The test essays will prepare you to succeed at the four essays on the AP exam. The essays are basically just writing the answer. There's no describing your answer it's just if you know it or you don't. The test you take for each unit will have a essay that has a time limit of 25 minutes. This will prepare you for the exam of 4 essays in 1 hour and 40 minutes. When I took the essay portion of the exam I was very nervous, but once I started writing I knew I was prepared and ready. I finished with a lot of time left and was able to go over my answers thoroughly.