<p>I’m fortunate enough to have a highly experienced teacher who is an exam grader for the AP English Lang exam, albeit an unusual one. She has given us regular (actual and prep book based) MCs, in which I usually miss zero to one question per passage or pair of passages. We finally took a semi-mock exam with a full-length MC test, and I got 46/50 right. As for essays, we have done many of them and the only one I have limited practice with is the argument question, which we have only done one. Except for the first essay we ever did in her class, I have basically received straight 8s (out of 9) on just about all of them. How much additional preparation should I do for the AP English Lang test if I’m hoping for a 5? I would prefer to study less because I’m particularly worried about other exams I am taking that I need to prepare for.</p>
<p>You seem to be in good shape, 46/50 is an impressive MC score, and if you’re receiving 8s and 9s, you don’t have a thing to worry about.</p>
<p>lol if you pull of consistent 46/50s then you don’t need to study…you could even write total crap essays…</p>
<p>any tips on how you do so well on the MC?</p>
<p>Awesome, thanks! This is encouraging :)</p>
<p>As for tips… well, nothing surprising here. I usually quick read (something more than a skim, but less than a thorough read-through) and mark any line or paragraph references from the questions. The key, I think, is to make sure you have SOLID evidence from the passage before you pick an answer choice. I rarely pick an answer without a really good reason to back it up that’s directly from the passage. The only other thing is you should know your literary devices and tone words really well. Good luck :)</p>
<p>You’re fine (like anyone needs to tell you) :)</p>
<p>Maybe you should write a few more argumentative / synthesis essays… but really… you’re fine. Just don’t choke on test day. :p</p>
<p>WOW. that’s impressive. We just did one today and I “only” missed 10. I was super excited hahah I was so proud of myself. I usually miss twice as much. I guess there’s still room for improvement =]</p>
<p>Yeah, I always get messed up on tone questions. Or ones about attitude or whatever. Any advice on tone questions? Or should I just skip them since I miss them like half the time?</p>
<p>Basically, you’re on your way to a 5. :)</p>
<p>wow, that’s like a high 5. I am amazed that you do so well in the MC and essays. Do you have any advices for me since i’m going to take AP English 11 next year? I’m not good at reading comprehension, and I scored three six’s for three synthesis essays that i wrote in a class.</p>
<p>lol, is this a serious question</p>
<p>You’re kidding, right?</p>
<p>People on this site are insane…</p>
<p>^ lol. I didn’t mean to sound insane 
Thanks for the encouragement.</p>
<p>My main worry is that because I <em>hate</em> English, I only did the minimum required to get by in that class with an “A”, and didn’t really study throughout the year, and my teacher is rumored to be somewhat “too nice” when grading essays if she likes you (well, I thought she hated me, but that’s beside the point…) AND we took a full-length mock exam today, and I took much more time than usual (mainly due to lack of sleep and feeling sick - I was just so out of it today) and don’t think I did as well on the essays as I usually do. But I’ll hope for the best and maybe I won’t choke again when it really counts :)</p>
<p>And those tone questions… the key to answering them is that you really need to know exactly what the tone words you are asked about mean. If you’re struggling with them, you probably already know how to get a general idea of what the tone is (positive/negative/neutral) but might have trouble narrowing down the answer choices to just one. I know because that’s how I used to be 
Tone questions were what I struggled with most, and I still hate them even though I’ve gotten much better at mastering them. What really helped me is that at the beginning of the year, my teacher gave us word lists from books and the Internet that broke down literary and tone vocabulary, noting the subtle differences between similar words. These lists are probably all over the Internet - study them and tone questions become really easy. Good luck :)</p>
<p>^Haha yeah I always know whether its positive/negative/neutral but after I narrow it down, I have a really hard time deciding which one to pick. </p>
<p>THanks for the advice! I’ll go see if I can find some of those lists</p>
<p>^ If you find any tone lists, post them here :)</p>
<p>I did find some! I hope they’re useful. It’s basically just definitions of a bunch of tone words but hopefully that’ll help me figure out the differences between some of them.
@jennieblue–I hope this is what you’re talking about…haha…</p>
<p>Tone/Attitude Words</p>
<ol>
<li> accusatory-charging of wrong doing</li>
<li> apathetic-indifferent due to lack of energy or concern</li>
<li> awe-solemn wonder</li>
<li> bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief</li>
<li> cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people</li>
<li> condescension; condescending-a feeling of superiority</li>
<li> callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others</li>
<li> contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue</li>
<li> critical-finding fault</li>
<li> choleric-hot-tempered, easily angered</li>
<li> contemptuous-showing or feeling that something is worthless or lacks respect</li>
<li> caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting</li>
<li> conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality</li>
<li> disdainful-scornful</li>
<li> didactic-author attempts to educate or instruct the reader</li>
<li> derisive-ridiculing, mocking</li>
<li> earnest-intense, a sincere state of mind</li>
<li> erudite-learned, polished, scholarly</li>
<li> fanciful-using the imagination</li>
<li> forthright-directly frank without hesitation</li>
<li> gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection</li>
<li> haughty-proud and vain to the point of arrogance</li>
<li> indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice</li>
<li> intimate-very familiar</li>
<li> judgmental-authoritative and often having critical opinions</li>
<li> jovial-happy</li>
<li> lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like</li>
<li> matter-of-fact–accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional</li>
<li> mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule</li>
<li> morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent</li>
<li> malicious-purposely hurtful</li>
<li> objective-an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside</li>
<li> optimistic-hopeful, cheerful</li>
<li> obsequious-polite and obedient in order to gain something</li>
<li> patronizing-air of condescension</li>
<li> pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things; no hope</li>
<li> quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing</li>
<li> ribald-offensive in speech or gesture</li>
<li> reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect</li>
<li> ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of</li>
<li> reflective-illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions</li>
<li> sarcastic-sneering, caustic</li>
<li> sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic</li>
<li> satiric-ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach</li>
<li> sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine</li>
<li> solemn-deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection</li>
<li> sanguineous -optimistic, cheerful</li>
<li> whimsical-odd, strange, fantastic; fun</li>
</ol>
<p>Tone Words (don’t just say “positive” and “negative”)</p>
<p>accusatory- blameful; charging of wrong doing
apathetic-indifferent due to lack of energy or concern
apprehensive – uneasy about something; fearful
audacious – extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave
awe-struck – showing solemn wonder
bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief
burlesque- comic; mocking through caricature or comic exaggeration
callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others
caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting
choleric-hot-tempered, easily angered
colloquial -using a conversational style; informal conversation
condescending- with an air of superiority
contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue
contemptuous- expressing contempt, a lack of respect, or hate
conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality
critical-finding fault
cutting – abrasive, hurtful, cold
cynical- with an attitude of distrust of people and human nature
derisive-ridiculing, mocking
despondent- showing extreme discouragement or depression
didactic- in a tone intended to preach a sermon or teach a lesson about life
disdainful- expressing contempt, dislike, or hate
earnest-intense, a sincere state of mind
elegiac – expressing sorrow or regret; mournful
erudite-learned, polished, scholarly
euphoric- with a feeling of elation or great joy
facetious- playfully humorous
fanciful-using the imagination
flippant- dismissive and lacking proper respect
forthright-directly frank without hesitation
frivolous- lacking in seriousness
gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection
haughty-proud and vain to the point of arrogance
hostile- extremely angry
impartial- showing a lack of bias
incisive- impressively direct and decisive
indignant-feeling or showing anger due to a perceived injustice
intimate-very familiar
irreverent- lacking proper respect or seriousness
judgmental-authoritative and often having critical opinions
jovial-happy
laudatory- pertaining to or expressing praise
lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like
matter-of-fact–accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional
mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule
morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent
malicious-purposely hurtful
objective-an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside
obsequious-polite and obedient in order to gain something
ominous – signifying evil or harm; foreboding
optimistic-hopeful, cheerful
patronizing-with an air of condescension
pedantic – overly concerned with minute detail; conspicuous about one’s
learning/knowledge
pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things; no hope
poignant – causing sadness or pity; evoking emotion
quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing
reflective-illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions
remorseful – full of guilt and regret
reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect
ribald-offensive in speech or gesture
ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of
sarcastic-sneering, caustic
sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic
satiric-ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach
sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine
solemn-deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection
sanguine -optimistic, cheerful
whimsical-odd, strange, fantastic; fun
wry – expressing a mixture of mild amusement and irony</p>
<p>Tone Vocabulary List</p>
<p>Positive Tone/Attitude Words</p>
<p>Amiable Consoling Friendly Playful
Amused Content Happy Pleasant
Appreciative Dreamy Hopeful Proud
Authoritative Ecstatic Impassioned Relaxed
Benevolent Elated Jovial Reverent
Brave Elevated Joyful Romantic
Calm Encouraging Jubilant Soothing
Cheerful Energetic Lighthearted Surprised
Cheery Enthusiastic Loving Sweet
Compassionate Excited Optimistic Sympathetic
Complimentary Exuberant Passionate Vibrant
Confident Fanciful Peaceful Whimsical</p>
<p>Negative Tone/Attitude Words</p>
<p>Accusing Choleric Furious Quarrelsome
Aggravated Coarse Harsh Shameful
Agitated Cold Haughty Smooth
Angry Condemnatory Hateful Snooty
Apathetic Condescending Hurtful Superficial
Arrogant Contradictory Indignant Surly
Artificial Critical Inflammatory Testy
Audacious Desperate Insulting Threatening
Belligerent Disappointed Irritated Tired
Bitter Disgruntled Manipulative Uninterested
Boring Disgusted Obnoxious Wrathful
Brash Disinterested Outraged
Childish Facetious Passive</p>
<p>Humor-Irony-Sarcasm Tone/Attitude Words</p>
<p>Amused Droll Mock-heroic Sardonic
Bantering Facetious Mocking Satiric
Bitter Flippant Mock-serious Scornful
Caustic Giddy Patronizing Sharp
Comical Humorous Pompous Silly
Condescending Insolent Quizzical Taunting
Contemptuous Ironic Ribald Teasing
Critical Irreverent Ridiculing Whimsical
Cynical Joking Sad Wry
Disdainful Malicious Sarcastic</p>
<p>Sorrow-Fear-Worry Tone/Attitude Words</p>
<p>Aggravated Embarrassed Morose Resigned
Agitated Fearful Mournful Sad
Anxious Foreboding Nervous Serious
Apologetic Gloomy Numb Sober
Apprehensive Grave Ominous Solemn
Concerned Hollow Paranoid Somber
Confused Hopeless Pessimistic Staid
Dejected Horrific Pitiful Upset
Depressed Horror Poignant
Despairing Melancholy Regretful
Disturbed Miserable Remorseful</p>
<p>Neutral Tone/Attitude Words</p>
<p>Admonitory Dramatic Intimae Questioning
Allusive Earnest Judgmental Reflective
Apathetic Expectant Learned Reminiscent
Authoritative Factual Loud Resigned
Baffled Fervent Lyrical Restrained
Callous Formal Matter-of-fact Seductive
Candid Forthright Meditative Sentimental
Ceremonial Frivolous Nostalgic Serious
Clinical Haughty Objective Shocking
Consoling Histrionic Obsequious Sincere
Contemplative Humble Patriotic Unemotional
Conventional Incredulous Persuasive Urgent
Detached Informative Pleading Vexed
Didactic Inquisitive Pretentious Wistful
Disbelieving Instructive Provocative Zealous</p>
<p>I just typed “tone words” in Google. I hope these help! I’m gonna study them soon…hopefully they’ll help me get those tone questions.</p>
<p>Good luck everyone :)</p>
<p>Smile614 - Yes, that’s the kind of list I was talking about. Thanks!</p>
<p>You probably already know generally what these mean, so pay close attention to what makes similar words different. Once you’ve got that down, tone questions become super-easy. Good luck :)</p>
<p>ugh… got my results back… much worse than usual on the MCs… and 8/7/7 on the essays. not good at all. but apparently everyone did badly on this one in my school. hoping for better on the real thing!</p>