In 2020, as a response to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the College Board modified the AP exams so they were shorter, administered online, covered less material, and had a different format than previous tests. But thousands of students faced technical problems and had to retake their exams.
This year, the College Board is providing 3 testing dates starting in early May for each AP exam with options for in-school and at-home, as well as traditional and digital, testing.
“While this year’s exam options look different from years past, this schedule will maximize opportunities for AP students in a variety of different situations to test and earn college credit and placement,” according to the College Board.
The AP English Literature and Composition exam for 2021 will be a full-length exam that students can take in school and/or at home, either traditionally (i.e., paper and pencil) or digitally, depending on the testing date.
Here are the key changes you need to know to do well in the upcoming AP English Literature exam.
Will I get college credit for the 2021 AP English Literature exam?
Students who take the 2021 AP English Literature exam will be eligible for college credit.
As in previous years, a student must obtain a score of 3, 4, or 5 to be eligible for college credit.
How long is the 2021 AP English Literature exam?
The 2021 AP English Literature exam will be 3 hours long. Students can take it in school or at home depending on the testing date (details below).
What’s the 2021 AP English Literature exam date?
The College Board is offering 3 exam dates for the AP English Literature exam this year. The times and locations vary by date.
| Date | Time | Location | Method |
| Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | 8 AM Local Time | In School | Paper & Pencil |
| Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | 12 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
| Tuesday, June 1, 2021 | 12 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
It is up to individual schools, though, to choose the exam options that work best for them.
What will be tested on the 2021 AP English Literature exam?
The 2021 AP English Literature exam will test students on the whole course content regardless of the version of the exam they take — traditional or digital — so be prepared to answer questions on these topics:
- Unit 1: Short Fiction I
- Unit 2: Poetry I
- Unit 3: Longer Fiction or Drama I
- Unit 4: Short Fiction II
- Unit 5: Poetry II
- Unit 6: Longer Fiction or Drama II
- Unit 7: Short Fiction III
- Unit 8: Poetry III
- Unit 9: Longer Fiction or Drama III
What is the AP English Literature exam format for 2021?
The 2021 AP English Literature exam will consist of 2 typical sections: multiple-choice and free-response questions. The multiple-choice section is worth 45 percent of the exam score while the free-response section is worth 55 percent. You will have 1 hour to answer 55 multiple-choice questions and 2 hours to answer 3 free-response questions.
For free examples of free-response questions, check here for the actual questions posed in the 2019 AP English Literature exam and here for those posed in the 2018 exam.
You can also practice multiple-choice and free-response questions within the digital exam app starting early April.
Is there a difference between the traditional and the digital AP English Literature exam for 2021?
There is no difference between the 2021 AP English Literature paper exam and the digital exam. They are both 3 hours long, and they test the same course content.
However, if you’re taking the digital AP English Literature exam, there are a few things you should know. First, you will be answering free-response questions with a keyboard, rather than by hand. Second, you won’t be allowed to submit handwritten or photographed responses (unlike last year, when the College Board made an accommodation for the 2020 AP English Literature exam).
What device should I use to take the 2021 AP English Literature exam digitally?
What you will need to take the exam digitally will depend on whether you’re taking the digital exam in school or at home. In either case, you should make the determination of which device works best for you beforehand.
If you’re taking the digital exam in school, you will need a laptop (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
To take the digital exam at home, you will need a laptop or desktop computer (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in or attached camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
No matter the type of device or who owns it, make sure that your computer is fully charged on exam day so it will last for the whole exam. If you’re taking the digital exam at home, be sure that your setup includes charging during the exam if necessary.
You should also install the digital testing app no later than the day before the exam.
You will, of course, also need reliable access to the internet if you’re taking the digital exam.
Is the College Board offering any free AP English Literature exam review courses?
The College Board is offering free AP resources to students.
Live classes and recordings delivered by AP teachers from across the country are available on the AP YouTube channel. Additionally, students will have access to AP Daily: Live Review sessions from April 19 to 29, which will help them review course content and skills before their exam. You can sign up for the live review sessions here.
What are my other options for preparing for the 2021 AP English Literature exam?
If you don’t have an AP English Literature review book already, check out TUN’s Textbook Save Engine to compare prices and get the best deals.
There are also online resources that you can use to help you prepare for the 2021 AP English Literature exam.
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review offers a 6-Hour Cram AP Cram Course for the AP English Literature exam. The course covers the structure, style and themes in works of literature. And Princeton Review is confident it will prepare you to write essays that will earn you a score of 5.
The course, which comes with a Princeton Review prep book, can be ordered online for $299. For now, there are 3 available Cram Course schedules.
- April 24 & 25, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
- April 27 & 29, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
- May 1 & 2, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
The Princeton Review also offers private tutoring, available both in-person or online, for a fee starting at $167 an hour. If you decide to go with this personalized option, expert tutors will work with you to “make a plan, set goals, and exceed them.” The Princeton Review guarantees that if you’re not 100% satisfied, you will be matched with another tutor and get your next lesson for free.
EdX
Taught by Maggie Sokolik, director of college writing programs at UC Berkeley, the AP English Literature & Composition – Part 1: Stories course is a three-part course designed to help students prepare for the AP English Literature and Composition exam. Part 1 “prepares you to read more deeply and write more clearly about works of literature.” You will learn to appreciate different genres of literature through a collection of videos, authentic readings, and support material from various sources. This course will focus on reading, interpreting, and writing about fiction and Gothic literature.
You can audit this course for free, but there’s a $169 fee to obtain a Verified Certificate.
Sokolik teaches two companion edX courses, AP English Literature & Composition – Part 2: Poems and AP English Literature & Composition – Part 3: Plays. You can audit both of these courses for free as well.
If you’re taking more than one AP exam in 2021, check TUN’s AP Exam Review for details on other revised AP exams.
