Mindfish is the leading AP Language & Composition prep and tutoring service in Boulder, Denver, and the nearby area. Mindfish is a boutique test prep company that is small enough to offer superior personalized instruction but large enough to have developed a 100% unique curriculum featuring bi-weekly proctored practice AP tests.
The successful completion of an AP exam is an excellent way for high school students to get a head start on college courses. By taking these exams, you send a strong message to college admission officers that you are ready to face rigorous and complex college-level subjects. Furthermore, many colleges offer course credits for passing AP test scores, which can save your student time and money while skipping entry-level college courses. But to earn a top score on the AP Language & Composition exam, you need to start preparing early.
At Mindfish, we offer flexible AP tutoring packages, including private 1-on-1 instruction, group sessions, and remote or in-person capabilities. Through a customized curriculum and personalized attention, the Mindfish team can help you confidently prepare for the AP Language & Composition exam.
How is the AP Language & Composition Exam Formatted?
The AP English Language & Composition exam measures the reading and writing skills your student will need in college. The AP English Language & Composition exam lasts approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. Students have 1 hour to complete the multiple-choice section (45 questions) and 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the free-response section (3 questions).
After undergoing a redesign in 2020, the multiple-choice section asks students to complete 23-25 reading questions focused on rhetorical analysis and 20-22 writing questions focused on making revisions related to diction, syntax, and other grammar concepts. The number of free-response questions remains the same but now uses an analytic rubric rather than a holistic rubric.
The breakdown of the free-response section includes:
- 1 Synthesis question: Students read a non-fiction text and write an essay that analyzes the writer’s choices and how they contribute to the meaning and purpose of the text.
- 1 Rhetorical Analysis question: Students read a non-fiction text and write an essay that analyzes the writer’s choices and how they contribute to the meaning and purpose of the text.
- 1 Argument question: Students are given an open-ended topic and asked to write an evidence-based argumentative essay in response to the topic.
How is the AP Language & Composition Exam Scored?
The multiple-choice section of the exam is worth 45% of the student’s score. With 45 questions, the total number of correct responses equals the multiple-choice score. Meanwhile, the free-response section is worth the other 55%. Your student will receive a score from 0-6 for each free-response question based on the three major areas:
- Thesis (0 to 1 point): Is there a thesis, and does it properly respond to the prompt?
- Evidence and Commentary (0 to 4 points): Does the essay include supporting evidence and analysis that is relevant, specific, well organized, and supports the thesis?
- Sophistication (0 to 1 point): Is the essay well crafted and show a sufficiently nuanced understanding of the prompt?
Essentially, the three free-response essays are each worth approximately 18% of your score. As on other Advanced Placement exams, your child’s raw score will convert to a scaled score of 1-5.