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AP Lit exam duration?

Hey guys! I'm taking AP Literature this year and I'm starting to study for the exam. Can anyone tell me how long the test is and how I should allocate my time during the exam? Thanks in advance!

2 years ago

Hello there! The AP Literature exam has a total duration of 3 hours. It's divided into two sections: the multiple-choice section and the free-response section.

1. Multiple-Choice Section: This section accounts for 45% of your exam score and you are given 1 hour to answer 55 questions. The multiple-choice questions are based on excerpts from literary works, and you'll need to perform various tasks like analyzing the texts and answering questions about literary techniques, style, and themes. On average, you have about 1 minute and 5 seconds per question.

2. Free-Response Section: This section makes up 55% of your exam score and consists of 3 essays you'll need to write within 2 hours. There are three types of essays in this section:

- Q1: Poetry Analysis: You'll be given a poem to analyze and write an essay discussing its themes, literary techniques, and meaning.

- Q2: Prose Fiction Analysis: This essay will ask you to analyze a prose passage (typically from a novel or short story) in terms of themes, character development, literary techniques, and so on.

- Q3: Literary Argument: You'll be given a prompt related to a theme, issue, or idea, and you'll need to choose one (or more) works you've read and create your own argument in response to the prompt.

You have 2 hours to complete all three essays, so it's advisable to spend around 40 minutes on each essay. This gives you enough time to plan, write, and proofread your essays within the allotted time.

As you prepare for the exam, practicing time management is key. Make sure to take timed practice tests to familiarize yourself with the exam format and get comfortable with the time constraints. Good luck with your studies!

2 years ago

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