What is the Difference Between AP English Language and Literature?

Published

15 December 2025

Contents

Trying to decide between AP English Language and AP English Literature can feel confusing. They sound similar, they’re both AP classes, and they both involve reading and writing. But the truth is, they focus on very different skills. Once you understand what each course teaches, the choice becomes much easier.

This guide breaks down what each class is about, what you’ll study, how the exams work, and which course fits different types of students. By the end, you’ll know exactly which AP English class matches your strengths and goals.

Key Takeaways

AP English Language is all about non-fiction and teaches you how to analyze arguments, rhetoric, and persuasive writing.
AP English Literature focuses on fiction, poetry, and drama, and teaches you how to analyze themes, symbols, and literary techniques.
The exams look similar in structure, but the skills they test are very different.

What Is AP English Language?

AP English Language and Composition (opens in a new tab) focuses on how writers use language to explain, persuade, and argue. Instead of novels, you’ll read things like speeches, essays, articles, political writing, and memoirs.

You’ll learn how to:

Read, analyze, and interpret a writing
Evaluate information sources
Write evidence-based argumentative essays
Combine information from different sources
Draft and revise your writing

You might read a historical speech one day and a modern article the next. The class is all about real-world writing and communication.

What Is AP English Literature?

AP English Literature and Composition (opens in a new tab) immerses you in the world of creative writing: novels, short stories, poetry, and plays. This course is for students who love getting lost in fictional worlds and dissecting what makes great literature work.

You'll study works from different literary periods, from Shakespeare to modern authors. The focus is on understanding literary elements like symbolism, theme, character development, and narrative structure.

You’ll learn how to:

Analyze symbolism, themes, and character development
Identify techniques and effects used by authors
Read a text carefully and draw your own conclusions
Write interpretive essays

You’ll study older works like Shakespeare as well as modern authors. You’ll spend a lot of time digging deeper into what a text means and how the writer brings it to life

Key Differences Between AP English Language and Literature

Feature	AP English Language	AP English Literature
Main Focus	Rhetoric, argument, non-fiction	Literary analysis of stories, poetry, drama
Reading Materials	Essays, speeches, articles	Novels, plays, poems, short stories
Types of Writing	Argument, synthesis, rhetorical analysis	Poetry analysis, prose analysis, literary argument
Exam Structure	45 Multiple-choice questions and 3 Free-Response questions	55 Multiple-choice questions and 3 Free-Response questions
Key Question	How does the author persuade or inform?	What does the text mean, and how does the author create that meaning?
Best For	Students interested in current events, debate, journalism, and law	Students who love creative writing, reading novels, and analyzing literary techniques

Which Course Is Harder?

It’s hard to say if one class is harder than the other because it varies for each student. I’ve had students who breezed through AP Language and loved it, but found AP Literature to be more difficult because of their personal interests. Other students have scored well on AP Literature, only to find themselves overwhelmed in AP Language.

There's no straightforward answer—it depends entirely on your strengths and interests.

According to College Board Score Distribution (opens in a new tab) data, the pass rates and score distributions for both exams are relatively similar. However, the most recent data shows that more students scored higher on AP English Lit than they did on AP English Language. This can be an indication that most students found AP English Language & Composition to be somewhat harder.

How Universities View Each Course

Universities view both AP English courses as rigorous and valuable. Taking either of these classes and passing the exams demonstrates your ability to take on college-level work and succeed. However, colleges may view scores differently.

Some universities may give college credit that allows you to skip introductory English courses. Most admissions officers consider AP classes along with your other coursework and GPA. Most schools give credit for high scores, either a 4 or a 5, but policies differ among schools.

Want to check to see how the schools you are considering stack up? Check out the AP Credit Policy Search (opens in a new tab)on the College Board website. You can see if the college you are planning on attending gives credit or not.

Who Should Take AP English Language?

AP English Language is ideal for many students. You should consider taking AP English Language and Composition if you:

Want to improve your reading and writing skills
Have an interest in non-fiction writing
Want to earn college credit
Enjoy class discussions
Like to keep up with current events
Enjoy writing argumentative essays
Are interested in fields like politics, law, or journalism

Who Should Take AP English Literature?

Many students enjoy taking AP English Literature. You should consider taking AP English Literature & Composition if you:

Love to read, especially fiction and poetry
Have good writing skills
Enjoy analyzing complex literature
Write interpretive essays
Enjoy analyzing characters, symbols, and themes
Are interested in fields like English, humanities, or writing

Can You Take Both?

Yes, absolutely. Many students take both AP English courses, but not usually in the same year. Most students who decide to take both of these classes take AP Language in their 11th-grade year and AP Literature in their 12th-grade year.

Taking both courses offers several advantages. You'll become a well-rounded reader and writer, comfortable with both analytical and creative texts. You'll also have two AP scores for university credit rather than one.

Some students do take both courses at the same time. But it’s a lot of reading and writing. It’s too easy to feel overwhelmed by such a large workload. You'd need to balance reading requirements, essay writing, and exam preparation for two separate courses.

Talk to your school counselor about typical patterns at your school. Some schools have policies or recommendations about course combinations.

How to Decide: A Practical Checklist

Now that you understand the two courses and how they are different, you may be wondering which one you should take. Here are some things to consider to help you decide which is best for you.

Reading Preferences: Do you prefer reading newspapers, essays, and non-fiction articles, or do you prefer novels, poetry, and plays? Do you like analyzing arguments and deep thinking? Would you prefer to dive into novels or poems?
Writing Strengths: Are you a strong, persuasive writer? Do you prefer to analyze and write about literary works?
Future Career Goals: Which class aligns better with your intended college major or future career path? Are you leaning towards careers in law, journalism, or politics (favoring Language)? Or are you drawn to creative fields, teaching, or literary studies (favoring Literature)?

If you're still not sure after working through these questions, consider speaking with students who've taken each course at your school. Their firsthand experience can provide valuable insights into what each course is actually like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AP English Language or Literature Better for University?

Neither course is better for university admissions. Both are viewed as rigorous and valuable. Universities care more about seeing challenging courses on your transcript than which specific English AP you choose.

Your intended major might make one more relevant than the other. English and humanities majors might lean towards Literature. Social science or pre-law students might prefer Language. But truly, either course demonstrates strong academic preparation.

Can I Switch Between AP English Courses?

This depends entirely on your school's policies and scheduling. Some schools allow students to switch courses during the first week or two of the term. Others do not allow switching at all.

Talk to your counselor or AP coordinator. They can explain your school's specific policies and help you understand any implications for your transcript or schedule.

Are the AP English Exams Similar in Format?

Yes. The format of both English exams are similar. Both exams share a basic structure: a multiple-choice section and three free-response essays. Each exam lasts about three hours and 15 minutes.

The biggest difference between the two exams is the subject matter. They do have some similarities.

Key Similarities

Overall structure: 2 sections: multiple choice and free-response.
Timing: about 3 hours and 15 minutes in length
Section Weighting: Section I (MC) is worth 45%. Section II (FR) is worth 55%.
Free-Response Section: Each exam has a free-response section with three essay prompts.

Final Thoughts

Both AP English Language and AP English Literature are great classes. They’ll make you a stronger reader, writer, and thinker—and both look excellent on college applications.

If you love analyzing fiction and diving into deeper meaning, pick AP Lit. If you enjoy real-world writing and building strong arguments, pick AP Lang.

Look back at the checklist and other parts of this article to help you decide which is the best choice for you. Then, choose the course that fits your style and interests best. No matter which one you pick, you’ll be building skills that will help you long after high school.