AP Language Test Hacks

(Hints, Tricks and Tips)

Work Smart A Stitch in

Time
Timing Check the number of questions, and divide by two. Thats
how far you should be by the thirty minute mark (i.e. there are 54
questions 2 = question #27 at the thirty minute mark)
Tracking check the number of the question and the number on the
answer form every time you see a zero (10, 20, 30). This will keep
you from getting off track, having to go back and find your error, thus
wasting time
Pacing divide the number of passages into 60 minutes. Thats how
much time you should devote to each passage.

Types of Questions Knowledge Based

Vocabulary in context - Using the indicated portion of the text, what
does the word or phrase mean? Skill: definition.
Reference - vocabulary within the text; rhetorical strategies; literary
devices. Skill: definition.
Rhetorical and/or literary techniques - What particular literary term
applies to this word, or phrase, or sentence, or paragraph, or
passage? Skill: definition

Types of Questions - Synthesis

Inference of meaning/ drawing conclusions - Which answer best summarizes or
defines the text? Skills: reading comprehension; making inferences.
Passage and authors purpose - In the passage, what is the rhetorical purpose of
a particular word, or phrase, or sentence, or paragraph? Skill: reading
comprehension; determining authors purpose.
Description and development/ word reference
pronoun/antecedent/organization. Why is a particular element of the passage
placed where it is? What does it refer to? Skill: reading comprehension;
determining authors purpose.
Brain Pain Questions the ones that make your brain hurt
Roman numeral questions: remember that all parts of an answer choice must apply.
Except questions: remember that any evidence from the passage for an answer choice
makes that choice wrong.

A word about Roman Numeral

Questions
These are actually your best friend, really! Theyre like AP Sudoku
(trust me, they are). Heres why
I.
II.
III.

A. I
B. II
C. III
D. I, II, & III

Except Questions
1. Underline the text being considered, and REREAD it!!! (DO NOT SKIP
THIS STEP!)
2. Using the different stems (answers), consider each, asking yourself
if the stem fits the text under consideration.
If it does, use a checkmark
? If it doesnt, make a ? next to the stem to show its a possibility (but dont
cross it out!)

3. When finished considering all the choices, if more than one has a
question mark next to it, go back and reread the question, focusing
specifically on what is being asked.

Pronoun Antecedent questions

Pronoun Antecedents
It refers to which of the following nouns?
To answer this question, substitute each word in its place to determine which
answer best represents the authors intended meaning

First
Quickly scan the passages before you begin to get a sense of what each
passage is about DO NOT ACTUALLY READ THEM.
Look at the title, the time period, the author to determine which is
the most difficult to understand (usually pre-1900). That is the one to
answer last, since that is typically the most difficult. This is the
passage to skip at first.
Look for the passage that has the fewest number of questions this
is the passage to answer last

Then
Do this
Scan the questions, but not the answers, skipping the questions that direct you to a
certain line number, like this
The authors point regarding conscience in lines 57-63 is best stated as
because
A lot of times, the questions that are asked will help you focus on certain key
elements of the passage, as in
The speaker in the passage can best be described as a person who is

Next
Start working on the passages you can do best on first
Know that
the questions typically follow the flow of the passage
They are all weighted the same the easy questions count as much as the
hard
You are not penalized for incorrect answers, so its okay to guess BUT ONLY
IN AN ALL ELSE FAILS INSTANCE

Answer the questions that limit you to a particular paragraph or line

first
With these questions, always read the sentence before, and the sentence
after. You dont want to miss the context of the sentence (and one of the
stems might expect you to do just that!)

PO
E

POE
Process Of Elimination Eliminate the answers that you KNOW are
incorrect for all questions as you work.
Try to narrow your answers down by eliminating AT LEAST two
choices, by considering how wrong answers are formatted:

require only a surface reading

Give generalities, when specificities are required
They dont answer the question being asked
They dont relate to the passage
Only a part of the answer is correct

Sources
Gunnar. "Multiple Choice Advice." Mr. Gunnar's English Classes. Web.
10 Dec. 2014.

I Am a Woman
1. D
10.B
2. A
11.A
3. A
12.E
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

D
E
B
A
C
C

Literature
13.C
14.E
15.E
16.B
17.E
18.A
19.B
20.C
21.E

22. A
23. A
24. A
25. D
26. A
27. C
28. B

Charles Parker
29.C
30.B
31.B
32.A
33.E
34.E
35.D
36.C
37.C

38. E
39.D
40.C
41.D
42.D
43.A

English Language
44. C
45. B
46. D
47. A
48. A
49. C
50. D
51. B

52.A
53.B
54.E