Are you an expert when it comes to analyzing English literature? Do you have a good grasp on its major movements, and does the specialized vocabulary used to discuss its features fail to trip you up? If this describes you and you’d like to earn some extra college credits, taking the CLEP English Literature exam may be an opportunity perfectly suited to your skills and talents.

Not all schools accept or offer the CLEP exam, and of the schools that do, not all of them necessarily offer the CLEP English Literature exam, so make sure your school does before studying for or signing up for the exam. The CLEP English Literature exam aims to make sure that students have a level of knowledge comparable to that gained after taking two semesters of English Literature courses in college. It does this by testing students’ specific rote knowledge of English literary works, authors, and periods, as well as their abilities to analyze selections of prose and poetry. Note that the test’s definition of “English” literature means literature written in England; American literature is tested on the CLEP American Literature exam, so don’t expect it to show up here. The exam lasts for an hour and a half, during which you are asked to answer 95 multiple-choice questions about these topics. Additionally, the exam includes an optional essay section that your school may ask that you take if your score is to be considered. The CLEP English Literature essay section consists of two prompts: the first prompt asks you to write an essay that analyzes a poem presented in the exam, and the second asks students to support a position by drawing examples from English literary works that are familiar to them.

Do this exam’s challenges sound like ones you could meet after reviewing in a smart way? Great! If you’re ready to start studying for the CLEP English Literature exam right now, Varsity Tutors’ free CLEP English Literature Practice Tests are available to take at any time you want to brush up on English Literature. Each twelve-question Practice Test includes complete explanations of the reasoning behind each question’s correct answer, so instead of struggling to realize why you missed a question, you can pinpoint exactly where you erred. You also receive statistics detailing your performance after completing a Practice Test. If you figure out that you need to focus on one particular time period or literary device, Varsity Tutors’ Practice Tests can help you do that too, because questions are not only organized into Practice Tests that draw from various concepts, but also by concept, allowing you to filter them in the way that best meets your individual needs. By using Varsity Tutors’ free CLEP English Literature Practice Tests and other free CLEP English Literature resources, you have everything you need to feel confident and ready on test day right at your fingertips!