AP® English Literature Scoring Guide
If you decide to take AP® English Literature and Composition, it is important to understand how the exam is scored. The AP English Literature and Composition exam assesses students' critical reading abilities as well as their understanding of a wide range of literary works across genres and periods.
The test is graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 3 considered the passing score by most colleges. Students who score a 3 or higher on the exam may be eligible for college credit and/or placement, depending on the regulations of the institution or university where they want to enroll. If you are taking the AP Lit exam and would like to know how it’s scored, then you’re on the right page! This article is your guide to the AP English Literature and Composition scoring structure and guidelines.
How Is the AP English Literature Exam Scored?
There are two types of questions on the AP English Literature and Composition exam: multiple-choice (MCQ) and free-response (FRQ). Students have three hours to complete the entire exam. The multiple-choice component accounts for 45 percent of the exam's total score, whereas the free-response section accounts for 55 percent. The scores for the MCQ and FRQ sections are combined to get the final composite score.
It’s helpful to note that anything less than a 3 may not be considered by any college admissions for college credit or placement. Now let's look at each section and understand the scoring pattern:
Section I: MCQ
There are 55 multiple-choice questions to answer, and students have one hour to do so. Each MCQ has five answer-choices. There are no penalties for incorrect responses or the questions you leave blank. Therefore, if you are unsure about an answer, it’s best to make a guess! Each correct answer is worth about 1 point and the final score for this section is calculated by adding up all the points earned for those answers.
Section II: FRQ
Students have two hours to answer three free-response questions for that section of the exam. Each essay is assigned a point value ranging from 0 to 6 and is is graded by two individual AP readers. If they both reach the same point value while grading, the score provided is final. If they do not agree, a third reader makes the final decision.
According to the College Board®, each essay is graded as a whole, based on substance, style, and mechanics. Each essay's scores are multiplied by 3.055, then combined together to produce a raw score.
AP English Literature and Composition Scoring Guidelines & Rubrics
The AP Lit FRQs are graded according to an analytical rubric instead of a holistic one. Below is a tabular format of the scoring guideline and rubric, as published by the College Board:
| Reporting Category | Points | Scoring Criteria |
|---|---|---|
Row A: Thesis |
0-1 pts. |
|
| Row B: Evidence and Commentary | 0-4 pts. |
|
| Row C: Sophistication | 0-1 pts. |
|
| FRQ Question1 | FRQ Question2 | FRQ Question3 | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row A | Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation of the poem. | Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation of the passage. | Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible interpretation of the selected work. | 1 |
| Row B | Provide evidence and commentary | Provide evidence and commentary | Provide evidence and commentary | 1 to 4 |
| Demonstrate sophistication of thought and/or develop a complex literary argument. | Demonstrate sophistication of thought and/or develop a complex literary argument. | Demonstrate sophistication of thought and/or develop a complex literary argument. | 1 |
AP English Literature Scoring Table
The final results will not include your composite score or even the individual score for each section of the exam. You will only see your AP scaled score ranging from 1 to 5. Each score represents a certain degree of performance. Colleges use these results to determine who is eligible for college credit and placement. The table below shows the prospective college grade equivalent for AP scores:
| AP Exam Score | College Grade Equivalent | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | A+ or A | Extremely well qualified |
| 4 | A-, B+, or B | Very well qualified |
| 3 | B-, C+, or C | Qualified |
| 2 | — | Possibly Qualified |
| 1 | — | No recommendation |
As you may have already realized, most institutions do not consider scores below 3 when making admissions decisions. If a student wants to get college credit and/or advanced placement based on their AP English Literature exam score, they typically must earn a score of 3 or higher. Always double-check the minimum requirements of the colleges you want to apply to, since some schools require a higher score for college credit.
AP English Literature Score Distribution
Thousands of students from all around the world take the AP English Literature exam each year. In May 2023, 356,043 students took the exam, with over 274,836 having received a score of 3 or higher. That's about 77.2% of those who took the exam. Let's take a peek at the AP English Literature score distributions for the last four years, from 2019 to 2023, to gauge its success rates in the past. This may help you decide whether or not to take AP Literature.
Score |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Students | % of Students | No. of Students | % of Students | No. of Students | % of Students | No. of Students | % of Students | No. of Students | % of Students | |
| 5 | 53,092 | 14.9% | 57,436 | 16.9% | 15,846 | 4.9% | 31,030 | 9.3% | 23,508 | 6.2% |
| 4 | 98,970 | 27.8% | 92,549 | 27.3% | 38,505 | 12.0% | 57,642 | 17.3% | 59,648 | 15.7% |
| 3 | 122,774 | 34.5% | 114,510 | 33.7% | 86,502 | 26.9% | 111,903 | 33.5% | 105,635 | 27.8% |
| 2 | 51,129 | 14.4% | 47,956 | 14.1% | 119,771 | 37.3% | 92,700 | 27.8% | 130,358 | 34.3% |
| 1 | 30,078 | 8.4% | 26,950 | 7.9% | 60,405 | 18.8% | 40,705 | 12.2% | 60,987 | 16.0% |
| Success Rate | 77.2% | 77.9% | 43.8% | 60.1% | 49.7% | |||||
Based on data from the last five AP exams, AP English Literature and Composition’s passing rate has hovered around 62%, with a dip in scores in 2019 through 2021. Those particular years' lower success rates were likely the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly impacted education systems around the world. However, the passing rates did bounce back in 2022, when students performed with an impressive success rate of nearly 78%.
The average passing rates for AP Lit indicate two things: First, performing well in this course and exam requires grit, dedication, and disciplined study habits. Second, if you practice hard with the right study tools, you, too, can earn a score of 3 or above. This is where UWorld’s practice tests and study tools can help. UWorld's online AP English Literature and Composition practice exam reinforces the concepts that are bound to appear on the exam. Online study tools can also track your progress and build the confidence you need on test day, ensuring nothing catches you by surprise.
AP English Literature Minimum Score Requirements for College Credits
As you may already know, most institutions require a minimum score of 3 to qualify for college credit and placement. Completing the course but skipping the exam can still result in a transcript that looks appealing to college admissions committees.
Here is a list of some universities and their minimum AP English Literature criteria for course credits.
| Institution | AP Score | AP Recognition | Equivalent Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 5 | Credit | - | 8 credits |
| University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
4/5 | Credit | English 1A | 4 semester units |
| 5 | English 1A - 1B | 5.3 semester units | ||
| Yale University | 5 | Credit | ENGL 114, ENGL 115 | 1 credit |
| Princeton University | 5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 1 credit |
| Columbia University | 5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 3 credits |
| University of California, Los Angeles |
4/5 | Credit + Placement |
ENGCOMP 3 | 8 credits |
| 3 | - | 8 credits | ||
| University of Chicago | 5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 100 units general elective credit |
| University of Michigan--Ann Arbor |
4/5 | Credit + Placement |
- | 3 credits |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good AP English Literature score?
The College Board considers a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam as qualified. However, they regard scores of 4 or 5 as truly impressive AP scores.
What is the average AP English Literature score?
The average AP English Literature score for 2023 was 3.26 . Based on historical data (2019-2022), the AP English Lit scores have averaged between 2.62 to 3.31.
What percentage is a 5 on the AP Lit exam?
Why are AP English Literature scores curved?
Every year, the College Board curves its exams (including AP English Literature) for consistency. As a result, they also adjust their scoring rules to reflect the intensity of college-level courses.
AP English Literature scores are curved for grading uniformity across both paper-based and digital exams. This all but guarantees that AP exam scores remain comparable college-level grades.
How do I get a 5 on AP English Literature?
There is no secret to getting a 5 in AP English Literature. Applied learning, solid study habits, and purposeful practice are the only time-tested ways of getting a 5 on your exam. Strong critical reading, literary analysis, and essay writing abilities are the core skills you need to master for this exam.
When were the AP English Literature scores released in 2023?
The 2023 exam results were released in July 2023. Your College Board account allows you to check your results online.
How many people get a perfect score in AP English Literature?
Students earn a perfect score when they correctly answer all of the questions on both portions of the exam. Only three test-takers scored a perfect 5 on the 2021 exam by earning all 120 points possible across all essays and questions.
References
- (2023, October). 2023 AP Score Distributions. College Board.
https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions - (2023, October). STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS* AP Exams - May 2023. College Board.
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf - (2022, October). STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS* AP Exams - May 2022. College Board.
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf - (2021, October). STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS* AP Exams - May 2021. College Board.
https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2021-ap-student-score-distributions_1.pdf - (2020, October). STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS* AP Exams - May 2020. College Board.
https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/Student-Score-Distributions-2020_1.pdf - (2019, October). STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS* AP Exams - May 2019. College Board.
https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2019/Student-Score-Distributions-2019.pdf - Packer, T. (2021, July 13). AP English Literature and Composition: 2021 Results. College Board All Access.
https://allaccess.collegeboard.org/ap-english-literature-and-composition-2021-results