English Literature
English Literature covers British literature from Beowulf to the twentieth century, testing both factual knowledge and close reading. It is a traditional choice for students completing a humanities requirement.
Start practice testAbout this exam
The exam divides between knowledge of authors, works and movements, and the ability to interpret passages you may not have seen before.
Coverage runs across the medieval period, the Renaissance, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the modern era. Shakespeare, the Romantics and the Victorians are reliably represented.
Students with a strong reading background often need only targeted revision rather than a full study programme.
Topic breakdown
Topic weights published by College Board.
How to study for this exam
- Learn the periods in order with two or three representative writers for each.
- Read a handful of frequently examined poems closely rather than skimming many.
- Practise identifying period from style, which covers you when a passage is unfamiliar.
- Review literary terminology, especially terms for verse form and figurative language.
How the practice test works
- Choose all units or a single unit to focus on.
- Set the number of questions and a time limit, or practise untimed.
- Filter by difficulty to warm up or push yourself.
- Retake as many times as you like — every attempt is free.
- Your recent sessions stay on this device so you can review them.
Common questions
How much Shakespeare is on the exam?
Enough to be worth preparing for. Familiarity with a few major plays and the sonnet form covers most of what appears.
Is American writing included?
No. This exam is British and related literature; American writers have their own exam.
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