When you're studying for your AP Literature Exam, you're going to want to use practice tests and questions to hone your skills. But where can you find AP literature practice tests? And are all practice exams equally useful for you? The real exam has 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions, but there are practice tests with every conceivable number and combination of question types. In this article, you'll learn where to find every official College Board AP English Literature and Composition practice exam, free unofficial tests, and paid practice test resources. You'll also find out which tests are high-quality and how you can best use different practice exams to fulfill your studying needs. The gold standard of AP English Literature practice tests and AP English Literature practice exam questions are College Board released materials. That's because the College Board administers the AP exams, so their practice questions are most like the actual AP questions you'll see on the test. There are three different kinds of resources offered by the College Board: complete released exams from past years, released free-response questions from past years, and sample questions from the "AP Course And Exam Description." There are three official released College Board Exams. However, only the most recent one (from 2012) is complete. The 1999 and 1987 exams have the standard 55 multiple-choice questions, but both are missing parts of the three question free-response section. You can still use them as complete exams if you supplement them with released free-response questions from past years which we recommend since official multiple-choice problems are hard to come by. 2012 AP English Literature and Composition Exam This is the best AP Lit practice test available. It's the most recent exam released by the College Board, and it follows the format of the current test with 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions. Definitely make use of this test! 1999 AP English Literature and Composition Exam This test excludes the poetry and prose analysis questions of the free-response section and only has the student choice question. So, to take it as a complete exam, you'd need to supplement it with questions 1 and 2 from the released free-response questions below. You can actually get question 2 for the 1999 test from the official free-response questions bank, but the excerpt for question 1 can't be reprinted, so you'll need to supplement with another poetry analysis question. 1987 AP English Literature and Composition Exam For reasons that are not totally clear, this exam excludes the third essay question, the poetry analysis. If you want to take this as "complete" exam practice, use a free-response poetry analysis prompt from the bank of free response questions linked below.
Official Free AP Literature Practice Tests
Official Released College Board Exams
Or supplement with this tree-poem.
Official Free-Response Questions
There may not be very many complete released exams, but there are tons of free-response questions available from previous administrations of the test. These are great practice, not just for writing complete essays, but for practicing writing thesis statements, outlines, and so on.
What's also great about these is that most of them come with sample response and scoring guidelines, so you'll be able to see exactly what makes a high-quality AP essay by College Board standards. Be aware, though, that some of the prose and poetry excerpts can't be reprinted due to copyright concerns.
Below is the link to all the free-response questions available. The questions go all the way back to 1999, and since there haven't been many changes to the free-response part of the exam, all of these questions can be useful during your studying.
AP English Lit Free Response Questions 1999-2021
Sample Questions From the Course and Exam Description
The 2019 AP English Literature Course and Exam Description has practice multiple-choice questions and free-response questions.They don't add up to a complete test--there are only 19 multiple-choice questions instead of 55–but there are three free response questions (enough for a full test). Even though there aren’t many multiple-choice questions, they are great for simple practice.
If you're looking for more questions like these, you can revisit the old exam description booklets as well. (Just keep in mind that some of the other information in the booklet may be out of date!)
Your Teacher
Your AP teacher may have access to copies of old AP exams that you can use for practice. They probably can't let you take them out of the classroom, but they may be allowed to loan them to you in a supervised setting. This is because teachers can purchase resources directly from the College Board that students can't. Asking your teacher may not bear fruit, but it's worth a try.
Why are you asking me for AP Lit practice tests? I'm your Econ teacher!
Free Unofficial AP Literature Practice Tests
In addition to the free College Board resources, there are also several places online where you can get free, unofficial practice tests. Be aware that, because these resources aren't College-Board created or approved, they are of variable quality. For each of these resources we'll describe what's offered and how it compares to official College Board tests.
Varsity Tutors AP Literature Practice Tests
This site has multiple-choice practice quizzes divided by concept--things like "interpreting the passage," "claims and argument," and "interpreting excerpts." The questions aren't worded exactly the same way as AP test questions, but they are still okay for testing your passage-interpretation skills. Basically, the questions test for similar skills, but don't necessarily mimic AP test questions in style.
Also, the site provides the date, title, and author of each work, which is not something you'll receive on the AP exam. You can make a free account at the site to track your scores, but it's not necessary to be able to take the tests.
Kittens not included with free practice tests, unfortunately.
Albert AP English Literature Quizzes
Albert offers multiple-choice quizzes divided into prose, poetry, and drama categories. You are given the title, date, and author of the work--which you will not receive on the real AP exam. Like the Varsity Tutors quizzes, Albert offers questions that test similar skills as the AP exam, but the questions are worded differently.
High School Test Prep Tests
This site offers three short multiple-choice practice tests. You're given the title and author of the work. The questions for these tests are fairly surface-level, so I would only use these if you are working on your reading comprehension skills.
CrackAP English Literature Quizzes
CrackAP has over 40 short AP Lit quizzes. Each quiz gives a passage then has 15 multiple-choice questions on it. The questions are somewhat easier than you'll find on the real AP exam, but if you need some quick practice, this can do the trick. This resource also has examples of past free response questions, which can be useful study tools, too!
Practice Quiz AP English Literature
This site offers a 20-question multiple-choice quiz on two passages--one poetry, and one prose. The passages are extremely basic, however, so I would only use this resource if you are working on your reading comprehension skills.
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Paid Unofficial Practice Tests
There are also several paid resources that offer unofficial practice questions.
Shmoop
This is a subscription service with questions for tons of different tests—SAT, ACT, and AP exams.They also have videos and other review resources. Wecan't really speak to the quality of the questions because the entire service is behind a paywall of about $25 a month.
The Princeton Review AP Literature Study Guide 2021
Published study guides are an excellent way to practice for the AP Literature exam. These books are put together by experts who have inside knowledge of the test, and The Princeton Review is one of the best out there.
This study guide has three practice tests, along with other types of sample questions and expert explanations to help you improve your analytical skills.
Barron's AP English Literature and Composition, 7th Edition
Like The Princeton Review study guide, the Barron's AP Literature study guide is another great resource for students looking for extra exam prep. This guide has four practice tests and sample essay questions, along with an expert walk-through of the AP Literature exam itself.
If you're looking for a guide that gives you practice and provides tips for mastering the exam, this would be a good pick!
Peterson’s
This subscription service offers access to tons of test prep, including the SAT, ACT and lots of AP courses. Their AP Literature resources include two full-length practice tests, three sets of flashcards to help you study, and several instructional videos.
Prices for subscriptions start at $39 dollars per month, and some plans include live tutoring and writing instruction. If you choose to subscribe, you get access to all of their course and test-prep materials, so if you’re taking several AP classes, this could be a good source.
I definitely advise paying for all of these resources with whatever loose foreign change you have lying around.
How to Use AP Literature Practice Tests
How to use a given practice test depends somewhat on the resource itself. We'll offer some recommendations here on how to best use different resources.
Complete Official Released Tests
The best way to use a complete official practice test is to do a practice-run for the exam. So find a quiet room, bring a timer or watch so you can time sections, and get to work! This will help you get familiar with the exam experience so you'll feel more comfortable on exam day!
Since there are two complete AP Lit practice tests, it makes sense to take one early on in your studying time, and one later. You can get a parent, tutor or teacher to grade the exams. The early test will help you figure out what you need to work on, and the later test will show you how you've improved! Since the AP English Literature test is more skills-heavy than content-heavy, you shouldn't feel totally lost taking a practice test even in the middle of the school year.
Official Released Free-Response and Sample Questions
Official resources that aren't complete tests are best for practicing individual sections of the test. The sample multiple-choice questions in the "Course and Exam Description" make for great AP English Literature multiple-choice practice--they'll help you get familiar with the style of the questions and practice close-reading.
The wealth of released free-response questions are great resources for building your timed essay-writing skills. You can practice complete essays or develop essay outlines.
Unofficial Practice Tests and Resources
Since unofficial practice tests aren't going to be quite as similar to the real AP exam as official College Board materials, they won't be quite as useful for preparing for the format of the exam or its questions. However, they can be very valuable close-reading practice. And since that's a critical skill for the exam, it's still worth it to use unofficial resources.
Be very quiet. She's close-reading.
Key Takeaways
Practice tests and questions are a hugely important resource as you prep for the AP Lit exam. The gold standard of practice resources are those that come from the College Board, but there are many other places where you can get practice questions that will help you hone your close-reading skills for the exam. Most of the resources listed in this article are free, but a few are paid.
Remember: official College Board practice tests are best for simulating the exam experience. Actual College Board questions are good for focused preparation for individual sections of the exam--especially the essays. Unofficial resources are best used for further honing your close-reading skills after you’ve practiced with the official materials.
Now that you know where to find these resources, you're ready to start studying for your AP Literature exam!
What's Next?
Wondering what you should be reading for AP Lit? Check out our list of 127 great books to help you prepare for the AP Literature exam.
Need more study guidance for your APs? See my five-step AP prep plan. Or see our guide on when to start studying for your APs.
If you're looking for practice tests for other AP exams, see our assembled practice tests for AP US History, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP World History, and AP Psychology.
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Ellen McCammon
About the Author
Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.
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FAQs
How many free-response questions are on the AP lit exam? ›
The exam takes 3 hours. It is comprised of three free-response essays and 55 multiple-choice questions. The free-response section accounts to 55% of your score. You will be given two hours to complete three free-response essays.
Is it easy to pass the AP Lit exam? ›AP English Literature and Composition is considered very hard, with class alumnae rating it 7.5/10 for overall difficulty (the 2nd-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed). The pass rate is higher than other AP classes, with 78% graduating with a 3 or higher. What is this?
How many people pass the AP Literature exam? ›...
What AP Passing Rates Tell Us.
| Exam Name | Passing Rate (3+) |
|---|---|
| Spanish Language and Culture (Standard Group) | 78% |
| English Literature and Composition | 78% |
| Calculus BC | 77% |
- Read books and be particularly familiar with four to five works for the student-choice essays.
- Read poetry.
- Work on your close reading and analysis skills.
- Learn common literary devices.
- Practice writing essays.
- Take practice tests!
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.
Is the AP Lit exam curved? ›Why are AP English Literature scores curved? To maintain consistent standards, every year the College Board curves its exams. This includes AP® English Literature.
Is AP Lit worth it for college? ›Is AP® English Literature Worth It? The AP® English Literature exam is worth taking for a variety of reasons, from academic to financial. When you successfully complete an AP® course, you can know that you are prepared for the increased pace and academic rigor that is required of college-level courses.
What is the least passed AP exam? ›AP Physics 1
Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%).
AP Physics 1 is the hardest AP class with the least passing rate of 51.6. It means almost half of the students fail this exam. It's 3 hours exam consist of 50 MCQs and 5 free-response questions.
Has anyone gotten a 100% on an AP exam? ›While it won't give you any more college credit or show up on your score report, a perfect score on an AP exam—that's full credit for all exam portions—is an impressive accomplishment. Only a very small number of students get perfect scores each year.
What is the average AP Lit score? ›
...
Average or Mean AP Exams Scores.
| AP Test Subject | Mean Score | % with 3 or Higher |
|---|---|---|
| English Literature | 2.47 | 43.9 |
| English Language | 2.86 | 57.7 |
| European History | 2.82 | 54.6 |
| Environmental Science | 2.67 | 50.3 |
Do Colleges Look at Failed AP Tests? Colleges do not see your AP scores unless you report them. So no, colleges do not look at failed AP tests.
Why do so many students fail AP exams? ›Chakravarty says students are academically unprepared for the difficulty of AP courses, whether they are taking the course too early in their high school career or without the appropriate preparatory courses.
What happens if you fail the AP exam but pass the class? ›The good news is that a failed exam does not affect your GPA. In addition, you can retake the AP exam the next year. To prepare, you can re-enroll in the class, study on your own, or hire a tutor who can help you tackle the more challenging subjects on the test.
What is the easiest AP class? ›- AP Art & Design: Drawing.
- AP Art & Design: 2-D.
- AP Calculus BC.
- AP Chinese Language.
- AP English Literature.
- AP French Language.
- AP Government & Politics.
- AP Italian Language.
Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.
Is AP Lit difficult as a class? ›AP literature is a challenging class for many learners. Students can consider nationwide score distributions and district averages, as well as their own English literature capabilities, to gauge whether they are likely to succeed in this course.
Is AP Literature harder than AP language? ›Which exam is harder? The content of the two exams is different, but overall, AP English Literature exam will be more difficult than AP English Language.
What is a 60% on an AP test? ›Yes, a 60 is a passing rate in AP classes. The average passing rate in AP is 60-70%.
What happens if you get an F in an AP class? ›You Will Not Receive Credit for the Class: Failing the AP class means there's no chance you'll be able to claim college credit for the class once in university.
How much does AP boost GPA? ›
GPA Weight
At many high schools, honors and AP classes both offer more heavily weighted training compared to regular classes. While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.
Students looking to earn admission to highly selective colleges should take multiple AP classes to bolster their applications and demonstrate they can handle challenging coursework. Some college admissions experts recommend taking as many as 7-12 AP courses before applying to the most elite universities.
Is AP Lit more reading or writing? ›You'll have to do a fair amount of reading for both classes, but AP Literature is generally a more reading-intensive course. For AP Literature, you need to read several books just to prepare for the AP exam, so expect regular reading assignments.
What class is AP Lit equivalent to in college? ›AP English Literature is equivalent to an introductory, college-level literature course.
What are the highest failed AP classes? ›| AP Class/Exam | Pass Rate (3+) | Perfect Score (5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Physics 1 | 51.6% | 8.8% |
| 2. Environmental Science | 53.4% | 11.9% |
| 3. Chemistry | 56.1% | 10.6% |
| 4. U.S. Government and Politics | 57.5% | 15.5% |
If you score a 3 or above on an AP test a retake unless you're absolutely set on earning college credit for your work. Ultimately, your AP score will have minimal impact on your admission chances unless you're applying to the most selective colleges with 1s and 2s.
How many students fail AP? ›AP Test Passing Rates
Most AP tests have a pass rate of around 60% or higher. The high score of 5 is rarer—usually between 10% and 20% of a test's scores.
A poor AP exam score will not affect your class grade. Typically, you receive your AP score far after your semester grades have already been submitted. So, you don't have to worry about failing the course as a result of failing the AP exam.
Do colleges see failed AP exams? ›But what happens if you fail an AP exam? Basically, nothing happens if you fail an AP exam. Whether you get a passing or failing AP exam grade, you can still go to college. Colleges do not take a look at the AP exam as the only a criterion for accepting or rejecting a student.
Should I retake an AP exam if I got a 2? ›If you got a 2 on your AP® English Language exam, it is definitely worth trying to retake it. Make it worth the added time and expense by taking these steps to improve your score. Track your scores on the multiple choice section. As you prepare, carefully note your score on the multiple choice section.
What is a 75% on an AP test? ›
| If you got a percentage of... | If you got a raw score of... (For FINAL EXAM) | Your letter Grade will be... |
|---|---|---|
| 87% or above | 94-108 | A+ |
| 75-86% | 81-94 | A |
| 63-85% | 68-80 | A- |
| 57-62% | 62-67 | B+ |
...
Step 3: Use the Chart to Estimate Your Scaled Score.
Most of the time, it is up to you whether a college will look at your AP exam scores during the admissions process. The vast majority of colleges do not require that you submit your scores at the time of application. If you scored a 4 or 5 on all of your AP exams then by all means self-report.
How many words is a good AP Lit essay? ›The AP Lit prose essay is the second of the three essays included in the free-response section of the AP Lit exam, lasting around 40 minutes in total. A prose passage of approximately 500 to 700 words and a prompt will be given to guide your analytical essay.
Is it normal to fail your first AP test? ›Answer. First, it's important to know that you are not alone in this situation. Many students, especially those taking an AP for the first time, will fail to score the 3 needed to receive college credit.
Should I report a 1 on an AP exam? ›If your exam score is eligible for credit, self-report it on the college application and send the official report through the CollegeBoard. Never report or send an exam score of a 1 or 2. They are not considered “passing” scores. There are other scenarios where reporting your scores may not be a good idea.
Do AP scores matter for Ivy Leagues? ›Most schools — including most Ivy League schools — award college credits for AP classes (assuming a certain exam score). These early credits offer students a head start in their college experience.
Which AP exam has the most takers? ›AP English Language and Composition is by far the most popular AP test, with over half a million students taking the exam in 2021. The test contains two sections: multiple choice (45 questions) and free response (three essay questions).
How many AP do most high school students take? ›Although over 80% of high schools in the United States offer some type of AP class, the average number of AP classes taught hovers somewhere around 8. Depending on your demographics, academic circumstances and overall AP culture of your area, the average number of APs taken by a student may vary significantly.
What is the average number of APs taken in high school? ›If that answer isn't fully satisfying, here is a look at the average number of APs students tend to take over the course of their high school years, broken down by college selectivity: Selective schools: around 7–12 APs. Semi-selective schools: 4–8 APs. Less selective schools: 1–5 APs.
What grade is considered failing in AP exam? ›
AP Exams and Earning College Credit
Students can score a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Exam, and a 3 is considered passing. Post-secondary institutions that offer college credit for AP Exam scores typically begin offering credit to students with a score of 3 or higher.
But what is a passing AP score? The College Board considers a score of 3 or higher a passing grade. That said, some colleges require a 4 or 5 to award credit.
Do colleges care if you fail a class? ›A failing grade will likely hurt your GPA (unless you took the course pass/fail), which could jeopardize your financial aid. The failure will end up on your college transcripts and could hurt your chances of getting into graduate school or graduating when you originally planned to.
Do all AP tests have free-response questions? ›All AP Tests have both multiple choice and free response sections, but they are structured differently and may be different lengths depending on the subject. Keep in mind that AP Tests and classes may or may not be good choices for you based on your academic track record in high school and goals for college.
How many free-response questions are on the AP Language and Composition exam? ›The exam consists of 52 – 55 multiple-choice questions. You have one hour to complete the multiple-choice section. The free-response section includes three essay responses within 2 hours and 15 minutes.
How much is the free-response portion of the AP exam worth? ›This score is just a way of combining the two section scores so that they are weighted correctly. For example, for AP English, multiple choice is worth 45% and free response is worth 55%. Often, composite scores are between 0 and 100, or 0 and 150.
How many essay questions are on the AP lit exam? ›Remember: there are three essay questions total: one literary analysis of a poem, one of a passage of prose fiction, and one analysis of a specific concept, issue, or element in a work of literary merit. You have a total of two hours, so we recommend that you spend 40 minutes per question.
What is the least passed AP Exam? ›AP Physics 1
Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%).
You, the college, university, or scholarship program you designated in My AP, and educators in your school and district, including your AP teachers, will automatically receive your scores once they're released.
Are late AP Exams harder? ›Is the late AP exam difficult? No, it is set according to the same curriculum, it is just a different set of questions than the first exam. The late AP exam questions are different from the first test for security reasons.
Is it worth it to take AP English? ›
Most students who take AP English don't go on to major in English. However, reading and writing well are skills you will use in nearly all college courses, not to mention organizational skills and time management. Students who take AP courses tend to perform better in college regardless of their major.
What happens if you fail the AP Exam but pass the class? ›The good news is that a failed exam does not affect your GPA. In addition, you can retake the AP exam the next year. To prepare, you can re-enroll in the class, study on your own, or hire a tutor who can help you tackle the more challenging subjects on the test.
How much does 1 AP Exam cost? ›| AP Exam Fee Structure | |
|---|---|
| On-time orders (By November 15, 2022) | $97 per exam at schools in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada, and DoDEA schools $127 per exam everywhere else $145 per exam for the AP Capstone Programs |
The AP English tests are equally difficult, but for AP lit, you have to read many books and do deep learning for all of them. Therefore, it requires more time and patience. On the other hand, while AP lang needs less reading, the writing part is equal for both.