AP English Lang. & Comp.
Hints for Passing the Exam!
Multiple Choice
 Practice self discipline: look at your watch to
insure that you are using your time well.
You have 1 hour for this section.
 Answer all the questions to the best of your
ability before going on to the next passage.
 Skim the questions before reading the
passage.
 Read each passage carefully & critically.
 Annotate in the test booklet; mark it up!
Multiple Choice
 Paraphrase while you are reading; rethink
the author’s ideas in your own words.
 After reading the passage, read each
question carefully.
 Read all the answer choices carefully.
Eliminate a wrong answer choice by
crossing out that letter in the test booklet.
Multiple Choice
 You don’t have to erase marks you make in
your test booklet. Underline or circle parts of
passages, write comments in the margins,
check unanswered questions, but do these
things QUICKLY.
 Don’t make extra marks on your answer
sheet, because these marks could be
counted as wrong answers.
Multiple Choice
POE – Process of Elimination
REASONS ANSWERS MIGHT BE WRONG:
 Contrary to the passage
 Irrelevant or not addressed in the passage
 Unreasonable. Where did they get that
idea? Like weird!!!
 Too general or too specific for the question
Multiple Choice
 What’s general and specific in an answer
choice?
 ie: If the question asks for the best title to
the passage, you need a general answer,
one that encompasses the content of the
entire passage. In contrast, if you’re asked
about the author’s use of a certain
quotation, the correct answer is likely to be
more specific.
Multiple Choice
 The wrong answer is wrong for a reason
and will always have an inaccurate word or
phrase.
 The correct answer will not have a single
word or phrase in it that is inaccurate.
Scoring
 Multiple choice counts for 45% of your score
 Try to answer all questions
 MC Score is the number correct minus .25
the number wrong.
 Essays are scored 9 to 0.
 If you receive 5’s on all 3 of your essays,
you would need a raw score of 18 on your
multiple choice to get a 3 on the exam. You
would need a raw score of 46 to get a 5.
Essay Section
 Synthesis Essay: This essay type presents
6 or 7 passages on the same subject; one of
these documents will likely be a visual chart,
photograph, or political cartoon. You need
to read these documents carefully, then use
3 or 4 to write a thoughtful essay in which
you present your views while acknowledging
views in your chosen documents.
Essay Section
 Argument (Persuasive) Essay:
This essay presents a passage; read it, then
discuss the extent with which you agree or
disagree.
Essay Section
 Analytical Essay: This essay presents a
passage to read, then asks you to analyze
the rhetorical and literary strategies the
author uses to create effect or meaning in
his essay.
Pacing the Essay
 Spend about 10 minutes reading the topic
and the passage carefully and planning your
essay. You can make an informal outline on
your test booklet.
Pacing the Essay
 Take about 25 minutes to write the essay.
Pacing the Essay
 Save about 5 minutes to proofread!
Planning the Essay
 Understand and appraise the author’s point.
 Relate the passage to the essay question.
As you read, always keep the essay
question/purpose in mind!
 Begin gathering concrete evidence to
support the points of your essay.
 Underline items of diction, syntax, style,
tone, etc. (for the analytical essay)
Planning the Argument Essay
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Your thesis statement
A list of supporting evidence
The order of presentation of that evidence
2-3-1 Strongest argument last! Weakest
argument in the middle.
 Speak to the opposing view. “Opponents of
this issue propose….. However,….” “Those
who disagree maintain…..On the
contrary,…”
Planning the Analysis Essay
Remember AP2 What is the author’s
Audience, Argument, Purpose, Persona?
Comment on these.
Remember Precis’
1. Name, genre, and thesis of the work
2. How does the author develop the work?
3. What’s the author’s purpose?
4. What’s the author’s audience?
Planning the Analysis Essay
 Pull out of your hat the rhetorical devices
you see in the author’s essay that contribute
to the way he/she communicates/develops
the essay. Read the prompt carefully to
determine HOW you are being asked to
analyze
How can I cram tonight?
 Go over the yellow rhetorical terms quiz.
 Look over your class rhetorical terms.
 Skim through the Cracking the AP English
Language and Composition book.
 Check your writing folder for comments
made by Mrs. Hanson on your writing.
Hints for success
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Get a good night’s rest!
Bring some water and chewing gum.
Don’t bring cell phones into the testing area.
Watch the clock during the exam!
In the essay section, don’t spend too much
time on reading or planning. The majority of
your time should be spent writing.
RELAX!
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You have been prepared well.
You have read and written many essays.
You are an above average writer!
You have a teacher who has been trained by
the AP Board to teach this class.
 You are awesome!
 BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!