The AP English Language and Composition exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long in total

. It consists of two sections:

• Section I: Multiple-Choice
  • 45 questions
  • 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Accounts for 45% of the exam score
• Section II: Free-Response
  • 3 essay questions (Synthesis, Rhetorical Analysis, Argument)
  • 2 hours and 15 minutes total, including a recommended 15-minute reading period
  • Accounts for 55% of the exam score

There is typically a 10-minute break between the multiple-choice section and the free-response section

. You can manage your time in the free-response section as you prefer, but a common recommendation is about 15 minutes to read the sources and about 40 minutes per essay