<p>So, I'm good at English. 35 ACT, Editor of Newspaper, wannabe author, etc.. I love it, and I'm very good at standardized tests. If I get a prep book and rely on my natural abilities, could I get a 4 or a 5 without the class? Thanks for your help! x)</p>
<p>Yes, Lang. is easier than Lit. to self study. I self studied Lit., but got a 5 on both exams. You DON'T need a prep book (it's a waste of $15). Go to the CollegeBoard AP Central site and read the syllabus and look at the practice questions. Then log into CB through the Educator (rather than Student) portal and go to AP central. Create a phony teacher name and create a Username and PW. Use the teacher resources to prep for the exam. It's effective.</p>
<p>Note that I was the same as you are now. I'm good at English, 2400 SAT, avid reader etc. Rely on your natural abilities plus those suggestions above.</p>
<p>If by English you mean English Lit, then...</p>
<p>...you'd probably do well on the objective portion. That requires no esoteric knowledge, just innate ability to understand and analyze difficult prose passages.</p>
<p>two of the three essays are random propmts given to you. You have no way to prepare for them. If you understand many styles of literature and can write a good five paragraph essay that analyzes the tone, syle, meaning, sctrucutre, etc, of the passage, you can easily wing it. The last essay is really the only portion of the test you can really prepare for. In it, they give you a broad, literature-based question. You have to choose a famous book from English Literature that relates to the question, and explain how and why the book answers the question. For example:</p>
<p>"Many works in Literature use bucolic imagery to contrast a peaceful countryside with the harsh existence of city life. Choose a book (from a list given to you, or another reputable novel) that contrasts rural and urban life, and how this contrast relates to the story as a whole."</p>
<p>hth</p>