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What makes a work of literature endure? AP English Literature and Composition asks students to dig into novels, poems, and plays and work out how authors build meaning through language.
The AP English Literature and Composition Exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, 2027 (Session 1), per the College Board's official 2027 exam schedule.
Here's a full breakdown of the course, the exam, and what students walk away with.
About the Course of AP English Literature and Composition
In AP English Literature and Composition, students examine how authors and poets create meaning through purposeful use of language. As they write and refine essays about literature, students develop the skills of analysis and composition needed to communicate an interpretation clearly and persuasively. There are no recommended prerequisites.
Skills You'll Learn
- Reading a text closely and drawing conclusions from details
- Identifying the techniques an author uses and their effects
- Developing an interpretation of a text
- Presenting and arguing for that interpretation in writing
Course Content
The course runs across nine units built around three recurring text types (short fiction, poetry, and longer fiction or drama), revisited with increasing depth. Early units cover the basics of character, setting, and structure; later units tackle nonlinear narratives, symbolism, ambiguity, and how literary works engage with the historical and social context they were written in.
| Units | Components Covered |
Unit 1: Short Fiction I
| • 1.A Identify and describe what specific textual details reveal about a character, that character's perspective, and that character's motives. • 2.A Identify and describe specific textual details that convey or reveal a setting. • 3.A Identify and describe how plot orders events in a narrative. • 3.B Explain the function of a particular sequence of events in a plot. • 4.A Identify and describe the narrator or speaker of a text. • 4.B Identify and explain the function of point of view in a narrative. • 7.A Develop a paragraph that includes 1) a claim that requires defense with evidence from the text and 2) the evidence itself. |
Unit 2: Poetry I
| • 1.A Identify and describe what specific textual details reveal about a character, that character's perspective, and that character's motives. • 3.C Explain the function of structure in a text. • 3.D Explain the function of contrasts within a text. • 5.B Explain the function of specific words and phrases in a text. • 6.A Identify and explain the function of a simile. • 6.B Identify and explain the function of a metaphor. • 7.A Develop a paragraph that includes 1) a claim that requires defense with evidence from the text and 2) the evidence itself. |
Unit 3: Longer Fiction or Drama I
| • 1.A Identify and describe what specific textual details reveal about a character, that character's perspective, and that character's motives. • 1.B Explain the function of a character changing or remaining unchanged. • 2.A Identify and describe specific textual details that convey or reveal a setting. • 3.E Explain the function of a significant event or related set of significant events in a plot. • 3.F Explain the function of conflict in a text. • 7.A Develop a paragraph that includes 1) a claim that requires defense with evidence from the text and 2) the evidence itself. • 7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. • 7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis. • 7.D Select and use relevant and sufficient evidence to both develop and support a line of reasoning. • 7.E Demonstrate control over the elements of composition to communicate clearly. |
Unit 4: Short Fiction II
| • 1.A Identify and describe what specific textual details reveal about a character, that character's perspective, and that character's motives. • 1.C Explain the function of contrasting characters. • 1.D Describe how textual details reveal nuances and complexities in characters' relationships with one another. • 2.B Explain the function of setting in a narrative. • 2.C Describe the relationship between a character and a setting. • 3.A Identify and describe how plot orders events in a narrative. • 3.D Explain the function of contrasts within a text. • 4.A Identify and describe the narrator or speaker of a text. • 4.B Identify and explain the function of point of view in a narrative. • 4.C Identify and describe details, diction, or syntax in a text that reveal a narrator's or speaker's perspective. • 7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. • 7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis. • 7.D Select and use relevant and sufficient evidence to both develop and support a line of reasoning. • 7.E Demonstrate control over the elements of composition to communicate clearly. |
Unit 5: Poetry II
| • 3.C Explain the function of structure in a text. • 5.A Distinguish between the literal and figurative meanings of words and phrases. • 5.B Explain the function of specific words and phrases in a text. • 5.D Identify and explain the function of an image or imagery. • 6.B Identify and explain the function of a metaphor. • 6.C Identify and explain the function of personification. • 6.D Identify and explain the function of an allusion. • 7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. • 7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis. • 7.D Select and use relevant and sufficient evidence to both develop and support a line of reasoning. • 7.E Demonstrate control over the elements of composition to communicate clearly. |
Unit 6: Longer Fiction or Drama II
| • 1.A Identify and describe what specific textual details reveal about a character, that character's perspective, and that character's motives. • 1.C Explain the function of contrasting characters. • 1.E Explain how a character's own choices, actions, and speech reveal complexities in that character, and explain the function of those complexities. • 3.A Identify and describe how plot orders events in a narrative. • 3.B Explain the function of a particular sequence of events in a plot. • 3.D Explain the function of contrasts within a text. • 4.C Identify and describe details, diction, or syntax in a text that reveal a narrator's or speaker's perspective. • 4.D Explain how a narrator's reliability affects a narrative. • 5.C Identify and explain the function of a symbol. • 7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. • 7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis. • 7.D Select and use relevant and sufficient evidence to both develop and support a line of reasoning. • 7.E Demonstrate control over the elements of composition to communicate clearly. |
Unit 7: Short Fiction III
| • 1.B Explain the function of a character changing or remaining unchanged. • 1.D Describe how textual details reveal nuances and complexities in characters' relationships with one another. • 2.B Explain the function of setting in a narrative. • 2.C Describe the relationship between a character and a setting. • 3.A Identify and describe how plot orders events in a narrative. • 3.B Explain the function of a particular sequence of events in a plot. • 4.D Explain how a narrator's reliability affects a narrative. • 5.C Identify and explain the function of a symbol. • 5.D Identify and explain the function of an image or imagery. • 6.A Identify and explain the function of a simile. • 6.C Identify and explain the function of personification. • 7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. • 7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis.
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Unit 8: Poetry III
| • 3.C Explain the function of structure in a text. • 3.D Explain the function of contrasts within a text. • 5.B Explain the function of specific words and phrases in a text. • 5.C Identify and explain the function of a symbol. • 6.B Identify and explain the function of a metaphor. • 6.D Identify and explain the function of an allusion. • 7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. • 7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis. • 7.D Select and use relevant and sufficient evidence to both develop and support a line of reasoning. • 7.E Demonstrate control over the elements of composition to communicate clearly. |
Unit 9: Longer Fiction or Drama III
| • 1.B Explain the function of a character changing or remaining unchanged. • 1.E Explain how a character's own choices, actions, and speech reveal complexities in that character, and explain the function of those complexities. • 3.E Explain the function of a significant event or related set of significant events in a plot. • 3.F Explain the function of conflict in a text. • 4.C Identify and describe details, diction, or syntax in a text that reveal a narrator's or speaker's perspective. • 7.B Develop a thesis statement that conveys a defensible claim about an interpretation of literature and that may establish a line of reasoning. • 7.C Develop commentary that establishes and explains relationships among textual evidence, the line of reasoning, and the thesis. • 7.D Select and use relevant and sufficient evidence to both develop and support a line of reasoning. |
Exam Format
Section I: Multiple Choice
It consists or 55 Questions with a time limit of 1 Hour and carries 45% of Exam Score.
5 sets of 8–13 questions, each preceded by a passage of prose fiction, drama, or poetry. The section always includes at least 2 prose fiction passages (which may include drama) and at least 2 poetry passages.
Section II: Free Response
It consists of 3 Questions to be done in 2 Hours and has a weightage of 55% of Exam Score.
Students respond to three prompts:
- A literary analysis of a given poem
- A literary analysis of a given passage of prose fiction (which may include drama)
- An analysis of a specific concept, issue, or element in a work the student selects themselves, ideally one comparable in quality to what they've studied in class
The exam is fully digital via Bluebook, and free-response questions are now scored using analytic rubrics rather than the older holistic rubrics.
Why Take AP English Literature and Composition?
This course sharpens interpretive and analytical writing skills suited to careers in education, publishing, writing, and literary or cultural analysis. It also gives students a head start on college-level literature coursework.
In case you need assistance with AP English Literature and Composition, fill out Tutela's student assistance form or call us directly at +91-8826345541 for any further queries.
