AP English Literature and Composition · Exam guide
AP English Literature Multiple-Choice Guide: Prose and Poetry Sets
Section I of the AP English Literature exam is 55 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour, and it counts for 45 percent of your score. The questions come in five sets of 8 to 13, each built on a passage of prose fiction or poetry, with at least two of each. The example below is original.
The skills tested
| Skill | Share of the section |
|---|---|
| Character | 16 to 20 percent |
| Setting | 3 to 6 percent |
| Plot and structure | 16 to 20 percent |
| The narrator or speaker | 21 to 26 percent |
| Word choice, imagery and symbols | 10 to 13 percent |
| Comparison | 10 to 13 percent |
| Literary argumentation | 10 to 13 percent |
The narrator or speaker is the largest single category, so practice describing who is talking, how they see events, and what they leave out.
An original example
Excerpt (made up): "She folded the letter small, then smaller, as if size could lessen what it said. Outside, the street went on selling bread." Question: What does the last sentence suggest? (A) the street is busy and noisy, (B) the world continues, indifferent to her private news, (C) she is hungry, (D) she wants to go outside. Answer: (B). The contrast between her small, private act and the street's routine shows the gap between her feelings and the world.
A routine for each set
- Read the passage once for the situation: who, where, and what is happening.
- Read it again with the questions in mind, marking shifts and striking words.
- Return to the line each question points to. Do not answer from memory.
- Eliminate choices that are true of the passage in general but do not answer the question asked.
- Watch for answers that go further than the text supports.
Pacing
With 55 questions in 60 minutes, you have a little over one minute per question. A set of 10 should take about 12 minutes including reading. Mark hard questions and return to them.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an answer that sounds literary but is not in the passage.
- Missing the shift in tone that the question is about.
- Reading too slowly and leaving no time for the last set.
- Overthinking a question that asks for what the text says plainly.
Frequently asked questions
How many multiple-choice questions are on AP English Literature?
55, in five sets of 8 to 13 questions, in 1 hour. They are 45 percent of the exam score.
What kinds of passages are used?
Prose fiction and poetry, with at least two of each, from many periods.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
No. Answer every question.
How do I practice?
Read short passages and say in your own words who is speaking, what changes, and what the writer's choices suggest.
Where can I find the official scoring rules?
Exam formats change a little from year to year, so check the current course and exam description on the College Board site before test day.
Keep practicing
Every unit in the AP English Literature course ends with a ten-question review on one or two shared passages, with an explanation for each answer choice. These free lessons also build the skills the free-response section tests:
- Free lesson 1.6: claim, evidence, commentary
- Free lesson 1.5: literal and figurative, one detail two ways
See the AP English Literature and Composition course Free lessons and lesson list
More AP English Literature and Composition guides (10)
Start here
Free-response and writing
- AP English Literature Poetry Analysis Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
- AP English Literature Prose Analysis Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
- AP English Literature Literary Argument Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
- AP English Literature Thesis Statements Explained: Earning the Thesis Point on Poetry, Prose and Literary Argument
- AP English Literature Evidence and Commentary Explained: Earning the Four Points in Row B
- AP English Literature Sophistication Point Explained: Tensions, Shifts and Complexity
- AP English Literature Poetic Devices and Their Effects: From Naming to Interpreting
- AP English Literature Prose Techniques: Narration, Diction, Syntax and Shifts
- AP English Literature Open Essay: How to Choose and Prepare Works You Can Write About
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.