Practice Tests

The final section of the book offers the opportunity to take four full-length practice tests that include all question types found on the actual exam. A comprehensive answer explanation is provided for each multiple-choice question, and a sample essay and rubric are provided for all writing. Take all of the practice tests, of course. They are meant to give you that extra edge that turns a good AP score into a better one.

Online Practice

There are three full-length online practice exams. You may take these exams in practice (untimed) mode or in timed mode. All questions include answer explanations.

For Students

Your score on the test is reported on a scale of 1–5. In general, scores are interpreted to mean that you are:

5Extremely well qualified

4Well qualifed

3Qualified

2Possibly qualified

1 Not recommended for AP credit

A high score on the exam demonstrates a proficiency in English at least on a par with students who’ve passed an introductory college-level course in composition or rhetoric. Some colleges award academic credit or offer more advanced English courses to high-scoring students. Because each college or university makes its own policies regarding AP scores, be sure to check with the admissions office of the institution you hope to attend.

Keep in mind that preparation for the exam isn’t instantaneous. For most students it’s a gradual and often painstaking process of study, review, and more study. In other words, give yourself time. Take it slowly. If the exam is months away, set aside, say, 30 minutes a day to work your way through the pages of this book. Yes, 30 minutes takes a big bite out of a high school student’s day, but to get ready for the AP exam, there’s no substitute for the steady accumulation of knowledge over a long period of time. If time is short between now and the exam, cramming may help you earn a good score, especially if you familiarize yourself with the test instructions and the format of the exam—but, frankly, cramming is a less than perfect approach.

Regardless of how you go about preparing for the exam, I wish you luck. In May, when test day comes around, more than 500,000 students will be taking the exam. I wish every one of them lots of luck, but because you have used this book to prepare, I’ll be rooting especially for you.

George Ehrenhaft

For AP English Teachers

For many AP teachers across the country, this book has been an invaluable resource. They’ve used questions and exercises from the book to stimulate thinking and inspire their students to write high-scoring essays. Some teachers have used the book as an instant syllabus for their classes because it contains so much of what a high-level course in language and composition might offer, including:

-Reading passages that range from easy to hard

-Numerous exam questions, discussed and analyzed

-Essential rhetorical terms

-Sample student essays (with comments by AP readers)

-Annotated passages

-An analysis of the synthesis essay question

-A full-length Diagnostic Test

-Four complete practice exams

-Three additional exams online

-Full explanations of all answers

As a veteran AP teacher, I know both the rewards you enjoy and the onerous hardships you face every day. Here’s hoping that this book will lighten your load and help you provide your students with the best possible instruction as you prepare them for the AP exam.