Tips on Getting a 5 in AP Lang and Comp

General Strategies

• Practice consistently: Practice is key to success in AP Lang and Comp.
• Understand rhetorical strategies: Learn and memorize rhetorical strategies, be able to identify them in texts.
  • Recommended resource: Prep Scholar list.

Section-Specific Tips

Multiple Choice

• Ask for released material: Obtain past exam materials from teachers or online.
• Pacing: Manage your time, allow for 55 minutes total, approximately 13 minutes per passage.
  • Leave extra time for difficult questions.
• Understand mistakes: Note why questions were missed and how to get them right next time.
• Focus on common question types: Footnotes and citations often appear; make sure to know how to handle these.

Free Response

• Practice writing essays to improve.

Types of Essays

1. Synthesis: Use documents as evidence.
2. Rhetorical Analysis: Use elements of rhetoric.
3. Argument: Use outside knowledge.

Essay Writing Order

• Personalize the order of writing based on difficulty.
• Generally, spend 40 minutes per essay, adjust time based on individual strengths.

Suggested Essay Structure

Synthesis

• Read documents first: Let ideas simmer.
• Annotate and choose documents: Use 3 documents to support your thesis.
• Paragraphs:
  • Intro with thesis.
  • Body 1 & 2 for core arguments using documents.
  • Conclusion tying ideas together.

Rhetorical Analysis

• Annotate for rhetorical devices: Find relevant examples.
• Structure:
  • Intro with purpose and thesis.
  • Body paragraphs focusing on rhetorical strategies.
  • Short conclusion.

Argument

• Consistent evidence: Stick to a theme or field for coherence.
• Structure:
  • Intro with an abstract idea linked to the thesis.
  • Two body paragraphs with evidence.
  • Conclusion extending the argument.

Additional Tips

• Mock exams: Take practice exams for real-time experience.
• Teacher feedback: Utilize breaks for personalized feedback from teachers.
• Message CTMorris1999: For additional resources and essay examples.