A Brief Overview...

AP Exams are taken in May of the junior and senior year. These tests are offered in each of the traditional subjects and presume a course of instruction (vs. CLEP). Each test is based on the study of materials included by many colleges in their first year courses. Advanced Placement Exams (AP)

In May 2005, 2.1 million AP Exams were taken. 62% receive college credit (that is score 4 or 5). 90% of American colleges give credit for AP courses.

English Literature Writing English Language & Writing

About AP Exams Two reasons to take AP exams: COLLEGE CREDIT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

But do I want to take the exams? College credit? Acceleration? Cost $82 per exam

A wise choice? Two AP exams = $164 ($82 X 2) 6 hours college credit= ½ college semester = $9000 savings Two AP exams = $164 6 hours college credit = ½ college semester = -$164 loss

Some competitive colleges do not give AP college credit--but do allow the students “advanced standing in an academic area” or “fulfillment of academic requirements” in a subject area. For example, a student may be advanced to French IV but may not be given credit for French I-III. Requirements vs. credits:

Check to see if your college gives credit...

The College Board program offers 34 college-level courses in 19 subject areas. They are administered in May and are graded on a scale from 1 to 5. --COLLGE COUNSELING SOURCEBOOK, p. 2- 9

How do I enroll? Once you've decided to take the AP challenge it's easy to enroll. Talk to an AP teacher or the AP Coordinator at your school about the course you want to take. Discuss the course's workload and any preparation you might need. LEARNING DISABILITIES

English Lit and Composition The AP English Literature and Composition course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. In other words, literary analysis is at the heart of this exam.

About the Exam The three-hour exam usually consists of a one-hour multiple-choice section and a two-hour free-response section.

Section I: Multiple-Choice The multiple-choice section tests your critical reading skills. You'll read several passages and answer questions about the content, form, and style of each. Remember that random guessing can hurt your final score.

Section II: Free-Response In this section you'll write essays to show your ability to analyze and interpret literary texts in clear and effective prose.

Scoring the Exam The multiple-choice section counts for 45 percent of your grade. The free-response section contributes the remaining 55 percent.

Free Response Questions Answering essay questions generally requires a good deal of training and practice. Students too often begin to write immediately, creating a string of disconnected, poorly planned thoughts. You need to learn to attack questions methodically and to plan your answers before putting pencil to paper.

Free Response Questions: Carefully analyze the question, thinking through what is being asked, and identify the elements that must be addressed in the response. Others require you to consider all the similarities between people or events, and then to think of all the ways they are different.

Free Response (con’t.) After you have determined what is involved in answering the question, consider what evidence you can incorporate into your response. Review the evidence you learned during the year that relates to the question and then decide how it fits into the analysis. Does it demonstrate a similarity or difference? Does it argue for or against the generalization that is being addressed?

Claim-Data-Warrant Whenever you offer evidence to illustrate contrast or similarity, clearly state your intent. Then, with additional information or analysis, elaborate on the ways in which these pieces of evidence are similar or different. If there is evidence that refutes a statement, explain why it argues against the statement. Your answer should reflect an understanding of the subtleties of the questions.

Plan First: Less is More Begin writing only after you have thought through the evidence you plan to use, and have determined what your thesis statement will be. Once you have done so, you will be in a position to answer the question analytically instead of in a rambling narrative. You will also know whether you are going to argue on a side that supports or refutes the statement, and whether similarities outweigh the differences.

Main Idea and Support Learn how to present your thesis statement: describe your overarching framework and then position your supporting evidence so that it is obviously directed to the question—not just a string of abstract generalizations. State your points as clearly as possible, not leaving it to the reader to infer what is meant or how something illustrates a point (again, the warrant).

Multiple Choice Questions Often the best answer emerges as you eliminate bad answers.

Summary AP Courses have multiple choice questions and essays. AP Tests are taken at schools. AP credit emerges from a specified course.