To three…or not to three
TO THREE, that is the answer.
Tips for the AP Exam
Overview of Score
• Total composite score=150
• 55% is the essay section, so each point is worth
around 3ish points
• 45% is the multiple choice section, so depending
on how many questions that year, around 1.3ish
points each
College Credit…
• 100-150 points=5 AP Score
• 99-86=4 AP Score
• 85-67=3 AP Score
‘Twas the night before…
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Eat
Sleep
Review
Trust
Good morning AP exam!
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Thursday May 9th
Eat
Dress comfortably
Be on time, 7:15 at the latest
Remember:
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Your score does not define you
You each have grown immensely
I am proud of you
I love you 
Multiple Choice
• 45-60 questions on 4-5 college-level prose/poetry
selections
• Analysis trumps content
• Spend a minute browsing the whole section so
that you can know what to expect
• Record start/stop time
• MOVE FORWARD IN A TIMELY MANNER
• Highlight/annotate
• Cross out wrong answers
• Hear the words as you read
Remember…
ANSWER
EVERY
QUESTION
Essays
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You can choose order
Pay attention to timing cues
Annotate!!!
Use evidence, explain, prove, connect, show,
demonstrate, interpret
Analyze, don’t summarize
Introduce, but don’t get caught up (leave a few lines)
Conclude, but don’t get caught up
Mention author/poet and title in intro/con
Develop all THREE essays
Use academic language—especially verbs
Remember…
Not only what,
but how
Prose Essay
Timing…
• 1-3—working the prompt
• 5—reading/annotating
• 10—prep/plan
• 20—write (leave a few lines after intro)
• 3—review, revise, edit, add, delete, change
Remember…
 The author creates
 The narrator speaks
 They are not the same
 Novels and plays are underlined
 Address ALL of prompt
 Shift, complexity, ambiguity, depth, varied, dynamic
Poetry Essay
Timing…
• 1-3—working the prompt
• 5—reading/annotating
• 10—prep/plan
• 20—write (leave a few lines after intro)
• 3—review, revise, edit, add, delete, change
Remember…
 The poet creates
 The speaker speaks
 They are not the same
 Poems are put in “quotes”
 Address ALL of prompt
 Shift, complexity, ambiguity, depth, varied, dynamic
Shift happens!
• Look for it
• Make meaning with it
• Write about it
Free-Response Essay
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Concept based
Choose any novel or play from the year (or of AP merit)
DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE LIST
More than plot summary!!!
Think of How To books
Use SPECIFIC references (if you have quotes memorized, awesome;
if not, examples from the texts such as characters, conversations,
symbols, literary devices, events, moments, memories, etc)
Timing…
• 1-3—working the prompt
• 3-5—select text
• 10—prep/plan
• 20—write (leave a few lines after intro)
• 3—review, revise, edit, add, delete, change
Remember…
DIVE DEEPLY,
don’t stay at the surface
Review Strategies
• Texts
– Cheat sheets
– Reread pivotal scenes
– DJ, post-its, study guides
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Literary device flashcards and exams
Portfolio
Anchor charts around the room
Past prompts
Upgraded verbs
Poetry “bible”
Remember…
You are prepared to
do your best…
that is all I ask, that is all you should ask of
yourself 