Important Updates
Secure Exam for Classroom Use
A secure 2017 AP English Language and Composition Exam is available on the AP Course Audit website. To access, sign in to your AP Course Audit account, and click on the Secure Documents link in the Resources section of your Course Status page.
Sample Student Responses and Scoring Commentary
You can explore sample student responses and scoring commentary for the secure 2016 AP English Language and Composition Exam posted on the AP Course Audit site. To access, sign in to your AP Course Audit account and click on the Secure Documents link in the Resources section of your Course Status page.
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AP English Language and Composition Course Description— 2014
This is the core document for this course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and AP Program in general.
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Fall 2015 Revisions to the English Language Course Description
Please review the fall 2015 Revisions to the English Language Course Description, which describes minor clarifications to the exam reading period instructions.
Course Overview
The AP English Language and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum, which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages or drafts. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Throughout the course, students develop a personal style by making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally, students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts, including graphic images as forms of text, from many disciplines and historical periods.
Essential Course Resources
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AP English Language and Composition Course Overview
The two-page Course Overview provides a succinct description of the course and exam.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the course, exam, and AP Course Audit. -
Teacher's Guide
The 2007 Teacher's Guide provides instructional strategies, sample syllabi, and more.
College Board Store
Find AP English Language and Composition publications, released exams, and more in the College Board Store.
AP and Higher Education
Higher Education professionals play a key role developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Ed site features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.
This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy search.
Meet the current Development Committee for AP English Language and Composition.