Section I: Multiple Choice SAMPLE Question Types On The Advance Placement Literature Exam

Section I: Multiple Choice
SAMPLE Question Types on the Advance Placement Literature Exam
#1: Reading Comprehension
These questions test your ability to understand what the passage is saying on a

pretty basic level. They don't require you to do a lot of interpretation—you just need to
know what's going on.
You can identify this question type from words and phrases such as "according to,"
"mentioned," "asserting," and so on. You'll succeed on these questions as long as
you carefully read the text. Note that you might have to go back and reread parts to
make sure you understand what the passage is saying.
Example:
#2: Inference
These questions ask you to infer something—a character or narrator's opinion, an

author's intention, etc.—based on what is said in the passage. It will be something
that isn't stated directly or concretely but that you can assume based on what's clearly
written in the passage. You can identify these questions from words such as "infer" and
"imply."
The key to these questions is to not get tripped up by the fact that you are making an
inference—there will be a best answer, and it will be the choice that is best
supported by what is actually found in the passage.
In many ways, inference questions are like second-level reading comprehension

questions: you need to know not just what a passage says, but also what it means.
Example:
#3: Identifying and Interpreting Figurative Language
These are questions for which you have to either identify what word or phrase is
figurative language or provide the meaning of a figurative phrase. You can identify
these as they will either explicitly mention figurative language (or a figurative device,
such as a simile or metaphor) or include a figurative phrase in the question itself.
The meaning of figurative phrases can normally be determined by that phrase's context
in the passage—what is said around it? What is the phrase referring to?
Example 1: Identifying
Example 2: Interpreting
#4: Literary Technique
These questions involve identifying why an author does what they do, from using a
particular phrase to repeating certain words. Basically, what techniques is the author
using to construct the passage/poem, and to what effect?
You can identify these questions by words/phrases such as "serves chiefly to," "effect,"
"evoke," and "in order to." A good way to approach these questions is to ask yourself:
so what? Why did the author use these particular words or this particular
structure?
Example:
#5: Character Analysis
These questions ask you to describe something about a character. You can spot
them because they will refer directly to characters' attitudes, opinions, beliefs, or
relationships with other characters.
This is, in many ways, a special kind of inference question, since you are inferring
the broader personality of the character based on the evidence in a passage. Also,
these crop up much more commonly for prose passages than they do for poetry ones.
Example:
#6: Overall Passage Questions
Some questions ask you to identify or describe something about the passage or
poem as a whole: its purpose, tone, genre, etc. You can identify these by phrases such
as "in the passage" and "as a whole."
To answer these questions, you need to think about the excerpt with a bird's-eye
view. What is the overall picture created by all the tiny details?
Example:
#7: Structure
Some AP Lit questions will ask you about specific structural elements of the
passage: a shift in tone, a digression, the specific form of a poem, etc. Often these
questions will specify a part of the passage/poem and ask you to identify what that part
is accomplishing.
Being able to identify and understand the significance of any shifts—structural, tonal,

in genre, and so on—will be of key importance for these questions.
Example:
#8: Grammar/Nuts & Bolts
Very occasionally you will be asked a specific grammar question, such as what word
an adjective is modifying. I'd also include in this category super-specific questions such
as those that ask about the meter of a poem (e.g., iambic pentameter).
These questions are less about the literary artistry and more about the fairly dry
technique involved in having a fluent command of the English language.
Example:

That covers the eight question types on the multiple-choice section. Now, let's take a
look at the free-response section of the AP Literature exam.
Keep track of the nuts and bolts of grammar.
Section II: Free Response
The first two essays are literary analysis essays of specific passages, with one poem
and one prose excerpt. The final essay is an analysis of a given theme in a work
selected by you, the student.

Essays 1 & 2: Literary Passage Analysis
For the first two essays, you'll be presented with an excerpt and directed to analyze the
excerpt for a given theme, device, or development. One of the passages will be
poetry, and one will be prose. You will be provided with the author of the work, the
approximate date, and some orienting information (i.e., the plot context of an excerpt
from a novel).
Below are some sample questions from the 2019 Free Response Questions.
Poetry:
Prose:
Essay 3: Thematic Analysis

Multiple-Choice Scoring
For the multiple-choice section, you receive 1 point for each question you answer
correctly. There's no guessing penalty, so you should answer every question—but
guess only after you're able to eliminate any answer you know is wrong to up your
chances of choosing the right one.
Free-Response Scoring
 Thesis (0-1 points)

 Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)
 Sophistication (0-1 points)
Score Thesis Evidence and Commentary Sophistication

0 Restates prompt. Is incoherent or does not Attempts to
Makes generalized address prompt. May be just contextualize
comment. Describes opinion with no textual interpretation consist
work rather than references or references that mainly of sweeping
generalizations. Only
hints at other
interpretations. Does not
consistently maintain
making a claim. are irrelevant. thematic interpretation.
Oversimplifies
complexities. Uses
overly complex
language.
Identifies and explores
Focuses on broad elements, complexities/tensions
summary, or description within work. Situates
Provides defensible rather than specific details or interpretation within
1 interpretation in techniques. Mentions literary broader context.
response to prompt. elements, devices, or Accounts for alternative
techniques with little or no interpretations. Style is
explanation. consistently vivid and
persuasive.
Consists of mix of specific
evidence and broad
generalities. May contain
some simplistic, inaccurate,
or repetitive explanations.
2 — —
Does not make multiple
supporting claims or does not
support more than one claim.
No clear connections or
progression between claims.
Uniformly offers evidence to
support claims. Focuses on
importance of specific words
and details. Organizes
argument as line of reasoning
3 — —
composed of several
supporting claims.
Commentary may fail to
integrate some evidence or
support key claim.
4 — Uniformly offers evidence to —
support claims. Focuses on
importance of specific words
and details. Organizes
argument as line of reasoning
composed of several
supporting claims, each with
adequate evidence. Explains
how use of literary techniques
contributes to interpretation.
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Section I: Multiple Choice

SAMPLE Question Types on the Advance Placement Literature Exam

#1: Reading Comprehension

These questions test your ability to understand what the passage is saying on a

These questions ask you to infer something—a character or narrator's opinion, an

In many ways, inference questions are like second-level reading comprehension

#4: Literary Technique

#5: Character Analysis

#6: Overall Passage Questions

Being able to identify and understand the significance of any shifts—structural, tonal,

#8: Grammar/Nuts & Bolts

Keep track of the nuts and bolts of grammar.

Section II: Free Response

Essay 3: Thematic Analysis

 Thesis (0-1 points)

Score Thesis Evidence and Commentary Sophistication

Retrieved from: https://blog.prepscholar.com/ap-literature-exam

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