AP English Language & Composition — Practice Exam 1

Total: 52 points · ~1 hour 45 min. Section I: 12 multiple-choice (1 pt each). Section II: 1 rhetorical-analysis essay prompt (40 pts, condensed). Representative practice set.

Section I — Multiple Choice (rhetoric & language)

1. An appeal to the audience's emotions is known as (A) logos (B) ethos (C) pathos (D) kairos
2. An appeal based on the speaker's credibility is (A) ethos (B) logos (C) pathos (D) syntax
3. A writer's deliberate word choice is called (A) syntax (B) diction (C) genre (D) meter
4. The arrangement of words and sentence structure is (A) diction (B) tone (C) syntax (D) thesis
5. "Tone" is best defined as (A) the subject of a text (B) the author's attitude toward the subject (C) the number of paragraphs (D) the genre
6. Repetition of a word at the beginning of successive clauses is (A) hyperbole (B) anaphora (C) irony (D) allusion
7. A concession in an argument is when the writer (A) ignores opposing views (B) restates the thesis (C) acknowledges a valid opposing point (D) ends the essay
8. "Kairos" refers to (A) emotional appeal (B) the opportune timing/context of an argument (C) sentence length (D) credibility
9. Placing two ideas side by side to highlight contrast is (A) juxtaposition (B) metaphor (C) understatement (D) anecdote
10. A rhetorical question is used mainly to (A) get a literal answer (B) provoke thought or emphasize a point (C) cite a source (D) define a term
11. The intended readers a text addresses are its (A) speaker (B) occasion (C) audience (D) purpose
12. When analyzing rhetoric, the strongest commentary explains (A) what device is used (B) how a choice affects the audience and serves the purpose (C) the length of the passage (D) the author's biography

Section II — Free Response (condensed)

Rhetorical Analysis Essay (~40 pts). Read the following short excerpt and write an essay analyzing the rhetorical choices the writer makes to achieve their purpose.

Excerpt (for practice): "We are told the task is impossible. We have been told this before — about the vote, about the moon, about the wall that finally fell. 'Impossible' is not a fact; it is an opinion dressed as one. And opinions, unlike facts, can be changed."

Write a well-developed essay that:

• (a) presents a defensible thesis identifying the writer's purpose and rhetorical approach;
• (b) selects specific evidence from the excerpt (e.g. the list of historical examples, the redefinition of "impossible," the antithesis of fact vs opinion);
• (c) explains how each choice functions to move the audience toward the purpose (commentary, not summary);
• (d) demonstrates sophistication through a nuanced grasp of the rhetorical situation.

Answer Key (Section I)

Essay scoring notes (6-point AP rubric, abbreviated)

• Thesis (0–1): a defensible claim about the writer's rhetorical choices and purpose.
• Evidence & commentary (0–4): specific references (the historical list = appeal to precedent/ethos; "opinion dressed as one" = redefinition; fact-vs-opinion = antithesis) with explanation of effect on the audience.
• Sophistication (0–1): a nuanced argument — e.g. how the rhetoric reframes defeatism as a choice the audience can reject.
• Reward analysis of how and why, not plot summary.

AP score guide (approx.)

Section I (12) + Section II (40) = 52 points. Map: 5 ≈ 70%+, 4 ≈ 58–69%, 3 ≈ 44–57%, 2 ≈ 32–43%, 1 ≈ below. Official cut scores vary.