AP English Exam Study Guide: Multiple Choice

2008-04-30T06:21:00.001-07:00

Dylan, Maria, Sonia and Stephanie's Simple Tips to a 5

So here are some simple, basic tips that will help you get through the mutiple choice question part of the exam.

-Do not spend more than one minute per question.

-Write in the margins. Don't be afraid to summarize. Just be sure to put it in your own words. Point out key facts that you feel are significant towards the authors purpose.

-Don't get crazy on multiple task questions; they are worth the same points.

-Look for thematic lines in the passages or poems, they are obvious multiple choice questions.

-Dont guess; skip if you aren't sure or are short on time.

-Use common sense when you being to eliminate answers. Chances are the answer will be reasonable.

-Focus on questions you feel you are more capable of answering.

-Underline, circle, highlight and parenthesize any text you feel is important and can contribute to helping you answer a multiple choice question.

-Consider all 5 multiple choices in each question.

-Eliminate choices that are obviously wrong.

-Read closely and pay attention to the words being used. Also pay attention to the rhythm of the lines in the passages and the poems.

-Eliminate choices that are synonmous with each other.

-Pay close attention to the title, author, date it was published and footnotes at the bottom of the passage. It may be of assistance as you begin answering your questions.

-Eliminate answers that cancel eachother out.

-It may sound childish, but follow with your finger as you read. This will ensure that you don't lose your place and it will help give you a better understanding of the text as a whole.

-Eliminate choices that are too narrow or too broad.

-Start with the questions you feel most comfortable with.
ex. If you feel more comfortable and easier to read poetry, start with those questions first

-Annotate on the margins and other blank spaces on your packet; the notes you take will help you answer the questions and -save time.

-Read all the choices carefully to prevent any false conclusions. If you are finding it difficult to answer a question try to use the Process of Elimination.

-Don't just answer the questions in a haste, remember you can still go back to the given text to try to make connections between the given choices in the question to choose the best answer.

-If you are running out of time identify the question types and choose those that you are most comfortable with.

-Read the question and given choices several times to gain a full understanding.

-Remember to be aware of time.

-Although it is important to keep an eye on the watch, remember not to panic, stay calm, or else you won't be able to concentrate fully on the test.

-Don't panic if you don't understand a certain question, if you feel you can't answer it using any techniques (elimination or educated guess), it would be better if you left it blank since no points will be taken off (if you answer the question wrong you will lose 1/4 of a point)

-Even if you don't understand the subject of a certain passage, don't panic, just read the passage carefully several times and remember to annotate.

-It's important to not only use the text given, you should also use other given information such as the title, author, dates, etc.

-Even if you feel all the choices are wrong because of your personal knowledge on the subject, don't challenge the question, work with what you are given.

-If you are trying to make an educated guess, remember to have confidence in yourself and trust your personal knowledge.

-Pay close attention to enjambment in poetry because many times it may contain significant meaning.

-If you encounter a difficult poem, paraphraze each stanza to help you understand it better.

-It is a waste of time to read the questions before the passages, read the text carefully first and

then move to the questions.

-Be organized, don't mix yourself up by jumping around in the test, start from the beginning and work your way through.

-Remember these aren't easy readings, therefore while reading you are expected to be aware of things such as high-level vocabulary, irony, tone, foreshadowing, etc.

-Reading passages as if you were reading it to someone will help you figure out certain things such as the tone and mood.

Best of luck on the exam!

Some of these tips came from:
5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature (2007), McGraw-Hill Edition by Estelle Rankin and Barbara Murphy.

"Going Green" English Blog

AP English Exam Study Guide: Multiple Choice