Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you engage with tutoring and practice. Students who work with a tutor typically see gains by focusing on their specific weak areas—whether that's identifying literary devices quickly, strengthening thesis statements, or managing the 3-hour exam pacing. Most students benefit significantly from targeted feedback on practice essays and guided reading strategies that help them analyze texts more efficiently under timed conditions.

The three most common hurdles are: (1) analyzing complex poetry and prose quickly enough to finish all three essays in 3 hours, (2) moving beyond summary to genuine literary analysis that identifies author's purpose and technique, and (3) developing strong thesis statements that go deeper than surface-level observations. Many Baltimore students also struggle with balancing close reading of passages with the broader context needed for the free-response essays—a tutor can help you build both skills simultaneously.

Each essay requires a different strategy: the multiple-choice section tests your ability to read and analyze quickly (about 1 hour for 55 questions), the prose passage essay gives you time to develop a strong argument about technique and effect (about 40 minutes), and the poetry essay follows the same format (about 40 minutes). A tutor can help you practice timed writing, teach you how to identify literary devices in seconds, and develop a template for thesis statements and body paragraphs that you can adapt across all three essays.

Ideally, you should complete at least 4-5 full-length practice tests under timed conditions in the months leading up to the exam. The first test helps identify your baseline and weak areas, while subsequent tests let you track improvement and refine your strategies. A tutor can review your practice test results with you, pinpoint patterns in the questions you're missing, and help you adjust your approach—whether that's spending more time on close reading, improving essay structure, or building confidence with specific question types.

The key is strategic reading, not faster reading. Instead of trying to understand every word, focus on identifying the author's purpose, tone, and key literary devices in your first pass—then refer back to the text for specific evidence when answering questions. A tutor can teach you annotation techniques, help you recognize common question patterns, and show you how to eliminate wrong answers efficiently. With practice, this approach becomes automatic, allowing you to tackle all 55 multiple-choice questions with time to spare.

Look for tutors who have strong AP English Literature and Composition experience—ideally they've taught the course, scored well on the exam themselves, or have multiple years of tutoring students through the curriculum. They should be able to explain literary analysis concepts clearly, provide detailed feedback on your essays, and understand the specific demands of the three-essay format. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Baltimore who specialize in AP English Literature and Composition and can tailor their approach to your learning style.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your approach. Working with a tutor helps build confidence through repeated practice with real exam formats, timed writing sessions, and detailed feedback on your work. Your tutor can also teach you calming strategies—like breaking the exam into manageable chunks, reviewing your essay plan before writing, and knowing when to move on from a difficult question. Many students find that familiarity with the exam format and having a solid strategy dramatically reduces anxiety on test day.