How to improve in AP Lit

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>Hey guys. I'm taking AP Lit and I'm consistently receiving 7's on my essays and low 40s/55 on my multiple choice test. I really would like to improve, especially in the next two months. Last year when I took AP Lang, I surprisingly had no trouble and received 9's/8's on all of my essays. I even got a 5 on the test this last May. I'm say that, not to brag, but to just make the point that my writing isn't bad and I am willing to improve.</p>

<p>Any test guides, test prep, books, website, etc that helped you, please tell me! Thanks :)</p>

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<p>What you have right now is very good! If your teacher grades essays accurately, you’re well within the range of a 4 and possibly a 5.</p>

<p>As somebody who took Literature last year, practice is the only sure way to score well. It’s a hard class to really crack open a book and study for. Take a lot of multiple choice tests and write a lot of practice essays within the time constraints.</p>

<p>Another thing I recommend; read a lot, and read well. Not only will a good arsenal of famous novels help you with the dreaded third essay, it’ll increase your analytical skills for the rest of the test. Some that always tend to show up;</p>

<p>Jane Eyre
Catcher in the Rye
King Lear
The Great Gatsby</p>

<p>My class used to joke that you could take (and get a 5 on) the exam with only those four under your belt.</p>

3

<p>Haha. I know I sound bratty now… but I really want a 5. Which is why I’m hoping I’ll be in a comfortable (not low) range for a 5. Anyway. what prep books have the most accurate practice tests?</p>

<p>THANKS FOR THE TIPS :)</p>

4

<p>Tbh, no practice book can really help; it’s all about writing style and critical thinking. </p>

<p>For the multiple choice, you’ve just gotta keep reading literature, keep analyzing it, and keep trying your best. It’s hard, and you really have to train your brain to think that way through experience. The good part, however, is that superb essays can outshine a mediocre multiple choice. </p>

<p>You’re already familiar with the time crunch of writing essays in a short amount of time, so now, try and refine your technique. A well-written, “correct” essay outscores a simply “correct” essay every time. Keep writing and writing and writing until you can insert your own voice and your own style effortlessly. Practice analyzing literary pieces and determining your main points in no more than 5 minutes. Get something and go with it; write well and confidently about your angle. AP Lit is more artsy than AP Lang (so I’ve heard), so try and employ more artsy elements in your own writing. </p>

<p>And also, this advice is general and can help in college lit classes as well. I had one over the summer with really long essay-based midterms, and I felt like I was back in AP Lit. The trick was to quickly think of an angle and approach and then flesh it out as best as you could. I swear some of my “literary supports” were sheer reaches, but because I wrote so strongly about it, my prof bought it. </p>

<p>Last piece of advice: don’t chase a 5. In general, don’t chase perfection. Yeah a 5 might not be too hard to capture, but as you get older, things won’t be that easy. At my university, for example, a 4.0 is a 98%. That’s, like, being perfect or near-perfect ALL THE TIME. Evidently, I couldn’t be that perfect 24/7, so I got a 3.8 (95%) and a 3.9 (97%) down the line. It sucked, and it sucked because I chased perfection all throughout high school.</p>

<p>So, go at it with the goal of doing your best. If your best is a 5, great. If your best is a 4, then that’s still great. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, it’s a small part of your life that will help you build an impressive work ethic and good character. </p>

<p>Good luck with everything!</p>