College Board
AP English Language
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
A college-level course in rhetoric and argument that develops evidence-based analytic and persuasive writing through the study of nonfiction texts. A strong AP exam score can earn college credit, often for first-year composition.
What's on the exam
AP English Language and Composition Course and Exam Description (skill-category framework)
Multiple-Choice: Reading
~45% of exam (reading + writing MC combined)Rhetorical situation · Identifying claims and evidence · Analyzing reasoning and organization · Analyzing style and word choice · Reading like a writer
Multiple-Choice: Writing
part of the ~45% MC sectionRevising for purpose and audience · Developing and supporting claims · Organizing ideas and transitions · Improving sentence-level style · Maintaining conventions
Free-Response: Synthesis
1 of 3 essays (~18%)Reading and citing multiple sources · Developing a defensible thesis · Selecting and integrating evidence · Commentary and reasoning · Sophistication of argument
Free-Response: Rhetorical Analysis
1 of 3 essays (~18%)Analyzing the rhetorical situation · Identifying rhetorical choices · Explaining effects of choices · Line of reasoning · Use of evidence from the text
Free-Response: Argument
1 of 3 essays (~19%)Defensible thesis on a prompt · Marshaling relevant evidence · Coherent line of reasoning · Commentary · Sophistication and style
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AP English Language cost?
The AP English Language costs $99. $99 per AP Exam in the US (2026-27, unchanged from 2025-26); a College Board fee reduction of $37 per exam is available for eligible students.
How long is the AP English Language and how many questions does it have?
45 multiple-choice, 3 free-response (synthesis, rhetorical analysis, argument) — 3 hours 15 minutes (includes a 15-minute reading period for free-response).
What do you need to pass the AP English Language?
Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher is generally considered passing, though credit policies are set by each college.
Can you retake the AP English Language?
Once per year (next May administration).
What is the best way to study for the AP English Language?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Multiple-Choice: Reading ~45% of exam (reading + writing MC combined), Multiple-Choice: Writing part of the ~45% MC section, Free-Response: Synthesis 1 of 3 essays (~18%), Free-Response: Rhetorical Analysis 1 of 3 essays (~18%), Free-Response: Argument 1 of 3 essays (~19%)). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
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