Sample Questions & Scoring Guidelines
The AP English Literature and Composition Exam is three hours long and consists of two sections. In Section I, students are given one hour to answer 55 multiple-choice questions; in Section II, they must answer three free-response questions within two hours. The multiple-choice questions test students' ability to read analytically prose and poetry from several periods. The free-response questions require students to write critical essays on literary texts.
You can find additional free-response questions and scoring guidelines on AP Central, along with grade distributions and examples of actual students' responses and commentary that explains why the responses received the scores they did.
Multiple-Choice Questions
For sample multiple-choice questions, refer to the Course Description.
AP English Course Description (.pdf/2.3M)
Free-Response Questions
2009 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/520K)
2009 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/570K)
2008 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/101K)
2008 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/201K)
2007 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/157K)
2007 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/154K)
2006 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/78K)
2006 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/74K)
2005 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/145K)
2005 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/231K)
2004 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/180K)
2004 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/88K)
2003 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/136K)
2003 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/174K)
2002 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/125K)
2002 Form B Free-Response Questions (.pdf/188K)
2001 Free-Response Questions (.pdf/139K)
Scoring Guidelines
2009 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/60K)
2009 Form B Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/53K)
2008 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/72K)
2008 Form B Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/72K)
2007 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/87K)
2007 Form B Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/104K)
2006 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/77K)
2006 Form B Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/76K)
2005 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/87K)
2005 Form B Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/90K)
2004 Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/95K)
2004 Form B Scoring Guidelines (.pdf/98K)
