AP® English Language Score Calculator
How to Use This Calculator
▼- Multiple-Choice Section (MCQ): Use the slider or type the number of correctly answered questions (out of 45).
- Free Response Questions (FRQs): For each of the three essays (Synthesis, Rhetorical Analysis, Argument), use the slider or type your score (out of 6).
- View Your Score: The calculator will automatically update your estimated AP score (1-5), total composite score (out of 100), and individual section scores.
- Reset/Max: Use the 'Reset All' button to clear inputs or 'Perfect Score' to see the maximum possible scores.
- The AP English Language and Composition Exam score is weighted as follows: Multiple-Choice (45%) and Free-Response (55%). This calculator uses a common conversion model. Actual thresholds may vary slightly by year.
Adjust the sliders below to calculate your potential AP® score.
Section I: Multiple-Choice
0/45
Section II: Free Response Questions
Q1 (Synthesis)
0/6
Q2 (Rhetorical Analysis)
0/6
Q3 (Argument)
0/6
Your Estimated AP® Score
1
Keep working on your language analysis skills!
MCQ Score (out of 45)
0
FRQ Score (scaled to 55)
0
Total Composite Score
0/100
020406080100
Score Thresholds (approximate):
1 (0-35) • 2 (36-52) • 3 (53-64) • 4 (65-74) • 5 (75+)
Official AP English Lang Practice
1 (0-35) • 2 (36-52) • 3 (53-64) • 4 (65-74) • 5 (75+)
AP English Language – 2025 Cheatsheet
🥇
Unit 1: Claims, Reasoning, Evidence
Rhetorical Situation
- Rhetorical situation: refers to exigence, purpose, audience, writer, context, and message
- Exigence: what prompts/inspires the writing
Claims & Evidence
- Writer position is conveyed through defensible claim(s)- this means it's not solely fact
- Evidence may include: facts, anecdotes, analogies, stats, examples, observations, experiments, etc
Reasoning & Organization
- Evidence is strategically embedded into writer's ideas; not just pasted in
- Writers need to be able to explain why evidence is significant/proves their point
Style
- Style of writing depends on writers' purpose (of which they may have more than one of)
🗂️ Unit 2: Audience
Rhetorical Situation
- Audience influences the choices writers make in terms of persuasion methods
- Writers attempt to relate to the audience's emotions/beliefs
Claims & Evidence
- Both quantity and quality need to be good for sufficient evidence
- Evidence can strengthen credibility and help the audience relate
Reasoning & Organization
- Thesis: overarching claim writer wants to prove with reasoning and evidence
- Thesis may be sprinkled throughout the text; if it's directly expressed, it's called a thesis statement
Style
- Word choice (diction) and sentence structure (syntax) are adapted for the specific audience.
👀
Unit 3: Perspectives
Rhetorical Situation
- Writer's purpose influences method of development- range from narration, cause-effect, comparison-contrast, etc
Claims & Evidence
- Commentary necessary to make evidence logically relate to claim
- Need to acknowledge others' intellectual property through reference/citation
Reasoning & Organization
- Synthesis: integration of evidence and others' arguments into writer's
- Sequence of paragraphs directly related to line of reasoning
- Holes in a line of reasoning may undermine a writer's argument completely
Style
- Adding real-life experiences can advance an argument using relatability
🏁 Unit 4: Intros + Conclusions
Rhetorical Situation
- Comparison-contrast method: analyze categories of comparison
- Definition/description method: relates details of something using examples/illustrations
Claims & Evidence
- Introduction may include evidence to draw the audience in
- Conclusion may summarize evidence and argument in order to leave the reader thinking and potentially acting
Reasoning & Organization
- Thesis may foreshadow line of reasoning
- Don't necessarily include all the points of an argument
Style
- Language and tone should be adjusted based on intended audience
- Diction can reveal education level and attitudes of intended audience
🧩 Unit 5: Bring it Together
Rhetorical Situation
- Descriptive words (adj. and adv.) can be strategically chosen in order to convey writer's perspective; keeping in mind what's most convincing
Claims & Evidence
- Body paragraphs are usually where claims and evidences are
- Coherence necessary to create logical connections in between ideas
Reasoning & Organization
- Parallel structure and repetition can help organize evidence and commentary
- Transitional elements: words/phrases/clauses that show relationships between ideas
Style
- Writers consider obvious and more hidden (ie connotative) meanings of words
- Accurate diction can help the audience understand the writers' POV
🧐 Unit 6: Perspective, Positioning, Bias
Rhetorical Situation
- Position ≠ perspective- writers may share the same position but approach the topic from different background and specific opinions
Claims & Evidence
- Writers need to consider the credibility of their sources, as doubtful sources may detract from their argument
- Only the most relevant information should be incorporated into a writer's argument
Reasoning & Organization
- While synthesizing evidence, writers should recognize the biases that may be present in said evidence
- Be careful about fallacies (misleading arguments) while writing
Style
- Shifts in tone from paragraph to paragraph can indicate the writer's reevaluation of their argument- may reconsider their line of reasoning
🗣️ Unit 7: Arguments
Rhetorical Situation
- To successfully convince audience, writer needs to understand complexities of topic
- Can't convince audience if they only have a surface level understanding
Claims & Evidence
- The best arguments avoid generalizing or absolute claims
- Sentence order can illustrate the pieces of evidence most prioritized by the writer
Reasoning & Organization
- Coordination: used to show equality between ideas; words like so, and, or, for
- Subordination: used to show inequality between ideas; words like although, since, unless
Style
- Punctuation like colons and dashes can clarify and supplement sentences
- Using design choices such as italics or boldface can emphasize certain ideas
✨ Unit 8: Style
Rhetorical Situation
- Writers need to consider the needs and contexts of their audience when choosing diction and organization
- Writer credibility influenced by choices
Claims & Evidence
- Parenthetical additions can provide greater detail for claims
- Modifiers can clarify and specify the claim
Reasoning & Organization
- Comparisons like similes and analogies can help relate ideas to the audience
- If comparisons are not easily understandable though, they may detract from writer's purpose
Style
- Irony and complexity can be indicated through writer's choices
- Irony can be created when there's a stark contrast between the audience's expectations and the writer's argument
🎯 Unit 9: Complexity
Rhetorical Situation
- Writers' concession (accepting part/all of counterargument) or rebuttal (offering contrasting perspective on counterevidence) can improve their credibility to the audience
Claims & Evidence
- Counterarguments can be introduced using transitions
- Not all claims attempt to disprove counterarguments
Reasoning & Organization
- Rebutting a counterargument requires explanation/commentary on counterevidence- need to prove why it is invalid
Style
- Strategic word choice during thesis writing can convey stronger feelings of urgency, importance, and depth
📝 Synthesis Essay
How to be Successful
- Read through sources and understand the patterns
- Identify a claim that uses multiple sources
- Use the sources to back up that claim
Thesis
- Make a defensible claim that can incorporate many types of evidence
- Respond directly to the prompt
- Analyze the source types, find patterns across the sources, and formulate your position
Evidence & Commentary
- Sources: information you read will either be used to support or refute your claim
- Commentary: always connect your commentary to your own thesis
Sophistication
Ways to get sophistication point:
- Identify genuine tensions in sources
- Support complex claims with specific evidence
- Show how different factors interact
- Acknowledge counterarguments
🔍 Rhetorical Analysis Essay
How to be Successful
- Identify the rhetorical choices in the passage
- Find specific evidence from the text of those rhetorical choices
- Explain the significance of the rhetorical choices
Thesis
- Analyze the author's rhetorical choices (not just content)
- Make a defensible claim that can be supported by specific evidence from the text
Evidence & Commentary
- Select strong evidence: look for patterns, find specific moments, consider context
- Strong commentary: identify the rhetorical choice, explain how it works, connect to purpose
Sophistication
Ways to get sophistication point:
- Look for larger patterns, broader themes, and deeper significance
- Consider multiple perspectives or counter arguments
⚖️
Argument Essay
How to be Successful
- Develop a clear position (thesis)
- Support your position with specific evidence
- Explain your reasoning in a way that connects to your position
Thesis
- Analyze the prompt: understand what the prompt specifically wants
- Find your angle: choose your strongest belief
- Craft your position: take a stance and set up your reasoning
Evidence & Commentary
- Strong evidence: personal experience, historical examples, hypothetical scenarios, common knowledge, logical reasoning
- Strong commentary must connect to your thesis and shows how the evidence supports your claim
Sophistication
Ways to get sophistication point:
- Create a nuanced argument
- Situate your argument in broader context
- Make effective rhetorical choices