Going against the Grain: AP English Lang & Comp Self Study

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>Well, I decided I regret my decision on not taking AP English this year, so I’ve decided to go for self-study.</p>

<p>I’ve already looked and seen it’s not recommended, however, I think I can hack it. </p>

<p>Why?</p>

<p>-English is my inteded major (i.e. I need this AP score)
-I’m a proficient writer
-I’m excellent at memorization, a very quick learner, and able to retain vast amounts of information
-I have a lot of time on my hands
-English is my strongest field
-If my APUSH essays are anything to go by, I think I’m good with some slight tweaking on my methodology of essay-writing (they’ve all been 9’s and 8’s, and most of the time, I totally winged it)
-I already have everything planned out
-If I need help, I can ask my English teacher (and my friends), borrows the AP books, recommended readings, etc.
-I really want to do it; self-study, while it’s not a totally new concept to me, is something I think I’ll be good at and at my school, is unheard of
-It’ll help motivate me for other tests I need to study for
-It’ll look good on a college application (motivation, if you will)
-I made a mistake in forsaking the class originally, and I’d like to correct it</p>

<p>Give me reason why it’s bad? Support me? </p>

<p>I don’t know. In the last four days I’ve had my eyes my opened to just what “college admissions” actually entails, and instead of being scared off by it, I’ve finally realized that this is no laughing matter or sore spot to shy away from.</p>

<p>I need the grades, the GPA, the rank, the classes, the ability, everything. And I need to get it straight NOW.</p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

2

<p>I say go for it.
I took the test last year, it definitely wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be… I got a 5, and everyone else I talked to mostly got 4s and 5s.
Our school doesn’t actually have a AP Lang class, but they say its because we get enough practice as it is, between history/english classes and SAT prep. The multiple choice is basically like the CR section of the SAT, so the essays were the harder part for me. But especially since you have a lot of experience with essay writing, I think you should be fine, as long as you know what to expect.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I’ve gotten enough essay prep through APUSH. I haven’t taken the SAT yet, but it WILL be before the AP Eng Exam, and on my PSAT, CR was my highest. And I did NO prep for that, so I think if I really study for it, I’ll do pretty well…</p>

<p>About help books: I’ve heard Cliffs + AP textbook?</p>

4

<p>My d plans to self-study for English Language. Best of luck to both of you! Get a study guide and treat it as an SAT subject test. :)</p>

5

<p>I think my S looked over a prep book - probably skimmed the pages - and got a 5. Go for it. You sound well-prepared.</p>

6

<p>Obviously, you’ve already persuaded yourself or thought about it extensively to take the test. If you’ve done that, you might as well go the full distance and take it anyways, especially if you want English to be your major.</p>

7

<p>Just wanted to make sure there isn’t any direly awful twist I need to about or anything. xD</p>

8

<p>I’ll probably be self-studying for the AP Lang exam as well. </p>

<p>Although I took the AP class, it might as well have been a regular class–we did absolutely nothing…</p>

<p>I’d also like some tips on the best way to attack this particular exam.</p>

9

<p>I think you’re going to be fine. One of the two AP Lang teachers at my school is awful and doesn’t really teach anything, but she has the same very high passage rates as the teacher who does a ton of work. So about half the AP Lang kids at my school basically self study for the test. Familiarity with famous works of literature and good writing skills can be easily gained and will likely get you at least a 4.</p>

10

<p>I just think I’ll need to get used to the format of the exam, especially the essays, since they’re slightly different from the way APUSH essays are written. But I think a few study books should do the job.</p>