EnglishAn introductory college-level literature course

AP English Literature and Composition

Close reading and analysis of poetry, prose, and drama with sophisticated literary argumentation.

AP English Literature and Composition focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature from various periods. Students engage in close reading and critical analysis of poetry, fiction, and drama to deepen their understanding of how writers use language to provide meaning and pleasure.

$65
Single 90-minute lesson
$49.50
Lowest rate per lesson
50 lessons
Full syllabus, 75 hours
Prices and optionsRequest a tutor
Course Introduction

Why AP English Literature and Composition Matters

A qualifying score on the AP English Literature and Composition Exam can earn college credit or placement. Each college sets its own policy, so check the score your colleges ask for.

Often satisfies college literature requirements
Develops sophisticated close-reading skills
Strengthens literary argument and analysis
Prepares students for humanities-heavy majors
College Equivalent

Introduction to Literature

Required/Recommended for Majors
EnglishComparative LiteratureLaw (Pre-Law)PhilosophyHistoryEducationCreative Writing
Exam Format
Multiple Choice55 questions (45%)
Free Response3 questions (55%)

Scored 1–5. In Bluebook, fully digital or hybrid (handwritten free responses).

AP English Literature and Composition course units

The units of the College Board course. Lessons follow them in the order your class takes them.

Unit 1Prose analysis foundation
Short Fiction I
CharacterSettingNarrative structure
Unit 2Poetry analysis foundation
Poetry I
Figurative languageImageryStructure
Unit 3Literary argument foundation
Longer Fiction or Drama I
ThemeConflictSymbolism
Unit 4-6Deepening analysis
Short Fiction II, Poetry II, Longer Fiction or Drama II
Tone and contrastComplex narrationSustained analysis
Unit 7-9
Short Fiction III, Poetry III, Longer Fiction or Drama III
Ambiguity and multiple interpretationsJuxtaposition, paradox, and ironyTexts in historical and societal context

How lessons approach AP Lit

Understanding the concepts, and answering the exam's questions the way they are scored.

Conceptual Understanding
Building deep knowledge that lasts
  • Read closely for literary devices and meaning
  • Build a vocabulary of literary terms
  • Develop interpretive, defensible thesis statements
  • Practice analyzing unseen poetry and prose
Exam-Specific Strategies
Techniques that maximize your score
  • Master the three FRQs (poetry, prose, literary argument)
  • Apply the 6-point analytic rubric
  • Time essays to match exam pacing
  • Drill multiple-choice close-reading questions

Past papers and practice exams

Practice exams in the current exam format are reviewed afterwards, and the errors set the work for the next lessons.

Past papers

Released AP Lit free-response prompts (poetry, prose, open question) with sample responses.

  • Full-length practice exams in the current exam format
  • 55 multiple-choice and 3 timed essays
  • Rubric-based scoring on poetry, prose, and argument
  • Detailed interpretive feedback
  • Progress tracking on analytical writing

How a practice exam is used

  1. 1
    Sit a full practice exam
    Timed, section by section
  2. 2
    Review the errors
    With your tutor, by unit and question type
  3. 3
    Targeted practice
    On the units and question types that cost points
  4. 4
    Repeat
    Before the exam

AP English Literature and Composition: lessons, prices and how to start

One-to-one lessons are 90 minutes, live online. Prices are set per program, so they are the same for every AP subject.

AP English Literature and Composition one-to-one tutoring packages
Single lesson$65Per lesson: $65Buy a lesson
10 lessons$630Per lesson: $63Buy package
20 lessons$1,200Per lesson: $60Buy package
Full syllabus · 50 lessonsLowest rate75 hours · or 2 payments of $1,350 ($2,700 in all)$2,475Per lesson: $49.50Buy packageor pay in 2

Group options

All 2026–27 AP groups are full. The AP group course is $1,755 or 3 payments of $585, 75 hours of teaching in 50 lessons, in classes of at most 6. Three or more students who come together can ask for a private group.

Ask about a private group

How do you start?

Request a free consultation: it is a conversation about your goals and timeline, not a lesson or a test. There is no separate diagnostic test for AP, because no single test stands in for a school syllabus. The first lesson does the assessment: your tutor works through your recent marked work and past-paper questions from your own specification, and reads where you stand. It is a normal paid lesson, not a free trial, and it teaches as it assesses.

Request a free consultation

Refunds

Not satisfied after your first private lesson? Full (100%) refund. Not satisfied after the first week of your group course? Full (100%) refund. No score is guaranteed. Full terms.

Every AP priceAll AP subjects

AP English Literature and Composition — Frequently Asked Questions

How is the AP English Literature and Composition exam structured?
The AP English Literature and Composition exam has 55 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour, worth 45% of the score, and 3 free-response questions in 2 hours, worth 55%. Knowing the split matters because the two halves reward different preparation — the multiple-choice section rewards coverage, the free-response section rewards being able to set out a method.
What college credit does AP English Literature and Composition carry?
An introductory college-level literature course. Credit policies are set by each university rather than by the College Board, so confirm the score your target schools require before choosing which exams to sit.
What does AP English Literature and Composition cover?
The course is organized into 5 units: Short Fiction I, Poetry I, Longer Fiction or Drama I, Short Fiction II, Poetry II, Longer Fiction or Drama II and Short Fiction III, Poetry III, Longer Fiction or Drama III. Our tutoring follows the same order, so what you cover with a tutor lines up with what your class is doing.
What college course is AP English Literature and Composition equivalent to?
Introduction to Literature. That is the level the exam is written to, which is why a strong AP score is treated as evidence you can handle first-year university work in the subject.
Which majors is AP English Literature and Composition useful for?
It is most relevant to English, Comparative Literature, Law (Pre-Law), Philosophy and 3 more. It is worth taking if it is either required for your intended major or the strongest subject you can show, since a high score in a demanding subject carries more weight than a safe pass in an easy one.