ap german persuasive essay examples

How to Study for AP® German Language

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Have you decided to take an AP® German Language and Culture class, and now you’re starting to wonder how you should prepare for the actual exam? Maybe you want to know where and how to practice your German skills in general, or just need help with one part of the exam. We understand how overwhelming this can be! Taking an AP® class can be a daunting proposition Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place. This AP® German Language study guide will help you develop an AP® German study plan and will give you lots of ideas and strategies for improving your skills and earning a well-deserved 5 on the exam.

This study guide will explain the different parts of the exam, so you know what to expect, and will also recommend materials that will help you prepare. The best part is that we here at Albert.io have done all of the research for you. Let’s dive in!

AP® German Language Study Guide: Overview

Parts of the exam.

To start, let’s talk about what you will have to do on the exam (we’ll cover each section in more detail later).

Section 1: 65 Multiple Choice Questions, 1 hour and 35 minutes, 50% of your score.

• 30 multiple choice questions, 40 minutes.
• Print materials.
• 35 multiple choice questions, 55 minutes.
• Audio materials paired with print materials in first half.
• Audio materials only in second half.

Section 2: Free Response Section with four tasks, 1 hour and 28 minutes, 50% of your score.

• Written tasks, 70 minutes.
• Email message reply (15 minutes).
• Persuasive Essay (55 minutes).
• Spoken Tasks (about 18 minutes).
• Simulated Conversation.
• Cultural Comparison Speech.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry! It’s important to know what’s expected of you on the exam, but you will become very familiar with each task as you study and use this AP® German Language Study Guide. You can do this!

Wondering which topics will be covered on the AP® German Language exam? Thankfully, the CollegeBoard is very specific about the topics you can expect:

Here’s the best news: The CollegeBoard also tells you the theme that each task falls under. Knowing the theme can sometimes be a lifesaver if you encounter a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary!

One thing to remember, though, is that the theme will always be listed in German. You need to know what all of the themes mean in German, so here’s a handy list:

• Global Challenges –  Globalisierung.
• Science and Technology –  Naturwissenschaft und Technologie.
• Contemporary Life –  All tag.
• Personal and Public Identities –  Persönliche und Öffentliche Identität.
• Families and Communities –  Familie und Gemeinschaft.
• Beauty and Aesthetics –  Schönheit on Ästhetik.

AP® German Language Study Guide Materials and Resources

Now that you understand the structure of the exam and the themes that you will encounter, we’re going to show you the best resources that will help you develop an AP® German language study plan.

CollegeBoard Resources – Go Straight to the Source!

The CollegeBoard Website is the best place to go to for resources for the AP® German Language exam. Unfortunately, the website is not very easy to navigate, so here are specific links:

• A Complete overview of the exam This PDF covers details about the six themes. The “overarching essential questions” about each theme starting on page 31 will show you exactly what each theme is about.
• The overview also has some sample multiple choice questions with answers. Believe it or not, this is the only source for practice multiple choice questions published by the CollegeBoard. They start on page 41.
• The AP® German Language Student Page This web page has five years’ worth of free response questions (FRQs) from AP® exams. You need to create an account by clicking on “sign in” at the top. When you practice with the FRQs, you’ll also want to check out the scoring guidelines. These are the rubrics for each task.
• Sample Student Responses On this web page, you can see actual student responses from the last five years. They do a good job explaining why each student received their score. This can help you focus on what the AP® readers (the people who do the grading) are looking for.
• AP® German Tips Here are the recommendations the CollegeBoard has put together for all World Language AP® students to practice for the test. It’s a page you should check out since it has good reminders.

Cornelsen’s Prüfungstraining – AP® German Prep

You can order this book  here . It is the only book available that specifically prepares you for the German AP® Language exam, with exercises for each theme. The one thing you need to be careful with is that the book doesn’t always give the best advice for language use. If you follow our recommendations for each FRQ in the section below here, you can use this book with confidence.

Grammar Books – A Necessary Evil

While grammar is not the main focus of the AP® German Language exam, it is important that you spend some time reviewing it.

• German Grammar Drills covers all of the important grammar topics and gives you many opportunities to practice.
• German Sentence Builder is a great resource for practicing idiomatic language and word order. It also offers plenty of practice.
• Hammer’s German Grammar and Usage is the leading book on German grammar. You cannot go wrong with this book, and you may want to check out the accompanying  practice book , too.
• Mastering German Vocabulary , while not a grammar book, is a good resource because it organizes vocabulary into themes. Studies have shown that we learn vocabulary better if we can organize words into groups. This book does this for you!

Learn to be a Great Listener

Without a doubt, listening to a foreign language is the hardest skill to master. Have you ever felt completely lost when listening to a German audio file? You’re not the only one! The best way to get better at this is to expose your ears to as much German as you can. Here are some links to great podcasts that will help you get that practice in. Remember, when you’re listening to (or reading) anything in German, don’t panic if you don’t understand every word. Focus instead on picking out words you DO understand.

• Slow German . This Podcast series will give you lots of listening practice and teach you a lot about German culture along the way. Consider the premium content (about $19/year). You will get two podcasts (slow and normal) and a vocabulary list and multiple choice questions. It’s a great value!
• Radio D .  This Podcast by Deutsche Welle is a detective story that was designed to specifically train your listening skills. Make sure you start at the beginning, so you know what is going on.
• Das sagt man so! Another podcast created by Deutsche Welle, this one focuses on idiomatic language. A great resource for getting those German expressions down!
• Langsam Gesprochene Nachrichten .  This news podcast by Deutsche Welle is available at slow and normal speeds – perfect for building your listening skills and for staying up-to-date on current events.

The Best Websites and Apps

These Websites and apps are the best for helping you practice different skills as you prepare for the AP® German Language exam.

• Albert.io AP® German .  Our AP® German section offers multiple choice questions of equal or greater difficulty than what you will see on your actual exam. Each question also has detailed explanations to help you learn from your errors and avoid making the same mistake twice!
• Duolingo . Take the placement test. Duolingo offers lots of vocabulary and expressions practice. Best of all, Duolingo asks you to record, giving you a chance to hone those speaking skills!
• Quizlet . Search for AP® German sets created by teachers. Most AP® German sets are grouped by theme or task. Some sets also have vocabulary that is found in the instructions and overviews on the AP® German Language exam.
• Memrise  has a good section on advanced German vocabulary.

AP® German Language Study Plan

We have looked at some great resources to help you work on the basics. Now it’s time to kick things up a notch and put all of those skills to use! This AP® German Language Study Plan will give you all of the resources you need. Look no further!

Practice, Practice, Practice

When it comes to learning a foreign language, there is no substitute for practice. You should plan to spend at least 1 hour every day practicing your skills. Sound like a lot? Here’s how you can make it more interesting: switch it up and do something different every day. This will make it more interesting! The most important thing is to practice your German every day.

Authentic Resources

You’ve probably heard the term “authentic materials” before. What does it mean, and why is it important? Simply put, authentic materials are things that have been created by native German speakers for native German speakers. Everything on the AP® German Language exam is authentic.

The resources above are helpful, but they are NOT authentic. For example, even though the Slow German podcast was created by a native German, it is not authentic, because it was created for German learners. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use it to prepare for the AP® German Language exam. It just means that you also need to work with authentic materials.

Resources for Children and Youth

So how do you find authentic materials that you can understand? Follow these suggestions!

Look for material created for German kids and youth. You will still be working with authentic materials, but it will be much easier to understand. We suggest going to  www.google.de , and then searching for “nachrichten fuer jugendliche” or “nachrichten fuer kinder.”

Here are some of the best sources we have found, but you can do searches and find some great stuff in no time!

• Newoi090iu-y-us4kids
• Wissen macht Ah!
• Neuneinhalb
• Die Sendung mit der Maus
• Dein Spiegel

Skype has a large  community section where you can search German and find Skype’s version of a pen pal. A great way to practice your speaking!

Much of the printed material on the exam will be graphs or tables. Look for news stories or videos that include graphs. Another great resource is  Statista . The free membership has many graphs you can look at and interpret! Pay special attention to the type of vocabulary that is used. This will help you tremendously on exam day!

• Deutsch-Portal offers several downloads about German history, culture, and geography. It’s worth the look.

One important note: staying up-to-date on current trends in Germany is worth it, but keep in mind, that the AP® German Language exam is written three years in advance. So, it’s okay if you find a dated podcast or newspaper article. The main goal is to practice, practice and then practice some more!

AP® German Tips and Strategies

You now know about the format of the exam, and you have some great resources to help you work on your German grammar and vocabulary. You know how and where to look for authentic materials and are committed to practicing every day. But what about strategies for specific tasks on the exam? We have you covered there, too!

In this AP® German Tips section, we are going to give you specific strategies for every task on the exam. With these under your belt, you can walk into AP® German Language exam day with confidence!

Reading Strategies

The best way to get better at reading in German is – you guessed it – to practice! When you are searching for authentic materials, start with something that interests you, and then branch out. The bottom line for reading is to use context clues. This sounds easy, but it is something you need to train for. Here’s why: the human tendency is to focus on what we don’t know instead of what we DO know. You can probably relate to this.

Think about a time when you had to read something difficult in German. Your first reaction may have been to panic and focus on all of the words you didn’t know. We’ve all done this! Here’s what you can do instead:

• Make sure you know the context of the reading. On the AP® German Language Exam, you will get the context from the theme (“Thema”) and the overview (“Übersicht”). The overview will give you background information like who wrote the text and when, where it was published originally and other useful information.
• Keeping the theme and overview in mind, skim the text and look for words you do know.
• Using words you know, make an educated guess on the meaning of other words, particularly nouns.
• Don’t ignore prepositions. Sometimes they can change the meaning of the entire sentence.
• As always with German, look to the very end of the sentence for important things like infinitives, prefixes, and participles.
• Use multiple choice questions to not only clarify the meaning of a passage but to help you focus on particular parts of the reading.

Listening Strategies

Listening may be the most stressful part of the exam for you. Remember that you get to hear each reading selection twice and that you have time to read over the questions first. Here are the best strategies for audio selections on the exam:

• Take a deep breath and try to relax. You have been honing your listening skills, right? You can do this! The more stressed or nervous you are, the more words and context clues you will miss.
• Reading the theme and overview is always important, but never more so than for audio selections. Make sure you know the background of what you’re about to hear. Make notes or underline important words.
• You will have time to read through the questions before you listen. Use the time wisely. Read each question and underline key phrases or words to listen for.
• Take notes while you are listening. Even if you don’t know what a word means, write it down, if you think it’s important.
• After listening the first time, look at the multiple choice questions again and see if you can already answer some. For the questions that remain unanswered, make notes.
• During the second listening, focus on those questions and notes.

Interpreting Graphs

Graphs usually have keywords versus complete sentences. Being familiar with some of the common vocabulary ahead of time is important. Here are some additional strategies:

• Read the theme and overview. Pay attention to who published the graph and where. This is valuable background information.
• Make sure you know what the data in the graph represent. Is it a survey? If so, who was surveyed? Is it research data? If so, who did the research? Does the graph show numbers, percentages or relative values? Who or what do these values refer to?
• Read all headers or labels so that you can understand the background of the graph.
• Use the multiple choice questions to help you understand what the graph is about.

Email Reply Strategies

The email reply is the first of the FRQs. There are very specific requirements for earning a 5 on this task. Here is what you need to know:

• The general instructions in the box are the same on every exam. Familiarize yourself with these directions ahead of time, so you don’t waste time on this during the exam. You can read the directions for the email reply on page 2 of  this document .
• Equally important is being familiar with the scoring guidelines for this task. Understanding what is required is half the battle! Look at the email reply guidelines  here .
• Take note of the theme and read the overview. Doing this will give you the background about why this email was written, to begin with, and why you need to respond to it.
• The email reply on the AP® German Language exam is formal. You will always use Sie/Ihnen/Ihr. You should not use du/dir/dein.
• Your email should start with “Sehr geehrter Herr…” or “Sehr geehrte Frau…”, and end with “mit freundlichen Grüßen.” Having the proper greeting and farewell is a requirement for getting a 5 on this task. Check out  this post about how to write emails in German. Pay attention to the punctuation conventions for emails, too.<
• In your response, you need to answer all of the questions that were asked and ask an additional question. When you read the email, underline all questions and write a “+” to remind you to ask a question. Answering and asking questions is considered “perpetuating the exchange” mentioned in the scoring guidelines.
• After you write the greeting, write the farewell at the bottom of the page. Then, if you start to run low on time, you won’t forget and lose points!

Persuasive Essay Strategies

Just like for the email, there are specific requirements to get a good score for this FRQ. Let’s make sure you know what to do!

• Again, the general directions in the box are the same every year. Read them on page 4 of this document so you don’t waste time on exam day!
• The scoring guidelines are just as important for this task as they were for the email. Check them out here .
• Make sure you note the theme and the essay assignment (Aufsatzthema), so you know what to write about.
• You will have three sources: one printed text, one graph or chart, and one listening selection. Use the strategies we discussed above for each of the sources.
• You are writing your essay for a contest, so it should not be casual or informal.
• You need to integrate each source into your essay. Integrating means more than just quoting each source. Integrating means using each source in support of your essay and either for or against your viewpoint.
• Your essay must be well-organized with clear paragraphs. You should have an introduction, one paragraph per source and one summarizing paragraph at the end. Skip every other line to make it easier for the grader to read your essay and make comments. You have plenty of writing space to do this.
• You only have to integrate each source once, so if you are struggling with one particular source, just remember that you only need to pull one thing from it.

Conversation Strategies

You’ve made it to this point in the exam, are exhausted and guess what? It’s time to do some recording! The more you can prepare yourself mentally for this task, the more you will be able to focus. Here are some tips:

• Just as with the other FRQs, the general directions are always the same. Get to know them ahead of time here on page 9.
• The scoring guidelines can be found here .
• This task is a simulated conversation with a pre-recorded conversation “partner.” Each of your responses will be 20 seconds. When you are practicing with classmates or a Skype “pen pal,” time your responses and get used to how long or short 20 seconds feels. If you get cut off at the end, you can sneak in another word or two, since the AP® graders can hear what you say for another second after the beep.
• For this task, the overview (printed after the theme) is quite long and gives you an idea of what your conversation partner will say in each exchange, and what you are supposed to say in response. Make sure you read the general part of the overview, too.
• Spend all of your preparation time (up to 2 minutes if you skip reading the general directions) focusing on this overview. Know what to expect from your simulated conversation partner and know what you need to do in response. Underline or circle key information or tasks for you and your “partner.”
• When the conversation starts, make sure you keep your finger glued to where you are in the conversation at all times. Doing this will help you get back on track if you get lost or stressed.
• You should expect the conversation to take an unexpected turn at some point. Your ability to follow this twist will help you earn a 5 on this task. For instance, if the conversation is about problems with a girlfriend or boyfriend, you should expect one exchange in the conversation to be about something completely unrelated.

Cultural Comparison Strategies

You have now reached the last task on the exam, and for some, perhaps the most daunting! Remember that you will likely be very tired and mentally exhausted when you get to this point. Here are guidelines to make this a successful recording:

• As always, the general directions in the boxes are the same. Check them out here on page 10.
• The theme and presentation assignment (Thema des Vortrags) might be printed below the general directions. Don’t miss them!
• The first part of the assignment instruction will tell you what you need to present on. The last two sentences are always the same. You will be asked to compare perspectives of where you live, to an area in the German-speaking world. And you will be allowed to use personal experiences, observations or things you have learned about in your presentation.
• If you skip reading the general directions, you will have 5 minutes to read the assignment and prepare your notes for the recording.
• The recording will be 2 minutes long. Practice speaking for this length of time by picking random topics to talk about, preparing for 5 minutes and then recording for 2. It is really important to feel the timing internally so that you can pace yourself accordingly.
• The presentation is made to your classmates, so you should not start your presentation with something formal. If you chose to address your audience, make sure you say something like “Liebe Freunde” or “Liebe Mitschüler.”
• You should compare the area where you live (your town or city) to a specific area in the German-speaking world. Do not compare to a broad area, like all of Germany.

AP® German Language Study Guide: Test Day Reminders

When the big day finally arrives, remember these key AP® German tips:

• Communication skills are more important than grammar. Don’t get too hung up on using perfect grammar.
• Completion of the task is the most important thing on all scoring guidelines. Make sure you know what you’re supposed to do.
• When confronted with something you don’t understand, don’t panic. Look for context clues and use the multiple choice questions to focus what you need to look or listen for in the text.
• Remember to read the overview (Übersicht) and take note of the theme (Thema).
• In your writing, have clear paragraphs and skip every other line. Anything written outside of the margins will not be graded.
• Write with a pen.
• For each FRQ, remind yourself of the most important things before you start it. For instance, make sure you have a greeting and farewell for the email, answer all the questions and ask one in return.
• Most importantly: try to relax as much as you can so you don’t get overtired.

Now you’re armed with all of the best resources, plans and strategies to do your very best on the AP® German Language exam. We’ve covered a lot of ground! Hopefully, you feel ready to dive in and start practicing. Do you have any other tips or strategies that have helped you prepare for the AP® German Language Exam? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment!

Looking for AP® German Language practice?

Kickstart your AP® German Language prep with Albert. Start your AP® exam prep today .

Interested in a school license?​

Popular posts.

AP® Score Calculators

Simulate how different MCQ and FRQ scores translate into AP® scores

AP® Review Guides

The ultimate review guides for AP® subjects to help you plan and structure your prep.

Core Subject Review Guides

Review the most important topics in Physics and Algebra 1 .

SAT® Score Calculator

See how scores on each section impacts your overall SAT® score

ACT® Score Calculator

See how scores on each section impacts your overall ACT® score

Grammar Review Hub

Comprehensive review of grammar skills

AP® Posters

Download updated posters summarizing the main topics and structure for each AP® exam.

View all Test Prep

Ap® german language and culture, du bist ready for this test..

• Practice questions: 42
• Practice exams: 4
• Pages of review: 26

Schools and Districts: We offer customized programs that won't break the bank. Get a quote.

Description

Oh, AP German students. We applaud you for attempting to learn a language so difficult for English speakers. (Well, you're not learning Japanese...but hey, you're not learning Spanish either.)

We're not trying to scare you four or five courses into second language acquisition; it's just a fun fact. English is a Germanic language, but it's actually a little more of a hopeless Romantic than anything else (aw, how cute). Bummer for all you Shmoopers who thought learning German would be relatively easy.

Really, learning a second language in high school is a pretty big feat for everyone—especially when all you want to do is sleep and eat Cheetos like us. That's why we've got your back. We know what it's like.

Let's talk castles, bratwürste , noun cases, and prepositions in Shmoop's guide to the AP German Language and Culture exam. We don't know about you, but we love a good compound noun. Need we say more? 

Well, in case we do, with this product, you'll...

• Learn how to cut those tricky compound words down to size.
• Get tips on how to remember words from ablegen to zwitschern .
• Find out why exactly Deutschland is das Land der Dichter und Denker .
• Learn about the ins and outs of the AP German Language and Culture exam.
• Be able to practice sprechen deutsch out loud to prep for the audio portion of the exam.

Audio? Yes, audio. We've got tons. Get to listening.

What Else Is Inside Shmoop's AP German Language and Culture Exam Prep?

Shmoop is a labor of love from folks who love to teach. Our Test Prep resources will help you prepare for exams with fun, engaging, and relatable materials that bring the test to life.

Inside the AP German Language and Culture guide, you'll find

• loads of drill questions to make sure the info sticks.
• three full-length practice exams that mimic the look and feel of the exam.
• answer explanations to help figure out where you went wrong…or right.
• review of the multiple-choice questions, including audio and print texts.
• review of the free-response sections, including the email, the persuasive essay, the conversation, and the cultural comparison.
• a glossary of 500 German words with definitions and memorization tricks.
• test-taking tips and strategies.
• grammar review (articles! adjectives! subjunctive!)

We have online Test Prep for each and every AP Exam !

• AP Art History
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Chemistry
• AP Chinese Language and Culture
• AP Comparative Government and Politics
• AP Computer Science
• AP English Language and Composition
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Environmental Science
• AP European History
• AP French Language and Culture
• AP German Language and Culture
• AP Human Geography
• AP Italian Language and Culture
• AP Japanese Language and Culture
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Music Theory
• AP Physics 1
• AP Physics 2
• AP Physics C
• AP Psychology
• AP Spanish Language and Culture
• AP Spanish Literature and Culture
• AP Statistics
• AP Studio Art
• AP U.S. History
• AP U.S. Government & Politics
• AP World History

AP® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Logging out…

Logging out....

You've been inactive for a while, logging you out in a few seconds...

W hy's T his F unny?

404 Not found

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the ap language argument essay, tips for writing the ap language argument essay, ap english language argument essay examples, how will ap scores impact my college chances.

In 2023, over 550,148 students across the U.S. took the AP English Language and Composition Exam, and 65.2% scored higher than a 3. The AP English Language Exam tests your ability to analyze a piece of writing, synthesize information, write a rhetorical essay, and create a cohesive argument. In this post, we’ll be discussing the best way to approach the argumentative essay section of the test, and we’ll give you tips and tricks so you can write a great essay.

The AP English Language Exam as of 2023 is structured as follows:

Section 1: 45 multiple choice questions to be completed in an hour. This portion counts for 45% of your score. This section requires students to analyze a piece of literature. The questions ask about its content and/or what could be edited within the passage.

Section 2: Three free response questions to be completed in the remaining two hours and 15 minutes. This section counts for 55% of your score. These essay questions include the synthesis essay, the rhetorical essay, and the argumentative essay.

• Synthesis essay: Read 6-7 sources and create an argument using at least three of the sources.
• Rhetorical analysis essay: Describe how a piece of writing evokes meaning and symbolism.
• Argumentative essay: Pick a side of a debate and create an argument based on evidence. In this essay, you should develop a logical argument in support of or against the given statement and provide ample evidence that supports your conclusion. Typically, a five paragraph format is great for this type of writing. This essay is scored holistically from 1 to 9 points.

Do you want more information on the structure of the full exam? Take a look at our in-depth overview of the AP Language and Composition Exam .

Although the AP Language Argument may seem daunting at first, once you understand how the essay should be structured, it will be a lot easier to create cohesive arguments.

Below are some tips to help you as you write the essay.

1. Organize your essay before writing

Instead of jumping right into your essay, plan out what you will say beforehand. It’s easiest to make a list of your arguments and write out what facts or evidence you will use to support each argument. In your outline, you can determine the best order for your arguments, especially if they build on each other or are chronological. Having a well-organized essay is crucial for success.

2. Pick one side of the argument, but acknowledge the other side

When you write the essay, it’s best if you pick one side of the debate and stick with it for the entire essay. All your evidence should be in support of that one side. However, in your introductory paragraph, as you introduce the debate, be sure to mention any merit the arguments of the other side has. This can make the essay a bit more nuanced and show that you did consider both sides before determining which one was better. Often, acknowledging another viewpoint then refuting it can make your essay stronger.

3. Provide evidence to support your claims

The AP readers will be looking for examples and evidence to support your argument. This doesn’t mean that you need to memorize a bunch of random facts before the exam. This just means that you should be able to provide concrete examples in support of your argument.

For example, if the essay topic is about whether the role of the media in society has been detrimental or not, and you argue that it has been, you may talk about the phenomenon of “fake news” during the 2016 presidential election.

AP readers are not looking for perfect examples, but they are looking to see if you can provide enough evidence to back your claim and make it easily understood.

4. Create a strong thesis statement

The thesis statement will set up your entire essay, so it’s important that it is focused and specific, and that it allows for the reader to understand your body paragraphs. Make sure your thesis statement is the very last sentence of your introductory paragraph. In this sentence, list out the key points you will be making in the essay in the same order that you will be writing them. Each new point you mention in your thesis should start a paragraph in your essay.

Below is a prompt and sample student essay from the May 2019 exam . We’ll look at what the student did well in their writing and where they could improve.

Prompt: “The term “overrated” is often used to diminish concepts, places, roles, etc. that the speaker believes do not deserve the prestige they commonly enjoy; for example, many writers have argued that success is overrated, a character in a novel by Anthony Burgess famously describes Rome as a “vastly overrated city,” and Queen Rania of Jordan herself has asserted that “[b]eing queen is overrated.”

Select a concept, place, role, etc. to which you believe that the term “overrated” should be applied. Then, write a well-developed essay in which you explain your judgment. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.

Sample Student Essay #1:

[1] Competition is “overrated.” The notion of motivation between peers has evolved into a source of unnecessary stress and even lack of morals. Whether it be in an academic environment or in the industry, this new idea of competition is harmful to those competing and those around them.

[2] Back in elementary school, competition was rather friendly. It could have been who could do the most pushups or who could get the most imaginary points in a classroom for a prize. If you couldn’t do the most pushups or win that smelly sticker, you would go home and improve yourself – there would be no strong feelings towards anyone, you would just focus on making yourself a better version of yourself. Then as high school rolled around, suddenly applying for college doesn’t seem so far away –GPA seems to be that one stat that defines you – extracurriculars seem to shape you – test scores seem to categorize you. Sleepless nights, studying for the next day’s exam, seem to become more and more frequent. Floating duck syndrome seems to surround you (FDS is where a competitive student pretends to not work hard but is furiously studying beneath the surface just like how a duck furiously kicks to stay afloat). All of your competitors appear to hope you fail – but in the end what do you and your competitor’s gain? Getting one extra point on the test? Does that self-satisfaction compensate for the tremendous amounts of acquired stress? This new type of “competition” is overrated – it serves nothing except a never-ending source of anxiety and seeks to weaken friendships and solidarity as a whole in the school setting.

[3] A similar idea of “competition” can be applied to business. On the most fundamental level, competition serves to be a beneficial regulator of prices and business models for both the business themselves and consumers. However, as businesses grew increasingly greedy and desperate, companies resorted to immoral tactics that only hurt their reputations and consumers as a whole. Whether it be McDonald’s coupons that force you to buy more food or tech companies like Apple intentionally slowing down your iPhone after 3 years to force you to upgrade to the newest device, consumers suffer and in turn speak down upon these companies. Similar to the evolved form of competition in school, this overrated form causes pain for all parties and has since diverged from the encouraging nature that the principle of competition was “founded” on.

The AP score for this essay was a 4/6, meaning that it captured the main purpose of the essay but there were still substantial parts missing. In this essay, the writer did a good job organizing the sections and making sure that their writing was in order according to the thesis statement. The essay first discusses how competition is harmful in elementary school and then discusses this topic in the context of business. This follows the chronological order of somebody’s life and flows nicely.

The arguments in this essay are problematic, as they do not provide enough examples of how exactly competition is overrated. The essay discusses the context in which competition is overrated but does not go far enough in explaining how this connects to the prompt.

In the first example, school stress is used to explain how competition manifests. This is a good starting point, but it does not talk about why competition is overrated; it simply mentions that competition can be unhealthy. The last sentence of that paragraph is the main point of the argument and should be expanded to discuss how the anxiety of school is overrated later on in life. 

In the second example, the writer discusses how competition can lead to harmful business practices, but again, this doesn’t reflect the reason this would be overrated. Is competition really overrated because Apple and McDonald’s force you to buy new products? This example could’ve been taken one step farther. Instead of explaining why business structures—such as monopolies—harm competition, the author should discuss how those particular structures are overrated.

Additionally, the examples the writer used lack detail. A stronger essay would’ve provided more in-depth examples. This essay seemed to mention examples only in passing without using them to defend the argument.

It should also be noted that the structure of the essay is incomplete. The introduction only has a thesis statement and no additional context. Also, there is no conclusion paragraph that sums up the essay. These missing components result in a 4/6.

Now let’s go through the prompt for a sample essay from the May 2022 exam . The prompt is as follows:

Colin Powell, a four-star general and former United States Secretary of State, wrote in his 1995 autobiography: “[W]e do not have the luxury of collecting information indefinitely. At some point, before we can have every possible fact in hand, we have to decide. The key is not to make quick decisions, but to make timely decisions.”

Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Powell’s claim about making decisions is valid. 

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position. 
• Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning. 
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning. 
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

Sample Student Essay #2:

Colin Powell, who was a four star general and a former United States Secretary of State. He wrote an autobiography and had made a claim about making decisions. In my personal opinion, Powell’s claim is true to full extent and shows an extremely valuable piece of advice that we do not consider when we make decisions.

Powell stated, “before we can have every possible fact in hand we have to decide…. but to make it a timely decision” (1995). With this statement Powell is telling the audience of his autobiography that it does not necessarily matter how many facts you have, and how many things you know. Being able to have access to everything possible takes a great amount of time and we don’t always have all of the time in the world. A decision has to be made with what you know, waiting for something else to come in while trying to make a decision whether that other fact is good or bad you already have a good amount of things that you know. Everyone’s time is valuable, including yours. At the end of the day the decision will have to be made and that is why it should be made in a “timely” manner.

This response was graded for a score of 2/6. Let’s break down the score to smaller points that signify where the student fell short.

The thesis in this essay is clearly outlined at the end of the first paragraph. The student states their agreement with Powell’s claim and frames the rest of their essay around this stance. The success in scoring here lies in the clear communication of the thesis and the direction the argument will take. It’s important to make the thesis statement concise, specific, and arguable, which the student has successfully done.

While the student did attempt to provide evidence to support their thesis, it’s clear that their explanation lacks specific detail and substance. They referenced Powell’s statement, but did not delve into how this statement has proven true in specific instances, and did not provide examples that could bring the argument to life.

Commentary is an essential part of this section’s score. It means explaining the significance of the evidence and connecting it back to the thesis. Unfortunately, the student’s commentary here is too vague and does not effectively elaborate on how the evidence supports their argument.

To improve, the student could use more concrete examples to demonstrate their point and discuss how each piece of evidence supports their thesis. For instance, they could discuss specific moments in Powell’s career where making a timely decision was more valuable than waiting for all possible facts. This would help illustrate the argument in a more engaging, understandable way.

A high score in the “sophistication” category of the grading rubric is given for demonstrating a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation (purpose, audience, context, etc.), making effective rhetorical choices, or establishing a line of reasoning. Here, the student’s response lacks complexity and sophistication. They’ve simply agreed with Powell’s claim and made a few general statements without providing a deeper analysis or effectively considering the rhetorical situation.

To increase sophistication, the student could explore possible counterarguments or complexities within Powell’s claim. They could discuss potential drawbacks of making decisions without all possible facts, or examine situations where timely decisions might not yield the best results. By acknowledging and refuting these potential counterarguments, they could add more depth to their analysis and showcase their understanding of the complexities involved in decision-making.

The student could also analyze why Powell, given his background and experiences, might have come to such a conclusion, thus providing more context and showing an understanding of the rhetorical situation.

Remember, sophistication in argumentation isn’t about using fancy words or complicated sentences. It’s about showing that you understand the complexity of the issue at hand and that you’re able to make thoughtful, nuanced arguments. Sophistication shows that you can think critically about the topic and make connections that aren’t immediately obvious.

Now that you’ve looked at an example essay and some tips for the argumentative essay, you know how to better prepare for the AP English Language and Composition Exam.

While your AP scores don’t usually impact your admissions chances , colleges do care a lot about your course rigor. So, taking as many APs as you can will certainly boost your chances! AP scores can be a way for high-performing students to set themselves apart, particularly when applying to prestigious universities. Through the process of self-reporting scores , you can show your hard work and intelligence to admissions counselors.

That said, the main benefit of scoring high on AP exams comes once you land at your dream school, as high scores can allow you to “test out” of entry-level requirements, often called GE requirements or distribution requirements. This will save you time and money.

To understand how your course rigor stacks up, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine . This resource takes your course rigor, test scores, extracurriculars, and more, to determine your chances of getting into over 1600 colleges across the country!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay (With Example)

December 14, 2023

We’d like to let you in on a little secret: no one, including us, enjoys writing timed essays. But a little practice goes a long way. If you want to head into your AP English Exam with a cool head, you’ll want to know what you’re getting into ahead of time. We can’t promise the AP Lang Argument Essay will ever feel like an island vacation, but we do have tons of hand tips and tricks (plus a sample essay!) below to help you do your best. This article will cover: 1) What is the AP Lang Argumentative Essay? 2) AP Lang Argument Rubric 3) AP Lang Argument Sample Prompt 4) AP Lang Argument Essay Example 5) AP Lang Argument Essay Example: Answer Breakdown.

What is the AP Lang Argument Essay?

The AP Lang Argument Essay is one of three essays included in the written portion of the AP English Exam. The full AP English Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long, with the first 60 minutes dedicated to multiple-choice questions. Once you complete the multiple-choice section, you move on to three equally weighted essays that ask you to synthesize, analyze, and interpret texts and develop well-reasoned arguments. The three essays include:

Synthesis essay: You’ll review various pieces of evidence and then write an essay that synthesizes (aka combines and interprets) the evidence and presents a clear argument. Read our write-up on How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay here.

Argumentative essay: You’ll take a stance on a specific topic and argue your case.

Rhetorical essay: You’ll read a provided passage, then analyze the author’s rhetorical choices and develop an argument that explains why the author made those rhetorical choices. Read our write-up on How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Essay here.

AP Lang Argument Essay Rubric

The AP Lang Argument Essay is graded on 3 rubric categories : Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication . How can you make sure you cover all three bases in your essay? We’ll break down each rubric category with dos and don’ts below:

• Thesis (0-1 point)

When it comes to grading your thesis, AP Exam graders are checking off a box: you either have a clear thesis or you don’t. So, what crucial components of a thesis will get you your check mark?

• Make sure your thesis argues something . To satisfy your graders, your thesis needs to take a clear stance on the issue at hand.
• Include your thesis statement in your intro paragraph. The AP Lang Argumentative essay is just that: an essay that makes an argument, so make sure you present your argument right away at the end of your first paragraph.
• A good test to see if you have a thesis that makes an argument for your AP Lang Argumentative Essay: In your head, add the phrase “I agree/disagree that…” to the beginning of your thesis. If what follows doesn’t logically flow after that phrase (aka if what follows isn’t an agreement or disagreement), it’s likely you’re not making an argument.
• In your thesis, outline the evidence you’ll cover in your body paragraphs.

AP Lang Argument Essay Rubric (Continued)

• Avoid a thesis that merely restates the prompt.
• Avoid a thesis that summarizes the text but does not make an argument.
• Avoid a thesis that weighs the pros and cons of an issue. Your job in your thesis is to pick a side and stick with it.
• Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)

This rubric category is graded on a scale of 0-4 where 4 is the highest grade. Unlike the rhetorical and synthesis essays, the evidence you need to write your AP Lang Argument Essay is not provided to you. Rather, you’ll need to generate your own evidence and comment upon it.

What counts as evidence?

Typically, the AP Lang Argument Essay prompt asks you to reflect on a broad cultural, moral, or social issue that is open to debate. For evidence, you won’t be asked to memorize and cite statistics or facts. Rather, you’ll want to bring in real-world examples of:

• Historical events
• Current-day events from the news
• Personal anecdotes

For this essay, your graders know that you’re not able to do research to find the perfect evidence. What’s most important is that you find evidence that logically supports your argument.

What is commentary?

In this essay, it’s important to do more than just provide examples relevant evidence. After each piece of evidence you include, you’ll need to explain why it’s significant and how it connects to your main argument. The analysis you include after your evidence is commentary .

• Take a minute to brainstorm evidence that logically supports your argument. If you have to go out of your way to find the connection, it’s better to think of different evidence.
• Include multiple pieces of evidence. There is no magic number, but do make sure you incorporate more than a couple pieces of evidence that support your argument.
• Make sure you include more than one example of evidence, too. Let’s say you’re working on an essay that argues that people are always stronger together than apart. You’ve already included an example from history: during the civil rights era, protestors staged group sit-ins as a powerful form of peaceful protest. That’s just one example, and it’s hard to make a credible argument with just one piece of evidence. To fix that issue, think of additional examples from history, current events, or personal experience that are not related to the civil rights era.
• After you include each piece of evidence, explain why it’s significant and how it connects to your main argument.
• Don’t summarize or speak generally about the topic. Everything you write must be backed up with specific and relevant evidence and examples.
• Don’t let quotes speak for themselves. After every piece of evidence you include, make sure to explain and connect the evidence to your overarching argument.

AP Lang Argument Essay (Continued)

• Sophistication (0-1 point)

According to the College Board , one point can be awarded to AP Lang Argument essays that achieve a high level of sophistication. You can accomplish that in four ways:

• Crafting a nuanced argument by consistently identifying and exploring complexities or tensions.
• Articulating the implications or limitations of an argument by situating it within a broader context.
• Making effective rhetorical choices that consistently strengthen the force and impact of the student’s argument.
• Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.

In sum, this means you can earn an additional point for going above and beyond in depth, complexity of thought, or by writing an especially persuasive, clear, and well-structured essay. In order to earn this point, you’ll first need to do a good job with the fundamentals: your thesis, evidence, and commentary. Then, to earn your sophistication point, follow these tips:

• Outline your essay before you begin to ensure it flows in a clear and cohesive way.
• Include well-rounded evidence. Don’t rely entirely on personal anecdotes, for example. Incorporate examples from current events or history, as well.
• Thoroughly explain how each piece of evidence connects to your thesis in order to fully develop your argument.
• Explore broader implications. If what you’re arguing is true, what does that mean to us today? Who is impacted by this issue? What real-world issues are relevant to this core issue?
• Briefly explore the other side of the issue. Are the instances where your argument might not be true? Acknowledge the other side, then return to proving your original argument.
• Steer clear of generalizations (avoid words like “always” and “everyone”).
• Don’t choose an argument you can’t back up with relevant examples.
• Avoid complex sentences and fancy vocabulary words unless you use them often. Long, clunky sentences with imprecisely used words are hard to follow.

AP Lang Argument Sample Prompt

The sample prompt below is published online by the College Board and is a real example from the 2021 AP English Exam. The prompt provides background context, essay instructions, and the text you need to analyze.

Suggested time—40 minutes.

Many people spend long hours trying to achieve perfection in their personal or professional lives. Similarly, people often demand perfection from others, creating expectations that may be challenging to live up to. In contrast, some people think perfection is not attainable or desirable.

Write an essay that argues your position on the value of striving for perfection.

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position.
• Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

AP Lang Argument Essay Example

As the old phrase says, “Practice makes perfect.” But is perfection something that is actually attainable? Sometimes, pushing for perfection helps us achieve great things, but most often, perfectionism puts too much pressure on us and prevents us from knowing when we have done the best we can. Striving for perfection can only lead us to shortchange ourselves. Instead, we should value learning, growth, and creativity and not worry whether we are first or fifth best.

Students often feel the need to be perfect in their classes, and this can cause students to struggle or stop making an effort in class. In elementary and middle school, for example, I was very nervous about public speaking. When I had to give a speech, my voice would shake, and I would turn very red. My teachers always told me “relax!” and I got Bs on Cs on my speeches. As a result, I put more pressure on myself to do well, spending extra time making my speeches perfect and rehearsing late at night at home. But this pressure only made me more nervous, and I started getting stomach aches before speaking in public.

Once I got to high school, however, I started doing YouTube make-up tutorials with a friend. We made videos just for fun, and laughed when we made mistakes or said something silly. Only then, when I wasn’t striving to be perfect, did I get more comfortable with public speaking.

AP Lang Argumentative Essay Example (Continued)

In the world of art and business and science, perfectionism can also limit what we are able to achieve. Artists, for example, have to take risks and leave room for creativity. If artists strive for perfection, then they won’t be willing to fail at new experiments and their work will be less innovative and interesting. In business and science, many products, like penicillin for example, were discovered by accident. If the scientist who discovered penicillin mold growing on his petri dishes had gotten angry at his mistake and thrown the dishes away, he would never have discovered a medicine that is vital to us today.

Some fields do need to value perfection. We wouldn’t like it, for example, if our surgeon wasn’t striving for perfection during our operation. However, for most of us, perfectionism can limit our potential for learning and growth. Instead of trying to be perfect, we should strive to learn, innovate, and do our personal best.

AP Lang Argument Essay Example: Answer Breakdown

The sample AP Lang Argumentative Essay above has some strengths and some weaknesses. Overall, we would give this essay a 3 or a 4. Let’s break down what’s working and what could be improved:

• The essay offers a thesis that makes a clear argument that is relevant to the prompt: “Striving for perfection can only lead us to shortchange ourselves. Instead, we should value learning, growth, and creativity and not worry whether we are first or fifth best.”
• The first body paragraph provides evidence that supports the essay’s thesis. This student’s personal anecdote offers an example of a time when perfectionism led them to shortchange themselves.
• The second body paragraph provides additional evidence that supports the essay’s thesis. The example describing the discovery of penicillin offers another example of a situation in which perfectionism might have limited scientific progress.
• The writer offers commentary explaining how her examples of public speaking and penicillin illustrate that we should “value learning, growth, and creativity” over perfectionism.
• The essay follows one line of reasoning and does not stray into tangents.
• The essay is organized well with intro, body, and concluding paragraphs. Overall, it is easy to read and is free of grammar errors.

What could be improved:

• Although the second body paragraph provides one good specific example about the discovery of penicillin, the other examples it offers about art and business are only discussed generally and aren’t backed up with evidence. This paragraph would be stronger if it provided more examples. Or, if this writer couldn’t think of examples, they could have left out mentions of art and business altogether and included alternate evidence instead.
• This writer would more thoroughly support their argument if they were able to offer one more example of evidence. They could provide another personal anecdote, an example from history, or an example from current events.
• The writer briefly mentions the other side of the argument in their concluding paragraph: “Some fields do need to value perfection. We wouldn’t like it, for example, if our surgeon wasn’t striving for perfection during our operation.” Since it’s so brief a mention of the other side, it undermines the writer’s overall argument. This writer should either dedicate more time to reflecting on why even surgeons should “value learning, growth, and creativity” over perfectionism, or they should leave these sentences out.

AP Lang Argument Essay Example—More Resources

Looking for more tips to help you master your AP Lang Argumentative Essay? Brush up on 20 Rhetorical Devices High School Students Should Know and read our Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension .

If you’re ready to start studying for another part of the AP English Exam, find more expert tips in our How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis and How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Essay blog posts.

• High School Success

Christina Wood

Christina Wood holds a BA in Literature & Writing from UC San Diego, an MFA in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in English at the University of Georgia, where she teaches creative writing and first-year composition courses. Christina has published fiction and nonfiction in numerous publications, including The Paris Review , McSweeney’s , Granta , Virginia Quarterly Review , The Sewanee Review , Mississippi Review , and Puerto del Sol , among others. Her story “The Astronaut” won the 2018 Shirley Jackson Award for short fiction and received a “Distinguished Stories” mention in the 2019 Best American Short Stories anthology.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit