Here are some basic facts, as presented in the Course Description from College Board:
"Ordinarily, the exam consists of 60 minutes for multiple-choice questions followed
by 120 minutes for free-response questions . Performance on the free-response
section of the exam counts for 55 percent of the total score; performance on the
multiple-choice section, 45 percent."
Here is my description: You will have about an hour to answer 55 multiple-choice questions. For these questions, you will be given complex texts and asked a series of difficult questions about them. Then, you will have two hours to write three essays:
Essay 1: Read a poem and describe how the author uses a specific technique to produce a specific effect.
Essay 2: Read a short story or prose passage and describe how the author uses a specific technique to produce a specific effect.
Essay 3: Open-Ended Question. Take a stance on an issue of ongoing curiosity (e.g. Does compassion make you vulnerable?) and use a literary text to discuss your stance. (Sound familiar? This is similar to the Critical Lens essay.)
I encourage everyone to go try the sample exam starting on page 54 of this document:
It will likely be a humbling experience, but that's okay! It is only October, and the best way to prepare to beat a dragon is to fight lots of dragons!
(For THREE free homework grades, research Edmund Spenser's "The Fairie Queene" and tell me: What is the allegorical significance of the dragon in The Fairie Queen? Use the text to back up your answer.)
But, let's say you finish the sample test and the Fairie Queen bonus homework, and you still want to know: What other questions might be on the test? Here are four more links to occupy your time. They include many questions which could likely appear on exams throughout the year. Do I care if you practice beforehand and become an expert at answering AP exam questions? Does killing a dragon once make you less prepared to kill it again?
(Still thinking? The answer is no.)
I want to know what kind of Multiple-Choice Questions might appear on the test:
http://homepage.mac.com/
I want to practice Prose Essays (this will require looking up the original story. Ask me if you need help finding a story):
http://homepage.mac.com/
http://homepage.mac.com/
I want to practice Prose Essays (this will require looking up the original story. Ask me if you need help finding a story):
http://homepage.mac.com/
I want to practice Poetry Essays:
http://homepage.mac.com/
http://homepage.mac.com/
I want to practice Open Questions:
By the way, Ms. Effie's page, where I found these questions, is a treasure trove of other resources. I encourage you to browse it.
Good luck, young knights!
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