AP English Literature

It is a single fully digital exam taken in the Bluebook app. Section I is multiple choice, 55 questions in one hour, worth 45% of the score. Section II is free response, 3 essays in two hours, worth 55%. Total exam duration is three hours.

There are 5 sets of questions, with 8 to 13 questions per set. Each set follows a passage of prose fiction, drama, or poetry. Every version includes at least 2 prose fiction passages (drama may count) and at least 2 poetry passages.

One literary analysis of a given poem, one literary analysis of a given passage of prose fiction (which may include drama), and one analysis of a specific concept, issue, or element in a work the student selects. For the third question you may use a work from the provided list of roughly 40 titles or cite another work of prose fiction or drama from your own reading.

The three essays are scored using analytic rubrics rather than holistic rubrics. The rubrics are general scoring criteria that apply to each of the three questions regardless of the specific prompt, so a clear thesis and well-chosen textual evidence matter on every essay.

Choose a work of fiction appropriate to the question. A general rule is to use a work similar in quality to those you have read in your AP class. A work you know thoroughly - characters, structure, and a few key scenes - beats a more impressive title you remember only vaguely.

Difficulty is consistent across versions, with passages of varying difficulty, and there is a consistent range of difficulty in the reading passages from year to year. The main challenge is time: one hour for 55 questions and two hours for three essays rewards practice with timed reading and timed drafting.

The source material does not state a retake policy. Check with your AP coordinator and the College Board's exam policies pages for the rules that apply to your situation before planning a second attempt.

The listed exam date is Wednesday, May 5, 2027, Session 1. Your AP coordinator will tell you when and where the exam will be administered, so confirm logistics with your school rather than relying on the published date alone.

Read poetry, prose fiction, and drama closely and often, and practice writing thesis-driven analysis under time. Use AP Classroom resources once you have joined your class section, and run the Bluebook test previews so the digital interface is familiar before exam day.

Summarizing a passage instead of analyzing how it works, offering a thesis the evidence cannot support, ignoring the specific wording of the prompt, and choosing an unfamiliar work for the third essay. Running out of time on the essays is also common, so practice timed drafting.