AP English Language and Composition · Exam guide
AP English Language FRQ Guide: The Three Essays and the 6-Point Rubric
Section II of the AP English Language exam is three essays in 2 hours 15 minutes, including a 15-minute reading period, and it counts for 55 percent of your exam score. Each essay is scored out of 6 on the same analytic rubric, so one set of habits pays off three times. This guide explains the rubric in plain language and links to a detailed guide for each essay.
The three essays at a glance
| Essay | The task | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesis | Argue a position on a topic using at least three of six provided sources, including a visual and a quantitative source. | 6 |
| Rhetorical analysis | Analyze how a writer's choices in a nonfiction passage help achieve the writer's purpose. | 6 |
| Argument | Argue a position on a general idea or claim, using evidence of your own choosing. | 6 |
| Total | 18 |
The College Board recommends about 40 minutes of writing for each essay. Each essay is roughly 18 percent of your exam score.
How every essay is scored
| Row | Points | What earns it |
|---|---|---|
| A: Thesis | 1 | A defensible position or analysis that answers the prompt. It can be more than one sentence and can appear anywhere in the essay. |
| B: Evidence and commentary | 4 | Specific evidence arranged in a line of reasoning, with commentary that explains how the evidence supports it. |
| C: Sophistication | 1 | A nuanced or complex understanding of the topic or rhetorical situation, sustained through the essay and not just a passing phrase. |
| Total | 6 |
The evidence and commentary ladder (Row B)
Row B holds four of the six points, so it is where most essays win or lose. This is how the score moves from 0 to 4.
| Score | What the essay shows |
|---|---|
| 0 | Only restates the thesis, repeats information from the prompt, or is not relevant. |
| 1 | Evidence is mostly general, and the commentary only summarizes it. |
| 2 | Some specific evidence, and commentary that explains how some of it relates to the argument, but no clear line of reasoning (or a faulty one). |
| 3 | Specific evidence supports every claim in a line of reasoning, and the commentary explains how some of the evidence supports it. |
| 4 | The same, with commentary that consistently explains how the evidence supports the line of reasoning. |
The jump from 1 to 3 is the one students most often miss. Evidence alone never gets there. Commentary, the sentences that say how and why the evidence proves your claim, is what moves the score. A good habit is to follow every quotation or example with a sentence that begins with "This shows" or "This matters because".
A 135-minute plan
| Minutes | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0 to 15 | Reading period. Read all six sources for the synthesis essay, mark each source's main claim, and choose the three or four you will use. |
| 15 to 20 | Plan the synthesis thesis and the order of your paragraphs. |
| 20 to 55 | Write the synthesis essay. |
| 55 to 95 | Rhetorical analysis. Spend 5 minutes reading and planning, 30 writing, and 5 checking. |
| 95 to 135 | Argument. Spend 5 minutes planning, 30 writing, and 5 checking. |
You can write the essays in any order. Many students start with the one they feel strongest about.
Habits that help on every essay
- Take a position or make a claim about the passage. Saying there are two sides is not a thesis.
- Build a line of reasoning: each paragraph should prove one part of your claim, in an order that makes sense.
- Be specific. Name the source, quote the line, or describe the example.
- Keep the writing clear. Grammar and mechanics that interfere with meaning can cost the fourth point in Row B.
Detailed guides
The synthesis essay, the rhetorical analysis essay, and the argument essay.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is each AP English Language essay worth?
Six points each: 1 for the thesis, 4 for evidence and commentary, and 1 for sophistication. Together the three essays are 55 percent of your exam score.
How long should each essay be?
There is no length requirement. Most strong essays are four to five paragraphs, written in about 40 minutes.
Does my thesis have to be in the first paragraph?
No. The rubric accepts a thesis anywhere in the essay, but putting it first keeps your essay organized.
Do I have to use all six sources in the synthesis essay?
No. You need to use at least three. Using more only helps if you use them well.
What is the hardest point to earn?
Sophistication, the 1-point row. Do not plan the whole essay around it. A clear thesis and strong commentary come first.
Keep practicing
The AP English Language course has five practice prompts for each of the three essay types, with a writing space that scores your response against the official 6-point analytic rubric. These free lessons also build the skills the free-response section tests:
- Free lesson 1.5: evidence and the three tests
- Free lesson 1.6: writing a claim and evidence paragraph
See the AP English Language and Composition course Free lessons and lesson list
Other free-response guides:
- AP English Language Synthesis Essay Explained: How to Use Sources to Earn 6 Points
- AP English Language Rhetorical Analysis Essay Explained: How the 6 Points Are Scored
- AP English Language Argument Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
AP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse this site. This guide is our own explanation of the question types and scoring. For the official scoring guidelines, see the College Board.