<p>I have a couple questions....</p>
<p>When I read the descriptions between the AP English Language exam and the AP Literature exam, they seemed remarkably similar. Can someone explain to me what the main differences are between the two tests? </p>
<p>Also, if I do well in AP English Lit. class, would I have a good chance of getting a good score on the AP English Language exam? I'm thinking of taking the AP English Language exam without having taken the class.</p>
<p>Lit is more text-based analysis focusing on the content and such, like themes, motifs, and such. Language is more like grammar, analysis focusing on the actual language used, tone, figurative language, etc. Basically, lit is content while language is well...the words.</p>
<p>Have you taken both? Which one is easier?</p>
<p>I've only taken literature personally, but I got a three without a teacher, so...
But to give you an idea numbers wise:
For 2005 English Language and Composition
5: 17,315 students [7.5%]
4: 37,805 students [16.4%]
3: 75,080 students [32.5%]
2: 76,799 students [33.3%]
1: 23,710 students [10.3%]</p>
<p>For a pass total of 130,200 [56.4%]</p>
<p>For English Literature and Composition:
5: 21,403 students [8.1%]
4: 52,405 students [20.1%]
3: 88,170 students [33.8%]
2: 77,501 students [29.7%]
1: 21,839 students [8.4%]</p>
<p>For a pass total of 161,618 students [61.9%]</p>
<p>So based on the numbers I would recommend literature having both a higher percentage of students receiving a 5 as well as higher pass rate.</p>
<p>I haven't taken literature (taking it this year), and I took Language last year, which I thought was moderately easy (5). My friend took Literature and "self-studied" (aka did nothing to prepare for the text because the lit teacher said everyone would do fine with the lit experience) Language, and didn't fare very well but passed with a 3. If you are going to take Language without the class, you need to study. Although they both have similarly styled exams, they are very much different content-wise. The above poster makes a good point with the % of passing. Overall, I think Language is considered the harder of the two.</p>
<p>edit:
ps sbr explains the differences well. Literature deals with some poetry, themetic devices, figurative language, and so on. Language deals more with rhetorical modes.</p>
<p>Lit is the harder class though in most schools...</p>
<p>i didn't have either class and took both english exams this year just to see how i'd do and i got 5's on both of them. you really don't need to study; just know how to write/read well and be familiar with certain literary terms and devices. you don't need to study any longer than a few hours the week before. more than that would not accomplish anything in my opinion. </p>
<p>although, on the lit exam, i would have a few novels in mind that you have read and read the sparknotes about them before the test for the last essay. i read sparknotes on one book that i hadn't read in over a year the night before (the brothers karamazov by dostoevsky) and figured it was a big enough book with many themes and it worked out. i kind of had to stretch it a little bit and be creative, but i guess it worked out.</p>