall performance. The Cliffs Notes test preparation manual estimates that you will have about 40 minutes per essay. It recommends spending 10 minutes reading the question and organizing your response, 25 minutes writing the essay and five minutes proofreading your work.
Writing Well
●A widely circulated list of suggestions compiled by graders of AP English examinations indicates that students who pay attention to simple rules of composition will ratchet up their scores. Read the prompt and make sure you answer it thoroughly. Plan your response, including a strong thesis statement that sets up your argument without parroting the question and smooth transitions that will guide your reader through your ideas. Write economically, using as few words as possible to make your point, and don't over-inflate your vocabulary.
Multiple Choice
●While the multiple choice questions constitute the smaller portion of the exam, students often report that this section poses their biggest challenge, according to advice for teachers published by The College Board, the organization that develops the AP tests. Students should regularly practice questions that might appear on the exam in conjunction with an AP course. The College Board recommends underlining key words and ideas in the question or passage to maintain your focus. Anticipate what the answer might be before looking at your choices. During practice tests, try to analyze what the questions are asking, paying close attention to key words, to familiarize yourself with the types of questions you might see on the actual exam.
