Marlbridge guide to AP® English Language and Composition

Unit roadmap

Units numbered as in the 2026–27 Course and Exam Description (Units 1–9 (the CED numbers the units but gives them no titles or topic numbers; unit titles and topics here are Marlbridge groupings of the CED’s skills and essential knowledge statements)). Topic numbers are Marlbridge's, not official College Board numbers. The exam is not weighted by unit: the official multiple-choice weightings are by skill category (shown under Course skills). Marlbridge has written resources for 55 of 55 topics so far; the rest are planned and marked as such.

AP® English Language and Composition flashcards: 223 cards, one set per unit, to test yourself on every topic.

1. Unit 1: Claims, Evidence and the Rhetorical Situation Not weighted by unit · 6 topics

   • 1.1 The rhetorical situation Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.2 Exigence and purpose Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.3 Audience and context Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.4 Claims that need a defence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.5 Evidence and its types Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 1.6 Writing a paragraph with a claim and evidence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Claims, Evidence and the Rhetorical Situation: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 1)
   • Claims, Evidence and the Rhetorical Situation: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 1)
   • Unit 1 flashcards (25 cards)
2. Unit 2: Audience, Appeals and the Thesis Not weighted by unit · 7 topics

   • 2.1 Writing for an audience’s beliefs, values and needs Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.2 Relating to an audience’s emotions and values Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.3 Appeals: the modes of persuasion Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.4 Choosing evidence strategically Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.5 Sufficient evidence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.6 Identifying the thesis of an argument Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 2.7 Writing a defensible thesis statement Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Audience, Appeals and the Thesis: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 2)
   • Audience, Appeals and the Thesis: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 2)
   • Unit 2 flashcards (28 cards)
3. Unit 3: Commentary, Line of Reasoning and Methods of Development Not weighted by unit · 7 topics

   • 3.1 Commentary that links evidence to a claim Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.2 Synthesis and acknowledging sources Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.3 Following and building a line of reasoning Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.4 Commentary across a whole argument Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.5 Flaws in a line of reasoning Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.6 Methods of development Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 3.7 Developing ideas through narration and cause-effect Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Commentary, Line of Reasoning and Methods of Development: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 3)
   • Commentary, Line of Reasoning and Methods of Development: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 3)
   • Unit 3 flashcards (28 cards)
4. Unit 4: Introductions, Conclusions and Further Methods of Development Not weighted by unit · 5 topics

   • 4.1 Introductions Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.2 Conclusions Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.3 Thesis statements that preview the line of reasoning Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.4 Developing ideas through comparison-contrast Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 4.5 Developing ideas through definition and description Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Introductions, Conclusions and Further Methods of Development: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 4)
   • Introductions, Conclusions and Further Methods of Development: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 4)
   • Unit 4 flashcards (20 cards)
5. Unit 5: Coherence, Transitions and Word Choice Not weighted by unit · 6 topics

   • 5.1 Body paragraphs and the line of reasoning Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.2 Unity and coherence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.3 Repetition, synonyms, pronouns and parallel structure Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.4 Transitional elements Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.5 Connotation and denotation Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 5.6 Descriptive words and precise word choice Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Coherence, Transitions and Word Choice: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 5)
   • Coherence, Transitions and Word Choice: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 5)
   • Unit 5 flashcards (24 cards)
6. Unit 6: Sources, Bias and Tone Not weighted by unit · 6 topics

   • 6.1 Synthesising material from several sources Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.2 Position and perspective Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.3 Bias and limitations in sources Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.4 Revising a thesis for new evidence Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.5 Tone and connotation Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 6.6 Shifts in tone Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Sources, Bias and Tone: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 6)
   • Sources, Bias and Tone: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 6)
   • Unit 6 flashcards (24 cards)
7. Unit 7: Qualifying Claims, Sentence Structure and Punctuation Not weighted by unit · 7 topics

   • 7.1 Introductions and conclusions for a complex argument Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.2 Complexity and avoiding oversimplification Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.3 Qualifying a claim with modifiers Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.4 Clauses and the arrangement of sentences Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.5 Coordination and subordination Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.6 Grammar, mechanics and punctuation Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 7.7 Design features for emphasis Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Qualifying Claims, Sentence Structure and Punctuation: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 7)
   • Qualifying Claims, Sentence Structure and Punctuation: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 7)
   • Unit 7 flashcards (29 cards)
8. Unit 8: Audience, Style and Irony Not weighted by unit · 6 topics

   • 8.1 Comparisons that relate to an audience Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.2 Diction, syntax and credibility Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.3 Making choices for a particular audience Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.4 Style Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.5 Irony and complex perspectives Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 8.6 Modifiers and parenthetical elements Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Audience, Style and Irony: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 8)
   • Audience, Style and Irony: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 8)
   • Unit 8 flashcards (25 cards)
9. Unit 9: Counterarguments: Concession, Rebuttal and Refutation Not weighted by unit · 5 topics

   • 9.1 Entering an ongoing conversation Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.2 Evidence that supports, complements or contradicts a thesis Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.3 Conceding Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.4 Rebutting and refuting Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • 9.5 Introducing counterarguments, and when to address them Study guideRevision notesPractice questionsTopic checklist
   • Counterarguments: Concession, Rebuttal and Refutation: Unit Diagnostic (English Language Unit 9)
   • Counterarguments: Concession, Rebuttal and Refutation: Mixed Unit Review (English Language Unit 9)
   • Unit 9 flashcards (20 cards)

Exam skills

Guides that apply across every unit: what each task verb asks you to do, and how to set out answers so every step of your reasoning is visible.

• The Three Free-Response Essays: Planning, Thesis, Reasoning and Timing: Exam Skills Guide (English Language)

  How to plan, open, develop and time the synthesis, rhetorical analysis and argument essays, with annotated model paragraphs, a thesis checklist and a Marlbridge six-point rubric.

• The Multiple-Choice Section: Reading, Rhetoric and Writing Questions: Exam Skills Guide (English Language)

  How the 45 multiple-choice questions are built, how to read and eliminate answers, how to pace 60 minutes, and how to handle the editing and composition questions, with original practice sets and answers.

Course skills

1. Rhetorical Situation: Reading

Explain how writers’ choices reflect the components of the rhetorical situation. (11–14% of multiple choice.)

2. Rhetorical Situation: Writing

Make strategic choices in a text to address a rhetorical situation. (11–14% of multiple choice.)

3. Claims and Evidence: Reading

Identify and describe the claims and evidence of an argument. (13–16% of multiple choice.)

4. Claims and Evidence: Writing

Analyze and select evidence to develop and refine a claim. (11–14% of multiple choice.)

5. Reasoning and Organization: Reading

Describe the reasoning, organization, and development of an argument. (13–16% of multiple choice.)

6. Reasoning and Organization: Writing

Use organization and commentary to illuminate the line of reasoning in an argument. (11–14% of multiple choice.)

7. Style: Reading

Explain how writers’ stylistic choices contribute to the purpose of an argument. (11–14% of multiple choice.)

8. Style: Writing

Select words and use elements of composition to advance an argument. (11–14% of multiple choice.)