Petersons AP English Literature _ Composition

Peterson’s
AP English Literature
& Composition
Margaret C. Moran
W. Frances Holder


About Thomson Peterson’s
Thomson Peterson’s (www.petersons.com) is a leading provider of education information and advice, with books and
online resources focusing on education search, test preparation, and financial aid. Its Web site offers searchable
databases and interactive tools for contacting educational institutions, online practice tests and instruction, and planning
tools for securing financial aid. Thomson Peterson’s serves 110 million education consumers annually.
For more information, contact Thomson Peterson’s, 2000 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648;
800-338-3282; or find us on the World Wide Web at www.petersons.com/about.
COPYRIGHT © 2006 Thomson Peterson’s, a part of The Thomson Corporation
Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.
Previously published as AP Success: English Literature & Composition.
Editor: Wallie Walker-Hammond; Production Editor: Alysha Bullock; Manufacturing
Manager: Ivona Skibicki; Composition Manager: Linda M. Williams.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be
reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution, or information storage and
retrieval systems—without the prior written permission of the publisher.
For permission to use material from this text or product, submit a request online at
www.thomsonrights.com
Any additional questions about permissions can be submitted by e-mail to

ISBN 0-7689-2230-5
Printed in the United States of America
10

9

8

7

First Edition

6

5

4

3

2 1

08 07 06


Petersons.com/publishing
Check out our Web site at www.petersons.com/publishing to see if there is any new information regarding the test and
any revisions or corrections to the content of this book. We’ve made sure the information in this book is accurate and
up-to-date; however, the test format or content may have changed since the time of publication.


OTHER RECOMMENDED TITLES
Peterson’s
Peterson’s

Peterson’s
Peterson’s
Peterson’s
Peterson’s
Peterson’s

AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP

Calculus AB & BC
Chemistry
English Language & Composition
European History
U.S. Government & Politics
U.S. History
World History


CONTENTS
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ix
1

10 Facts About the AP English Literature Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 Strategies for Acing the Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Plan for Studying for the AP English Literature Test. . .
The Panic Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scoring High on the AP English Literature Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggested Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Quick Reference Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table of Literary Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Why Take the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1
4
6
10
12
16
21
22
24

PART I: AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION BASICS
Chapter 1

About the AP English Literature and
Composition Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Basic Information About the Multiple-Choice Section . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Plan of Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27

27
28
29

PART II: DIAGNOSING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Practice Test 1: Diagnostic Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Self-Evaluation Rubric for the Advanced Placement Essays . . . . .

37
39
51
56
69

PART III: AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION REVIEW
Chapter 2

About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to Prose
Recommendations for Acing Prose Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sample Questions on Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Exercise 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Exercise 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Exercise 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

v

72
72
75
76
81
85
87
90
93
96
100


CONTENTS

Practice Exercise 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

103
106

About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to
Poetry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommendations for Acing Poetry Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sample Questions on Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Exercise 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Exercise 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Exercise 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Exercise 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

109
109
113
114
117
120
123
125
128
130
132
134
138

Chapter 4

About the “9” Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Basic Information About the Essay Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Good Writing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Planning and Writing Each Essay: Practice Advice . . . . . . . . . . . .

140
140
141
142
144

Chapter 5

About the Free Response Essay on Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What Will You Be Asked to Do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What Will You Need to Do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reading the Material. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Writing the Essay About a Prose Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Analyzing Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sample Essay on Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Sample Essay on Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Self-Evaluation Rubric for the Advanced Placement Essays . . . . .

145

145
145
146
147
147
148
150
152
155
157
158
160
161
163
165
166
168

Chapter 6

About the Free Response Essay on Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reading the Material. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Writing the Essay About a Poetry Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Analyzing Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sample Essay on Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

171
171
172

173
174
176

Chapter 3

vi
www.petersons.com


CONTENTS

Suggestions for Sample Essay on Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Self-Evaluation Rubric for the Advanced Placement Essays . . . . .

177
180
181
182
183
184
185

186
188
191

Chapter 7

About the Open Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What Will You Be Asked to Do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing for the Open Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Evaluating Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sample Open Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Sample Open Essay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suggestions for Practice Essay 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Self-Evaluation Rubric for the Advanced Placement Essays . . . . .

194
194
195
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204

205

Chapter 8

A Quick Review of Grammar et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grammar for the Multiple-Choice Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Some Practical Advice on Writing Your Essays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

207
207
209

Chapter 9

A Quick Review of Literary Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

217

PART IV: WORKSHEETS
Free Response Worksheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Planning and Writing Your Free Response Essay:
10 Easy Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 1—Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 2—Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 3—Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 4—Prose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 1—Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 2—Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 3—Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 4—Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

228

Open Response Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Planning and Writing Your Open Essay: 10 Easy Steps . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Practice Essay 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

261
261
262
266

228
229
233
237
241
245
249
253
257

vii
www.petersons.com


CONTENTS

PART V: PRACTICE TESTS

Practice Test 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Self-Evaluation Rubric for the Advanced Placement Essays . . . . .

272
274
286
290
302

Practice Test 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Self-Evaluation Rubric for the Advanced Placement Essays . . . . .

304
306
317
322
335

Practice Test 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answer Key and Explanations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Self-Evaluation Rubric for the Advanced Placement Essays . . . . .

337
339
351
355
368

viii
www.petersons.com


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Poem 621, “The Wind—tapped like a tired Man . . .” reprinted by permission of the publishers and the Trustees of Amherst College from The
Poems of Emily Dickinson, ed. by Ralph W. Franklin, Cambridge,
Mass.: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Copyright 1998
by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. Copyright 1951, 1955,
1979 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College.
Text from the Preface of Modern American Poetry, 5th Revised
Edition, ed. by Louis Untermeyer. Copyright 1919, 1921, 1925, 1930,
1936 by Harcourt, Brace & Co., Inc. Reprinted by permission of
Professional Publishing Service.
Text excerpt from “Politics and the English Language” from Shooting
an Elephant and Other Essays by George Orwell. Copyright 1946 by
Sonia Brownell Orwell and renewed 1974 by Sonia Orwell. Reprinted
by permission of Harcourt, Inc. and A. M. Heath & Company, Ltd.
“Fueled” from Serve Me a Slice of Moon by Marcie Hans. Copyright
1965 by Marcie Hans and renewed 1993 by Ernestine Hans. Reprinted
by permission of Harcourt, Inc.
“Address to the Graduating Class” from Essays, Speeches & Public
Letters by William Faulkner, ed. by James B. Meriweather. Copyright
1951 by William Faulkner. Reprinted by permission of Random

House, Inc. and Chatto & Windus, Ltd.
“Night Clouds” from The Complete Poetical Works of Amy Lowell.
Copyright 1955 by Houghton Mifflin, Co. Copyright renewed 1983 by
Houghton Mifflin Co., Brinton P. Roberts, and G. D’Andelot Belin, Esq.
Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Co. All rights reserved.
“Douglass” from The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Originally published by Dodd, Mead & Co.
Abridged excerpt from The House of the Dead by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, trans. by Constance Garnett. Translation copyright 1923 by
Macmillan Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission of Simon &
Schuster and Random House UK Ltd.
“July Storm” from Down Half the World by Elizabeth Coatsworth.
Copyright 1924, 1926, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955,
1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1968 by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Beton. Reprinted by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co.

ix



INTRODUCTION
10 FACTS ABOUT THE AP ENGLISH LITERATURE TEST

1.

THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM OFFERS STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY
RECEIVE COLLEGE CREDIT FOR COURSES THEY TAKE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

TO

The AP program is a collaborative effort of secondary schools,

colleges and universities, and the College Board through which
students who are enrolled in AP or honors courses in any one or
more of eighteen subject areas may receive credit or advanced
placement for college-level work completed in high school. While the
College Board makes recommendations about course content, it does
not prescribe content. As a result, the annual testing program ensures
a degree of comparability among courses in the same subject.

2.

MORE THAN 2,900 COLLEGES
AP PROGRAM.

AND

UNIVERSITIES PARTICIPATE

IN THE

Neither the College Board nor your high school awards AP credit.
You need to find out from the colleges to which you are planning to
apply whether they grant credit and/or use AP scores for placement.
It is IMPORTANT that you obtain each school’s policy IN WRITING
so that when you actually choose one college and register, you will
have proof of what you were told.

3.

THE AP ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION TEST MEASURES YOUR ABILITY
TO READ AND WRITE ANALYTICALLY.

According to the College Board’s course description, an AP English
Literature course should prepare students to read literature in order
to experience, interpret, and evaluate it, and to write about literature
to understand, explain, and evaluate it. The test will ask you to use
the skills you have developed in careful reading and analytical writing
to examine, answer questions about, and discuss pieces of literature
that most likely are unfamiliar to you.

1


INTRODUCTION

4.

THE AP ENGLISH LITERATURE TEST HAS TWO PARTS: MULTIPLE CHOICE
AND ESSAYS.
Study Strategy

See Chapters 1–3 for multiple-choice strategies.
See Chapters 4–7 for strategies for writing essays.

5.

THE POETRY AND PROSE PASSAGES COVER ENGLISH
FROM THE ENGLISH RENAISSANCE TO THE PRESENT.
Study Strategy

THERE

IS

AND

AMERICAN LITERATURE

On occasion, translations of European literature appear on the test,
but for the most part, you will find poetry and prose passages
(fiction, nonfiction, and drama) that were originally written in
English. That means the authorship could also be African, Australian,
Canadian, Indian, or West Indian. There is no way you can read every
possible piece of literature that might appear, but you can hone your
skills and work up example pieces.

See “Suggested Reading,”
p. 16.

6.

Section I: Multiple Choice has 50–55 questions divided among two
poems and two prose passages (about 10 to 15 questions for each
passage). This section counts for 45 percent of your total score, and
you have 60 minutes to complete it.
In Section II, you have three essays to write: a free response
essay analyzing a poem, a free response essay analyzing a prose
passage, and an open essay on a topic that you are given. The essays
count for 55 percent of your total score, approximately 18 percentage points for each essay. You have 40 minutes to write each essay
(120 minutes total).

NO REQUIRED LENGTH

7. YOU WILL GET

FOR YOUR ESSAYS.
It is the quality, not the quantity, that counts. Realistically, a oneparagraph essay is not going to garner you a high mark because you
cannot develop a well-reasoned analysis and present it effectively in a
single paragraph. An essay of five paragraphs is a good goal. By
following this model, you can set out your ideas with an interesting
introduction, develop a reasoned body, and provide a solid ending.

A

Test-Taking Strategy
See “Scoring High on the AP
English Lit Test,” p. 12.

COMPOSITE SCORE

FOR

The College Board reports a single score from 1 to 5 for the two-part
test, with 5 being the highest. By understanding how you can balance
the number of questions you need to answer correctly against the
essay score you need to receive in order to get at least a “3,” you can
relieve some of your anxiety about passing the test.

2
www.petersons.com

YOUR TEST.

INTRODUCTION

8.

EDUCATED GUESSING CAN HELP.

Test-Taking Strategy

No points are deducted for questions that go unanswered on the
multiple-choice section, and don’t expect to have time to answer
them all. A quarter of a point is deducted for each wrong answer.
The College Board suggests guessing IF you know something about a
question and can eliminate a couple of the answer choices. Call it
“educated guessing.”

See “Scoring High on the AP
English Lit Test,” p. 12.

9.

THE TEST IS GIVEN

10.

STUDYING

IN MID-MAY.
Most likely, the test will be given at your school, so you do not have

to worry about finding a strange school building in a strange city.
You will be in familiar surroundings—that should reduce your anxiety
a bit. If the test is given in another school, be sure to take identification with you.

FOR THE

Study Strategy
Stop first at p. 6 and read
“Practice Plan for Studying
for the AP English Lit Test.”

TEST CAN MAKE

A

DIFFERENCE.

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the format and directions
for each part of the test. Then, you will not waste time on the day of
the test trying to understand what you are supposed to do. The
second step is to put those analytical skills you have been learning to
work, dissecting and understanding the kinds of questions you will be
asked. The third step is to practice “writing-on-demand” for the
essays. So, turn the page, and let’s get started.

3
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

10 STRATEGIES FOR ACING THE TEST

PREPARING

FOR THE

TEST
1. Read the AP Course Description for English available from the
College Board, and 10 Facts About the AP English Lit Test, on
pages 1 to 3 in this book.
2. Choose your Practice Plan from page 6 in this book.
3. Choose a place and time to study every day, and stick to your
routine and your plan.
4. Complete the Diagnostic and Practice Tests in this book. They
will give you just what they promise: practice. Practice in
reading and following the directions, practice in pacing yourself,
practice in understanding and answering multiple-choice questions, and practice in writing timed essays.
5. Complete all your assignments for your regular AP English class.
Ask questions in class, talk about what you read and write, and
enjoy what you are doing. The test is supposed to measure your
development as an educated and thinking reader.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

THE

TEST
6. Gather what you will need for the test: your admission materials,
four number 2 pencils, two pens, a watch (without an alarm),

and a healthy snack for the break. Put these items in a place
where you will not forget them in the morning.
7. Don’t cram. Relax. Go to a movie, visit a friend—but not one
who is taking the test with you. Get a good night’s sleep.

4
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

THE DAY

OF THE

TEST
8. Wear comfortable clothes. If you have a lucky color or a lucky
piece of clothing or jewelry, wear it—as long as you won’t
distract anyone else. Take along a lucky charm if you have one.
9. If you do not usually eat a big breakfast, this is not the morning
to change your routine, but it is probably a good idea to eat
something nutritious if you can.
10. If you feel yourself getting anxious, concentrate on taking a
couple of deep breaths. Remember, you don’t have to answer all
the questions, you can use EDUCATED GUESSES, and you don’t
have to write three “9” essays.

5
www.petersons.com

INTRODUCTION

PRACTICE PLAN FOR STUDYING FOR THE
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE TEST
The following plan should be followed for nine weeks. The best
study plan is one that continues through a full semester. Then you
have time to think about ideas and to talk with your teacher and
other students about what you are learning, and you will not feel
rushed. Staying relaxed about the test is important. A full-semester
study plan also means that you can apply what you are learning here
to classwork—your essay writing—and apply your classwork—
everything that you are reading—to test preparation. The plan is
worked out so that you should spend about 3 hours on each lesson.

WEEK 1
First: Take the Diagnostic Test, pp. 37–55, and complete the
self-scoring process. List the areas that you had difficulty with,
such as timing, question types, and writing on demand.
Then: Reread pp. 1–3 about the basic facts of the test and its
scoring.

WEEK 2
Lesson 1

• Read 10 Strategies for Acing the Test, beginning on p. 4.
• Reread pp. 12–15 to remind yourself that a score of at least “3” is
achieveable.
• Review the list you made after the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic to
see what you need to learn about the multiple-choice section.

• Read Chapter 1, About the AP English Literature and Composition
Test, p. 27.
• Read Chapter 2, About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to
Prose, p. 72.
• Do two sets of practice questions at the end of the chapter and
review the answers.

Lesson 2

• Review Chapter 2, About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to
Prose, p. 72, and do another two sets of practice questions at the
end of the chapter.
• Review the answers for these practice questions.

6
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

WEEK 3
Lesson 1

• Reread 10 Strategies for Acing the Test, p. 4.
• Reread Scoring High on the AP English Lit Test, pp. 12–15, to
remind yourself that a score of at least “3” is achieveable. It may
seem boring by now, but it is important to remember that the test
score does not ride on the essays.
• Review Chapter 1, About the AP English Literature and Composition Test, p. 27.
• Review the list you made after the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic to

see what you need to learn about the multiple-choice section.
• Read Chapter 3, About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to
Poetry, p. 109.
• Do two sets of practice questions at the end of the chapter and
review the answers.

Lesson 2

• Review Chapter 3, About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to
Poetry, p. 109, and do another two sets of practice questions at the
end of the chapter.
• Review the answers for these practice questions.

WEEK 4
Lesson 1

• Answer the multiple-choice section of Practice Test 2 and complete
the self-scoring process.
• Compare the score to the score on the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic.
Which question types continue to be a concern?
• Reread Chapters 1, 2, and 3 as needed.

Lesson 2

• Read Chapter 4, About the “9” Essay, p. 140, and practice the
activities.
• Read Chapter 8, A Quick Review of Grammar et al, p. 207.

7
www.petersons.com

INTRODUCTION

WEEK 5
Lesson 1

• Read Chapter 5, About the Free Response Essay on Prose, p. 145,
and write one essay from the list at the end of the chapter.
• Complete the self-scoring process and compare your score to the
score on the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic prose essay.
• Ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to evaluate
your essay using the scoring guide.

Lesson 2

• Read Chapter 6, About the Free Response Essay on Poetry, p. 171,
and write one of the practice essays from the list at the end of the
chapter.
• Complete the self-scoring process, and compare your score to the
score on the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic poetry essay.
• Again, ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to
evaluate your essay using the scoring guide.

WEEK 6
Lesson 1

• Complete the free response essays (not the open essay question)
on Practice Test 2, and score your essays against the rubrics.
• Again, ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to

evaluate your essay using the scoring guide.
• Compare your scores to the scores on the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic. Where did you improve? Where does your writing still need
work?
• Reread Chapters 5 and 6 as needed.

Lesson 2

• Read Chapter 7, About the Open Essay, p. 194, and write one of
the practice essays.
• Complete the self-scoring process and compare your score against
the score on the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic.
• Again, ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to
evaluate your essay on the scoring guide. Where did you improve?
Where does your writing still need work?
• Reread Chapter 7 as needed.

8
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

WEEK 7
Lesson 1

• Answer the open essay question on Practice Test 2 and score your
essay against the rubric.
• Ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to evaluate
your essay on the scoring guide as well. Compare it to the score on
the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic.

• Choose a book or play that you have studied and work it up using
the suggestions in Chapter 7 as a guide.

Lesson 2

• Choose another book or play that you have studied and work it up
using the chapter suggestions as a guide.

WEEK 8
Lesson 1

• Take Practice Test 3 and complete the self-scoring process.
Compare it to your scores for the other two tests. Work on your
weaknesses for the next two weeks.

Lesson 2

• Just to prove that you know more than you may think about
literary analysis, choose a book that you have read but not studied
in class and work it up for the test. Look at the list of writers in
Suggested Reading, p. 16, and see if there is an author whose work
you have read that you could use for practice.

WEEK 9
Lesson 1

• Take Practice Test 4 and complete the self-scoring process. Check
your results against the other three tests.

Lesson 2

• If you are still unsure about some areas, review those chapters,
including the answers to the practice activities.
• Review the suggestions in Chapter 7 and the examples you have
worked up for the test.
• Reread Scoring High on the AP English Lit Test, p. 12, and
10 Strategies for Acing the Test, p. 4.

9
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

THE PANIC PLAN
Eighteen weeks, nine weeks—how about two weeks? If you are the
kind of person who puts everything off until the last possible minute,
here is a two-week Panic Plan. Its objectives are to make you familiar
with the test format and directions, to help you get as many right
answers as possible, and to write the best open essay you can.

WEEK 1

• Read 10 Strategies for Acing the Test, p. 4, and Scoring High on
the AP English Lit Test, p. 12.
• Take the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic. Read the directions carefully
and use a timer for each section.
• Complete the self-scoring process. You can learn a lot about the
types of questions in the multiple-choice section by working
through the answers.

Multiple Choice

• Answer the multiple-choice section on Practice Test 2.
• Complete the self-scoring process and see where you may still have
problems with question types.
• Read all the answer explanations, including those you identified
correctly.
• Answer the multiple-choice section on Practice Test 3, concentrating on the question types that are still tricky.
• Complete the self-scoring process.
• Read all the answer explanations, including those you identified
correctly.

Essays

• Complete the essay section on Practice Test 2.
• Score your essays using the rubrics. List your weaknesses.
• Write one practice essay on poetry and one on prose using practice
questions in Chapters 5 and 6, About the Free Response Essay on
Prose and About the Free Response Essay on Poetry.
• Score your essays against the rubrics, noting areas that need
improvement.
• Ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to evaluate
your essays on the scoring guide as well. Compare it to the score
on the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic.
• Complete the essay section on Practice Test 3, concentrating on
the areas of weakness.

10
www.petersons.com

INTRODUCTION

• Score your essays against the rubrics, noting areas for improvement.
• Again, ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to
evaluate your essay on the scoring guide. Compare it to the score
on the Practice Test 1: Diagnostic.

WEEK 2

• Reread 10 Strategies for Acing the Test, p. 4, and Scoring High on
the AP English Lit Test, p. 12.
• Complete Practice Test 4 and score the multiple-choice and essay
sections.

Multiple Choice

• Work on at least two practice sets of multiple-choice questions in
Chapters 2 and 3, About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to
Prose and About the Multiple-Choice Questions Related to Poetry.

Essays

• Read Chapter 7, About the Open Essay, p. 194.
• Choose two books you have studied in class and prepare them
using the suggestions in the chapter.
• Choose one book that you have read from the list of authors in
Suggested Reading, p. 16, but have not studied in class, and work
it up using the suggestions in Chapter 8.

• Write another set of essays—free response and open—from
practice questions in Chapters 5, 6, and 7, working on strengthening your weaknesses. Score them against their rubrics.
• Ask a responsible friend, an AP classmate, or a teacher to evaluate
your essays on the scoring guide.

11
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

SCORING HIGH ON THE AP ENGLISH LITERATURE TEST
Around early July, you and the colleges you designate will receive a
score from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, for your AP English Lit
Test. Your high school will receive its report a little later. The
multiple-choice section is graded by machine, and your essays are
graded during a marathon reading session by high school and college
teachers.
A different reader grades each of your essays. None of the
readers know who you are (that’s why you fill in identification
information on your pink Section II booklet and then seal it) or how
the others scored your other essays. Each reader is familiar with the
work discussed in the essay question she or he is reading. Even your
open essay choice is read by someone familiar with the work. The
grading is done on a holistic system; that is, the overall essay is
scored, not just the development of your ideas, your spelling, or your
punctuation. For each essay, the College Board works out grading
criteria for the readers to use, much as your teacher uses a rubric to
evaluate your writing.

WHAT

THE

COMPOSITE SCORE MEANS
The College Board refers to the composite score as weighted because
a factor of about 1.3 (the exact number varies from year to year) for
the multiple-choice questions and a factor of 3.0556 for the essay
questions are used to determine a raw score for each section. That is,
the actual score you get on the multiple-choice questions—say 35—is
multiplied by about 1.3 (1.2273 for 55 questions in a recent year).
The actual score that you get on the essay test—say 21—is multiplied
by 3.0556. Those two numbers, your raw scores, are then added, and
the resulting score—somewhere between 0 and 150 (107, based on
the above example)—is then equated to a number from 5 to 1. A
score of 107 is good enough to get you a “5” for the test.

12
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

WHAT DOES ALL

OF

THIS MEAN TO YOU?
You can leave blank or answer incorrectly some combination of 20
questions on a 55-question multiple-choice section, get a 7 for each of

your three essays, and still earn a score of 5. It is not as easy as it
may seem, or the majority of students would not fall into the “3”
range, although a 3 may be good enough to get you college credit or
advanced placement. A score of 4 certainly will.

Study Strategy
Chapters 1–7 will help you
raise your score.

Take a look at the charts below. It takes work, but raising your score
may not be impossible. Sometimes the difference between a 3 and a
4 or a 4 and a 5 is only a couple of points.

POSSIBLE SCORE DISTRIBUTION
FOR A 55-QUESTION
MULTIPLE-CHOICE SECTION
SCORE 5 5
MC
25
30
35
40
45

Essays (3)
25 (8.33 )
23 (7.66)
21 (7)
19 (6.33)
17 (5.66)

SCORE 5 4
MC
25
30
35
40
45

Essays (3)
21 (7)
19 (6.33)
17 (5.66)
15 (5)
13 (4.33)

SCORE 5 3
MC
25
30
35
40
45

Essays (3)
14 (4.66)
12 (4)
10 (3.33)
8 (2.66)
6 (2)

The highest score you can receive on an essay is a 9, so the highest
total essay score is 27. It is possible to get a variety of scores on your
essays—7, 5, 5, for example. The chances are that you will not get a
wide range of individual essay scores like 6, 2, 5. Even if you did, you
could still get at least a 3 and possibly a 4, depending on how many
correct answers you have in the multiple-choice section weighed
against how many wrong answers you have.

13
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

AP
Grade
5
4
3
2
1

AP Qualifier
Extremely Well Qualified
Well Qualified
Qualified
Possibly Qualified
No Recommendation

Composite
Scores
107–150
93–106
73–92
43–72
0–42

Probability of
Receiving Credit
Yes
Yes
Probably
Rarely
No

According to the College Board, three quarters of the 130,000
students who took the test in a recent year received a 3 or better.
The cut-off point for passing grades may change from year to year,
but it remains in this range. This chart shows the actual conversion
scale in a recent year. What it means is that you neither have to
answer all the questions, nor do you have to answer them all
correctly, nor write three “9” essays to receive your AP credit.

SOME THINGS

TO

REMEMBER

Note
These are important facts
straight from the College
Board.

1. The 50–55 question multiple-choice section is worth 45 percent
of your total score.
2. The College Board says that “students who perform acceptably
on the free-response section” can receive a 3 if they answer
correctly 50 to 60 percent of the multiple-choice questions.
3. There is no deduction for unanswered questions.
4. There is a quarter-point deduction for wrong answers.
5. The three essays together account for 55 percent of your total
score, with each essay being counted equally; that is, the open
essay counts for the same 18.33 percentage points as the other
two essays.

14
www.petersons.com


INTRODUCTION

WHY ARE WE TELLING YOU THESE FACTS?
Because you can use them to your advantage.
1. It is important to spend time practicing the kinds of questions
that you will find in the multiple-choice section because 45
percent of your score comes from that section. You do not have
to put all your emphasis on the essay questions.
Test-Taking Strategy

The Diagnostic and Practice
Tests will help you pace
yourself on the exam.

Study Strategy
See Chapters 1–3 for strategies for educated guessing.

Study Strategy
Chapter 7 offers strategies for
being prepared for the open
essay.

2–3. You can leave some questions unanswered and still do well.
Even though you will be practicing how to pace yourself as you
use this book, you may not be able to complete all 50–55
questions the day of the test. If you come across a really incomprehensible passage, you can skip it and come back to it later
and still feel that you are not doomed to a low score.
4. There is a guessing penalty. If you do not know anything about
the question or the choices, do not take a chance. However, If
you know something about the question and can eliminate one
or more of the answer choices, then it is probably worth your
while to choose one of the other answers. Rather than calling it
guessing, call it EDUCATED GUESSING. Even the College Board
suggests this strategy.
5. Because all three essays count for the same number of points,
the open essay is no more important than the other two. It may
seem more important because it provides you with so many
choices, but you can make it manageable, as you will see in
Chapter 7.

15
www.petersons.com