Is AP English Language and Composition Hard? A Complete 2022 Guide | BestColleges (2023)

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Is AP English Language and Composition Hard? A Complete 2022 Guide | BestColleges? ›

For the most recent exam cycle in 2022, the AP® English Language exam had a passing rate of 55.7% and a mean score of 2.83 (source). These numbers show that passing the AP® English Language exam is harder than average.

For the most recent exam cycle in 2022, the AP® English Language exam had a passing rate of 55.7% and a mean score of 2.83 (source). These numbers show that passing the AP® English Language exam is harder than average.

AP English Language and Composition is considered moderate difficulty, with class alumnae rating it 5.2/10 for overall difficulty (the 16th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed). The pass rate is lower than other AP classes, with 56% graduating with a 3 or higher.

Thus, if you took the raw average of these seven years, the average AP® English Language score is 2.82.

United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.

At many high schools, AP Physics is notorious for its difficulty level. In addition, it has the lowest overall pass rate of any AP exam.

AP classes, however, are more challenging than honors classes. These courses cover information, teach skills and give assignments that correspond to college classes. High school students taking AP courses will be held to the same standard as college students.

On most AP exams, a 50% will likely result in an AP score of 3. However, scoring a 50% on some of the harder AP exams such as AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism will earn you a 4.

Is the AP Lang exam curved? ›

AP exams aren't scored on a curve or norm-referenced. This means that the percentage of exams earning scores of 3s, 4s, and 5s can increase each year if a greater proportion of students demonstrates mastery of the material.

The perfect score means Zhang received the maximum score on each portion of the exam for a score of 108 out of 108. Zhang took the test in the spring when he was a sophomore. The school said 20 percent of students who took the test during that time earned a 5, the most since 2016.

Is the late AP exam difficult? No, it is set according to the same curriculum, it is just a different set of questions than the first exam. The late AP exam questions are different from the first test for security reasons.

What happens if you fail an AP exam? If you fail an AP exam, you will not receive college credit for that course. The good news is that a failed exam does not affect your GPA. In addition, you can retake the AP exam the next year.

AP English Literature and Composition is considered very hard, with class alumnae rating it 7.5/10 for overall difficulty (the 2nd-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed). The pass rate is higher than other AP classes, with 78% graduating with a 3 or higher.

Take as many as you can handle without spreading yourself thin, and make sure you will have time to study for the ACT or SAT this year. An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5 AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 to 4 would be enough.

Colleges will not look at your score

According to the College Board, over 75% of admissions officers surveyed said that a poor AP score would have no impact on an application. If you are still worried that your college may be off put by a low score, you can opt not to send your AP score.

All AP exams have a passing rate of at least 50%.

(AP tests are scored between 1 and 5, with anything 3 and higher considered passing.) Most AP tests have a pass rate of around 60% or higher.

What is the least common AP class? ›

Environmental Science:

The second hardest AP class is environmental science, with a passing rate of 53.4%. This class is often known for students underestimating the course. It's 2 hours and 40 minutes exam with 80 MCQs and 3 free-response questions. It provides methodologies, concepts, scientific principles.

AP Physics 1

Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%). Physics 1 is an algebra-based physics class that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics, simple circuits, and mechanical waves.

Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.

Many state colleges like to see applicants with honors classes, as it shows commitment and determination. The country's most prestigious schools, such as Ivy League institutions, usually prefer AP classes on transcripts. These standardized courses can help schools compare applicants more directly.

While many may complain about the difficulty of the workload throughout the year, AP Lang is very rewarding for students who complete the course. You'll find that this course will help you out beyond high school. So we vote yes!

To be competitive at some of the most highly selective colleges in the country, 8-12 AP courses may be the sweet spot amount, assuming the student can handle that level of rigor. There are no colleges out there that require you to take 14, 17, or some other obscene number of Advanced Placement offerings.

It gives college credit for every AP exam, and you generally only need to score a 3 to get college credit (although higher scores often earn you more credit). Math, science, and foreign language exams tend to give the most credit.

Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.

What is a 75% on an AP test? ›

In summary:

In theory, a “B" in an AP or honors class is “better" than an “A" in a regular class, but many applicants to top colleges will have all A's in the top classes.

The language on the rubric for earning the sophistication point declares that the essay must “demonstrate[s] sophistication of thought and/or develop[s] a complex literary argument.” This is the same statement for all three essay types on the exam: the Poetry Analysis, the Prose Fiction Analysis, and the Literary ...

Students who earn AP scores of 2 are well prepared to succeed in introductory college coursework. Compared to academically similar college peers who did not take the AP course, AP students who earn scores of 2 perform as well or better when they take those introductory college courses.

It was pretty surprising," said Felix Zhang, a Penn High School junior. Zhang is the only student in the entire world -- ever -- to earn a perfect score. He didn't miss a single point. "I wanted to do well on it, and I prepared a lot, but I never actually thought about getting a perfect score before," Zhang said.

If you've taken an AP Exam and want to review your answers to the free-response section, you can request your free-response booklet pages be sent to you.

If you score a 3 or above on an AP test a retake unless you're absolutely set on earning college credit for your work. Ultimately, your AP score will have minimal impact on your admission chances unless you're applying to the most selective colleges with 1s and 2s.

First, it's important to know that you are not alone in this situation. Many students, especially those taking an AP for the first time, will fail to score the 3 needed to receive college credit. It's important for AP students to go through the following checklist and make the best of a bad situation.

Will a bad AP exam score impact college admission decisions? No, colleges consider many factors outside of AP scores when deciding whether to admit an applicant. Generally, students should only submit high AP scores and for subjects related to their major.

Is AP English Language harder than AP English Literature? ›

Both AP English classes will improve your writing skills. The main difference between the two is what types of reading they focus on. 2022's exam results suggest that the AP Language exam is more difficult to pass than AP Literature, but ultimately, this can change student to student.

The AP English tests are equally difficult, but for AP lit, you have to read many books and do deep learning for all of them. Therefore, it requires more time and patience. On the other hand, while AP lang needs less reading, the writing part is equal for both.

AP^® English Language and Composition is a fantastic way to improve your skills in writing and analysis—not to mention give you college credit before you even set foot on campus.

One out of every 10 students who took the AP English Language and Composition exam scored a 5. The highest percentage of students (30 percent) scored a 2. In general, students scored higher on the Synthesis essay and the Rhetorical Analysis essay than on the Argument essay.

Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.

No AP exams are scored on a curve, ever.

Yes, there's a curve on AP exams, especially in relation to the AP Physics C tests. They have a heavy curve, as can be seen by the scoring distributions. A large majority of the test takers pass the exam, and 50 percent score a 5.

Is a 50% a 5 on the AP Test? No, if you only answer 50% of the questions correctly on an AP test, you are extremely unlikely to score a 5. As an example, one of the hardest AP exams, AP Physics C: Mechanics, had a 55.6% cutoff to earn a 5 in 2022.