AP Lit Self-Study

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>I absolutely love literature and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to self-study it, considering this year I don't have much on my plate (despite taking the highest level courses...). As much as I want to take the AP Lit exam, I'm also planning on taking the AP Chinese (I'm a non-native speaker), AP English Lang, and AP Calc AB and I don't want to attempt something that's too quixotic. That said, I think Chinese is the only one I would need to do serious studying for outside of my classes, and my English and Math classes are not very difficult at all.</p>

<p>I read literary classics for fun (I'm reading Wuthering Heights, Villette, and Pride and Prejudice right now for leisure and read the Scarlet Letter for my AP English Lang class) and often read poetry (currently T.S. Eliot and Sylvia Plath) too so I don't think reading would be much of an issue as long as I follow a reading list. I got an 800 CR (only missed a sentence completion) my first time taking the SAT and really don't have much difficulty getting above a 770+ on the SAT II Lit, so the multiple choice section shouldn't be very difficult. I'm not sure how to write essays specifically for this exam, but my mother's good friend is an AP Lit teacher so that wouldn't be much of a problem.</p>

<p>Should I go for it? Any feedback? Suggested books?</p>

2

<p>Hi there,
So you sound pretty well prepped for AP Lit already! I think you should do it. For the essays, I can tell you that the first will be on poetry, the second on prose, and the third on basically taking themes from usually ONE classic that fits the prompt (I’ve heard SO much about this exam even though I myself haven’t taken it)
Prep books for Lit-Barron’s and REA both sound like the most recommended. I have no clue about PR or Kaplan, though. xD</p>

<p>AP Calc AB-are you a math-oriented student? (Seems like it, because your class is easy :D) If so, I would suggest self-studying for BC instead. I’m taking the AP Calc AB class in school right now as well (the counselors wouldn’t let me go from IB straight to BC, grr) and “self-studying” the extended BC topics for May. You get an AB subscore anyway, so no point in taking two calculus tests. xD
As for prep books, I have no idea. xD I would say Barron’s just to be stay safe, because it almost always OVER-preps you, which is good. :P</p>

<p>AP Chinese-about half of the ‘standard’ (read: non-natives :P) group get 5’s on this exam, so I think you should be okay if you know what you’re expecting. I’m also self-studying for this one right now! :smiley: Except technically I’m a native (long story…).
Anyway. How long have you been taking Chinese? How would you rate your own level in Chinese? Also, do you know what will be tested on the exam? I would suggest getting Barron’s (I think it’s actually the only study guide for AP Chinese out there xD), even though it over-prepares you, from what many have told me, and going through their practice problems. General consensus is that even if you’re non-native, the reading section is easy, and that speaking, even if you’re native, is HARD. Be sure to learn (if you don’t already know how :P) how to type in pinyin-Bopomofo just sounds much more complicated, which is NOT something you want considering the limited time you get to craft the writing responses. A story narration and an email, I think is what Barron’s said.
Also, have you taken the SAT II Chinese? People say the AP Chinese test is usually around the difficulty of the SAT subject test, just with a better curve since it’s on a 5-point scale and not an 800-point scale. xD</p>

<p>AP Lang-this one is generally regarded as easier than lit, but I wouldn’t know. xD If you’re planning to do this one AND lit, though, make sure to boost your vocab, know some key rhetoric/literary devices terms (logos, ethos, pathos; allusion, allegory, etc.), and also read some essays/nonfiction, not just classics. Classics is a lot better for lit than lang, though I’m sure the content would help somewhat with both…
Lang also seems to be one of those exams where you either get it, or you don’t. :confused:
The three essays are different from the kinds for lit. One is like a history DBQ, one is like the SAT timed essay, and the third I forget. xD
I think I’ve heard that you can’t really ‘study’ for this one, per say, except maybe doing past mc because that section seems to be the weak point for a lot of people… or writing an essay every 2 weeks or something if the essays are your weak point.</p>

<p>Sorry I couldn’t be a little more help with lang, but I hope you got what you’re looking for, and good luck! :D</p>

3

<p>I’m definitely not a math-oriented student… It makes my brain hurt, though I do enjoy it and get A’s (I just make the silliest mistakes which brings me down to a low A). I’m definitely more of an English student, as I LOVE to read, write poetry for fun, and whiz though all the SAT/AP reading tests. </p>

<p>I really don’t want to study Calc BC on my own… I’m more than happy with just doing AB. I’m going to study social sciences and the humanities in college, so the most math I’ll probably end up using will be Calc II or III, which I don’t need to finish in high school. </p>

<p>My problem with Chinese is the speaking. I’m absolutely awful at speaking, though I read/write very easily. I did practice questions and I got almost all the reading/writing questions right, but failed miserably on anything involving speaking and grammar, and did just okay on the listening questions. I hope I can improve! My school’s chinese program is in its infancy, so I don’t think college admissions officers will really care if I got a 3 or 4 in Chinese, because it’s evident that I’ve tried my best given the resources that I’ve had.</p>

<p>I’m decided to self-study Lit, Comp Gov, and US Gov. I’m planning to take English Lang, Chinese, and Calc AB regardless of my self-studies because I’m currently enrolled in the actual classes. Thank you for the feedback! :)</p>