<p>I would love if this thread becomes an updated guide to help and offer advice to not only myself, but future students brazen enough to take this enigmatic exam.</p>
<p>So...for those of you who have scored well, what is your advice?
I'm particularly weak in poetry, what do you guys recommend I read/do?</p>
<p>Post Away! :)</p>
<p>Hi there! I’m glad to see you’ve taken interest in the Lit exam. Most people shy away from it because they think it has a harsh curve, aren’t interested in pursuing a major that utilizes literature, etc. Honestly, I completely disagree with all of that. The ability to comprehend the english language is something that truly helps you in the long run, makes you a better writer, and allows you to grow as a person. </p>
<p>I personally do not plan on going into anything related to English (actually, couldn’t be anything further from it! ex. biomedical engineering) but I took the exam this June and scored a 790. </p>
<p>Honestly, I’m going to level with you and say that I only took one practice exam to gauge my level of readiness. I took the one test offered in CB’s blue book and scored in the low 700’s. By that time, I had already signed up for the test and decided to wing it. On the actual test, I omitted 2 or 3 and came out feeling like I scored a 650. However, everyone who says that literature is one of those things you build over time is right to an extent. I have always loved English, am an avid reader, and write poetry in my spare time. However, that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t build it now.</p>
<p>On the test, there’s always poetry and a selection from a play. I think those are the two sections that trip people up the most. For poetry, I would become familiar with figurative language and being able to recognize metaphors, allusions, etc. Although CB doesn’t explicitly test that too often, in order to answer most of their questions, you have to have an understanding of these devices to understand what the author is saying. I’d also brush up on some old English as CB likes to select poems from earlier centuries to confuse kids who cannot understand the slightly different dialect. In English class, we did several poetry readings in class and had to analyze a variety of poems. If you didn’t do that, I’d suggest buying an anthology of poetry that comes with a modern translation/explanation of the original piece? If you look at how others analyze a poem, over time, you’ll be able to do it yourself. The trick is finding the nuances and implications that the author is trying to make. I would also suggest reading more classic novels and then reviewing them on Sparknotes because that’s another way to see literature from two different lenses: the original text vs. a modern and concise retelling. As much as Sparknotes is condemned by teachers, it really does help you learn how to concisely understand what is going on, something that you should hope to replicate on the Lit test.</p>
<p>Someone said Barron’s is nice for Lit, but personally, I don’t think you’ll need a supplemental prep book if you do the above. As long as you train your mind to think of literature figuratively and from several different perspectives, the test will be a breeze for you! I believe in you!</p>
<p>pratice a ton, also induldge in the classics :)</p>