Are you looking for the best AP English Language and Composition books so you can pass your AP exam and score a 5?
Then you’re in luck.
We’ve narrowed down the best AP English Language and Composition books (click to see the book) for you today.
Best AP English Langauge and Composition Books
| Details | Description |
|---|---|
Our Review 5/5: Best AP English Language and Composition Textbook  | The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric Second Edition This really is a fantastic textbook if you're studying for the AP English Language and Composition. The first portion of the book is a textbook discussing rhetorical strategies. It helps develop better, more thoughtful readers and writers. The rest of the book (2/3+) is devoted to essays loosely grouped by subject. Some are "classic" essays (from the 18th and 19th centuries) and others are more contemporary pieces (from the 20th and 21st centuries). Each includes questions meant to prompt discussion and reflection, particularly with regards to stylistic and rhetorical choices. There are also groups of essays, charts of data, and visuals that can be used to work on synthesis essays... The text is well-organized, engaging, and appropriately succinct. The essays included are well-written and represent a pleasing diversity of voices. This textbook covers 100% of the material you will be tested on, guaranteed. Check Price | Read More Reviews for This Book |
Our Review 3.7/5: Best AP English Language and Composition Review Book  | Barron's AP English Language and Composition, 7th Edition This book is a great supplemental study tool alongside the textbook featured above. You will find that 90% of the textbook is great - there are minor errors that can slow you down during your studying. Beyond that, this review book is simply too thick and covers WAY more material than what is actually tested. You can get by just studying The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric Second Edition. If you do plan on getting this review book, which is priced low, we recommend diving into the Five full-length practice exams with all questions answered and explained which will surely help you get a score of 5. Check Price | Read More Reviews for This Book |
Our Review 4.9/5: Best AP English Language and Composition Prep Book  | AP English Language & Composition Crash Course Book This prep book includes everything you need to know to help achieve a high score. This book is fantastic in preparing you for the exam. There are many reviews from students who are confident in scoring a 4 or 5 after studying using this prep book. This book is to the point on all topics. We recommend it to someone who's already on track for a 5 who wants to review to ensure their score, or someone who is facing the threat of a 1 and needs to learn as much as possible as efficiently as possible. It has a few practice problems at the end of (almost) each chapter (the extent of these problems depends on how much content was covered in the chapter) that are great for checking your understanding. Great supplemental study option to add to your arsenal along with your textbook and review book as it's fairly cheap. Check Price | Read More Reviews for This Book |
AP Language Exam Overview
The AP English Language and Composition exam questions your:
- reading comprehension of rhetorically and topically diverse texts
- rhetorical analysis of individual texts in isolation
- synthesis of information from multiple texts
- written argumentation
The AP English Language and Composition exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and has two sections — multiple choice/short answer and free-response. Each section is divided into two parts. You can see here for the AP English Language and Composition Course Overview.
Next AP Language and Composition Exam Date
See updated 📅 AP Exam Schedule 2022.
Last Time AP Exam Changed
The AP English Language and Composition Exam has not been changed and there is no indication that it will change in the near future.
AP Language Exam Resources
Our picks for the best review books are based on user experiences, as well as intensive book research and analysis. Here's our basis on the different types of review resources we recommend:
AP English Language and Composition Review Textbooks
The most important thing you can do, truthfully, is to get a good textbook for your AP exam. It’s your tool for helping you learn the material that will be on the exam, help structure your preparation, and allow you to test your learning comprehension with review questions. It’s critical that you choose the books that are recommended as those will help you best prepare.
For this exam, you need to study this Language of Composition textbook cover to cover, and take all the bonus online practice tests. Doing so will ensure to score a 5 on your AP English Language and Composition exam.
Here are some ideas for finding other good textbooks:
- Check the College Board’s list of textbook recommendations on the AP course audit page for your exam.
- If you’re self-studying for an AP course that your school is offering, you can see if they have a textbook used for the actual course.
- Be diligent in reading reviews of any textbook you are planning on buying, and see if it helped others prepare for the AP exam.
| ↪ Our Recommendation: The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric Second Edition |
AP English Language and Composition Review Books
A good AP review book is probably the second-most important resource you can have, after a good textbook. It’s not the most comprehensive manner of studying, but, it will allow you to review the most important information for the AP exam.
For example, if you have gone through your textbook, then as your test day draws closer, you may want a review book to keep the information lucid in your short-term memory. The Princeton Review and Barron’s are two generally well-regarded AP review book sources, but make sure you’re getting the best book for the specific course you are studying.
| ↪ Our Recommendation: Barron's AP English Language and Composition, 7th Edition |
AP English Language and Composition Prep Books
A good AP prep book is probably the third-most important resource you can have, after a good textbook and review book. These prep book offer tips include everything you need to know to achieve a high score and it has a comprehensive content review for all test topics, so if you know you’ll be fully covered to score a 5 on your next AP exam.
The best part about prep books? They include tried-and-true strategies to help you avoid traps and beat the test, and that’s all that matters right now.
| ↪ Our Recommendation: AP English Language & Composition Crash Course Book |
Other Study Resources
- College Board provides free example test questions, so click here if you want to check them out.
AP Language Exam and Composition Overview
| Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Our Review 5/5: Best AP English Language and Composition Textbook | The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric Second Edition This really is a fantastic textbook if you're studying for the AP English Language and Composition. The first portion of the book is a textbook discussing rhetorical strategies. It helps develop better, more thoughtful readers and writers. The rest of the book (2/3+) is devoted to essays loosely grouped by subject. Some are "classic" essays (from the 18th and 19th centuries) and others are more contemporary pieces (from the 20th and 21st centuries). Each includes questions meant to prompt discussion and reflection, particularly with regards to stylistic and rhetorical choices. There are also groups of essays, charts of data, and visuals that can be used to work on synthesis essays... The text is well-organized, engaging, and appropriately succinct. The essays included are well-written and represent a pleasing diversity of voices. This textbook covers 100% of the material you will be tested on, guaranteed. Check Price | Read More Reviews for This Book |
| Our Review 3.7/5: Best AP English Language and Composition Review Book | Barron's AP English Language and Composition, 7th Edition This book is a great supplemental study tool alongside the textbook featured above. You will find that 90% of the textbook is great - there are minor errors that can slow you down during your studying. Beyond that, this review book is simply too thick and covers WAY more material than what is actually tested. You can get by just studying The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric Second Edition. If you do plan on getting this review book, which is priced low, we recommend diving into the Five full-length practice exams with all questions answered and explained which will surely help you get a score of 5. Check Price | Read More Reviews for This Book |
| Our Review 4.9/5: Best AP English Language and Composition Prep Book | AP English Language & Composition Crash Course Book This prep book includes everything you need to know to help achieve a high score. This book is fantastic in preparing you for the exam. There are many reviews from students who are confident in scoring a 4 or 5 after studying using this prep book. This book is to the point on all topics. We recommend it to someone who's already on track for a 5 who wants to review to ensure their score, or someone who is facing the threat of a 1 and needs to learn as much as possible as efficiently as possible. It has a few practice problems at the end of (almost) each chapter (the extent of these problems depends on how much content was covered in the chapter) that are great for checking your understanding. Great supplemental study option to add to your arsenal along with your textbook and review book as it's fairly cheap. Check Price | Read More Reviews for This Book |