Can someone help me make a 5 on the AP Literature Exam?

I am a senior in high school and I am about to take my first Ap literature exam. I always seem to get 4s on the practice exams that my teacher gives me and she says that my problem is that I don't answer the question. The problem that I am having is that I will say something along the lines of "The author uses diction,figurative language to ......". My instructor says every time that I do not answer "HOW". How do I do this? Any advice is helpful! Thank you:)