<p>I need to decide if I want to take AP Lang next year. I want to take the exam without taking a course because I want to take another science AP instead, and adding AP Lang will be too stressful. Can I just prepare for AP Lang on my own or with a tutor? What are the key stuff covered on the exam?</p>
<p>It has been done before. Having the class is beneficial but honestly, you could self study. There r not too many things to memorize aside from vocab terms. You just have to be able to read a piece and analyze it well, being able to see where the author uses certain rhetorical techniques. Doing this is easier when you have a teacher to help you and guide you until you are able to do it on your own. Also, you must be able to write a strong essay since that is half your score. If you fell that English is your strong suit and you can BS your way through an essay, go for it. But if not, then take the class. It definitely helps.</p>
<p>Thanks DanceOrDie! Did you do a lot of writing in your Lang class? Did you think the class benefitted your overall writing skills or not so much?</p>
<p>I had the same teacher two years in a row (eng 10 honors and ap eng). My writing definitely improved. She gave us a list of dead words not to use in papers and I came out of that class a stronger writer. We did do a lot of writing but not as much as I would have guessed for an eng class. More than writing, we did a lot of analyzing of different types of pieces (author’s use of rhetorical skills, tone, style of writing, targeted audience, etc. The only reason I don’t think it is a bad idea for u to self study is because I feel like I definitely did not need the entire year to learn everything we learned. If u really get down to nitty gritty of stuff, I think u would only need a semester to learn everything if u put in enough time and effort, so by studying it in your own, u wouldn’t waste an entire year in a class that really requires a semester. I will admit that having the entire year did give me extra writing and analyzing practice though; but if u r a good English student, u won’t need that much extra practice. Also, you can and should consult the ap eng teacher at ur school periodically and ask him/her for some tips and help. Maybe even ask her/him to look at one of ur essays and give an opinion. For example, I took AP pysch online but sometimes asked my school’s ap pysch teacher questions and he would sometimes give me some of the good notes he had for his class. As for the exam, it is pretty much a harder version of the act reading section. I’m not going to tell you for sure not to take the class, but if u r a good English student, u can pass without it. Good luck in whatever u choose and don’t hesitate at all to ask any other questions u may have!</p>