AP Lang synthesis essay your argument, built from sources.
The synthesis essay is one of three essays on the AP English Language exam, which together are worth 55% of your score. You read six or seven sources, take a position, and synthesize at least three of them into your own argument. Here is how the six-point rubric works.
The synthesis essay at a glance
It is the source-based essay, and using the sources well is the whole task.
The six points
The same rubric covers all three AP Lang essays, so this structure transfers.
How to write one
Read the prompt first so you know what position you are arguing, then read the sources looking for ones that help you. Take a clear stance in your thesis. In each body paragraph, bring in a source, cite it by letter or author, and spend more words on your commentary than on the quote. The essay is graded on your argument, so the sources are there to support you, not to be summarized one by one. For more on this skill, our AP Writing Tools can help you tighten the draft.
Where students lose points
The biggest miss is summarizing sources instead of using them. A high-scoring essay reads as your argument, with sources woven in as evidence. The second miss is thin commentary: quoting a source and moving on without explaining how it proves your point. Check a raw score with the AP English Language score calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers — written by humans, not a chatbot.
How many sources do you have to use in the synthesis essay?
You must use at least three of the provided sources to support your argument, and citing them clearly is part of the evidence score.
How is the AP Lang synthesis essay scored?
On a six-point rubric: one point for the thesis, four for evidence and commentary, and one for sophistication.
What is the difference between synthesis and argument essays?
The synthesis essay gives you sources to build from, while the argument essay asks you to use your own evidence with no sources provided.