The AP English Language exam consists of a one-hour multiple choice section and a two-hour and fifteen-minute free-response writing section. English language is one of the most popular Advanced Placement subjects, and in 2011 over 412,000 students took the exam. Many colleges and universities have a writing requirement, and a high score on the AP English Language exam will sometimes fulfill that requirement.
The chart below presents some representative data from a variety of colleges and universities. This information is meant to provide a general overview of the scoring and placement information related to the AP English Language exam. For other schools, you'll need to check the college's website or contact the appropriate Registrar's office to get AP placement information.
The AP English Language exam had a mean score of 2.92, and the scores were distributed as follows: (2011 data):
- 5 - 11.1%
- 4 - 20.0%
- 3 - 30.1%
- 2 - 27.5%
- 1 - 11.3%
For more information on AP classes and exams, check out these articles:
To learn more specific information about the AP English Language exam, be sure to visit the official College Board website.| AP English Language Scores and Placement | ||
| College | Score Needed | Placement Credit |
| Hamilton College | 4 or 5 | Placement into some 200-level courses; 2 credits for score of 5 and B- or higher in a 200-level course |
| Grinnell College | 4 or 5 | 4 credits |
| LSU | 3, 4 or 5 | ENGL 1001 (3 credits) for a 3; ENGL 1001 and 2025 or 2027 or 2029 or 2123 (6 credits) for a 4; ENGL 1001, 2025 or 2027 or 2029 or 2123, and 2000 (9 credits) for a 5 |
| Mississippi State University | 3, 4 or 5 | EN 1103 (3 credits) for a 3; EN 1103 and 1113 (6 credits) for a 4 or 5 |
| Notre Dame | 4 or 5 | First Year Composition 13100 (3 credits) |
| Reed College | - | No credit for AP English Language |
| Stanford University | - | No credit for AP English Language |
| Truman State University | 3, 4 or 5 | ENG 190 Writing as Critical Thinking (3 credits) |
| UCLA (School of Letters and Science) | 3, 4 or 5 | 8 credits and entry writing requirement for a 3; 8 credits, entry writing requirement and English Comp Writing I requirement for a 4 or 5 |
| Yale University | 5 | 2 credits; ENGL 114a or b, 115a or b, 116b, 117b |
