AP English Literature Exam Strategies in a Nutshell
I.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. You are allotted ONE hour to answer 45-60 questions on 4-5 prose and
poetry selections.
2. Question types include the following: inferences (in which you will be
asked to conclude, imply, infer or assume based on the evidence in the
text), identify literary terms such as characterization, symbolism, imagery,
foreshadowing, conflict, allusion and more (techniques, elements, and
devices in both prose and poetry) and the author’s purpose for using them
in the passages, vocabulary/diction (word choice) and their use in the
passages, development (which includes shift, progress and change) of
passages, speaker’s attitude/tone, organization/structure of passages,
contrasts and comparisons within passages, antecedent (pronoun-noun
agreement), and overall summary/main ideas of the passages.
3. Before you read the prose and poetry passages, scan the questions,
looking for line #s (which you should underline in the passages first) and
key words that you will focus on during the reading.
4. Annotate as you read, focusing on question types and key words in the
questions.
5. Be aware of titles, dates of publication (when was the passage
published?), author and footnotes.
6. Use Process of Elimination to get rid of obviously wrong answers. If you
can eliminate at least one wrong answer, then you should answer the
question. Each correct answer will add a point to your score. You will not
lose any points for wrong answers, so guess if you’re running out of time.
7. When short on time, answer specific line questions and vocabulary
questions.
8. Do not spend too much time on questions which require you to examine
all of the answer choices, such as “all of the following…except” and
“which of the following…”
II.
Essay Questions
1. Timing the Prose and Poetry Essays: 1-3 minutes for working the
prompt, 15 minutes for reading and annotating the prose/poetry selection
and preparing to write, 20 minutes to write your essay, and 3 minutes for
proofreading. Timing the Free-Response Essay: 1-3 minutes for working
the prompt, 3-5 minutes for choosing your literary work (novel or play),
10 minutes for brainstorming/outlining/pre-writing your essay, 20 minutes
for writing your essay, and 3 minutes for proofreading.
2. Common types of prose passage essay questions: character’s
development through a predicament (conflict) or major event, attitude of
the speaker/author toward a subject, compare/contrast ideas or themes
within the passage, analysis of literary techniques to support
characterization, author’s style or tone, and the development of the
passage as a whole.
3. Common types of poetry essay questions: significance of the language
(vocabulary/diction) of the poem, comparison/contrast within the poem or
between poems, characterization and its significance, speaker’s
tone/attitude/viewpoint, significance of poetic devices (such as: imagery,
point of view, symbolism), and change/development/shift in the poem.
4. Common types of free-response essay questions: a character’s journey,
transformation or struggle, change/development/shift in the work of
literature, how a minor character is used to develop a major character,
characters’ relationships and their significance, conflict between
characters, and more.
5. Do NOT summarize text in your essays.
6. Address the prompt by using echo words (this requires clearly and
effectively working the question prompts) repeatedly throughout your
essays.
7. Use prior knowledge to help you understand the prose
passage/poem/novel, but don’t write about your prior knowledge in the
essays. Focus on the text only.
8. Use sophisticated language, including vocabulary and sentence structure.
Exceptionally good writing may compensate for a mediocre analysis and
raise a score.
9. Know and apply plentiful literary devices.
10. Grab your readers’ attention with a strong, yet concise introduction.
11. Compose long and detailed body paragraphs that address your
understanding of the essay question prompt. The body paragraphs should
include abundant, direct references to the text and their connections to the
question prompt.
12. Organize, Organize, Organize! Do this through repetition of key ideas
(in new words), echo words (synonyms) and transitions within and
between paragraphs.
13. Include direct quotes (for the prose and poetry selections) and explain
their significance to the essay question prompt.
14. Conclude your essays, even with one-two sentences if you’re short on
time.
III.
General Strategies for ALL parts of the exam
1. Pay attention to the time constraints: 1 hour for multiple choice questions
(45% of exam) and 2 hours for the 3 essay questions (55% of exam). Each
essay should take about 40 minutes.
2. Read directions carefully!
3. Underline/Circle key words in question prompts.
4. Annotate the passages and poems purposefully, carefully and closely,
taking up all the space in the margins. Fill up much of the space provided.
5. Identify literary devices in the margins and understand how they
contribute to the poem/passage as a whole. Remember to ask: So What?
Why is this device important and what does it serve to the overall meaning
of the text? Why did the author choose this device?
6. Pay attention to the author’s point of view and tone in each text.
7. Make inferences based on the textual evidence.
8. Use your vocabulary skills and your other language knowledge/skills to
help with unfamiliar words.
9. Pay attention to context clues in understanding difficult vocabulary.
10. Know and apply MANY literary devices, including structure and style.
11. Pay attention to the titles of passages and poems.
12. Be confident in your knowledge and preparation.
13. Sleep well, eat well (especially a good, hearty breakfast), get to the exam
early, use the bathroom before taking the exam, and bring two pens,
two pencils and a good eraser.