Blog Post 2: Post Practice Exam

After taking my first AP Literature practice exam, I noticed that I had several strengths, as well as weaknesses. I believe that because I took AP Composition last year, I was able to pace myself extremely well in regards to time. I also found that I did much better with the short poetry pieces. I was able to interpret them well, and quickly. I only missed a few questions that pertained to those passages, and they were simply because I just hadn't learned that particular material yet; they were gaps in my knowledge that can easily be fixed.

My biggest weakness was the longer pieces that we had to read. It was harder to understand because they weren't as to the point, so I zoned out on details I shouldn't have. I need to get better at annotating as I read, so that I am forced to pay attention to the little details that the questions are asked about.  Most of the questions I missed were in these sections for that reason. I thought it might be because I wasn't interested in the material, but as I think about it, it was probably just the length. However whether it be the length or material, I will be faced with both when it comes time to take the actual test.

My plan for improvement is really simple. For the shorter pieces, I just need to pay attention in class in order to fill in the gaps in my knowledge. I also think a simple review  of concepts I learned in AP Comp, such as the literary terms and how to annotate. As for the longer pieces, the same few reviews will be beneficial. On top of that, however, I do need to pay more attention to the text while I read. I've found that I zone out quickly when it comes to reading the longer passages because they may not interested. If I annotate as I go, I would be forced to stay engaged in the text while also possibly answering some of the questions in my notes.

This goal seems realistic and attainable to me, as for the time frame, I think that annotations can be improved right away. The more I learn this trimester about the various types of literature, the better I will become at the questions that pertain to that. I feel like all of my weaknesses can all be improved quickly and with simple measures. I really do think AP Comp helped give me an advantage in regards to test taking. It's simply new material that I have yet to learn that has been tripping me up.