AP Art and Design Program

In an AP Art and Design course, you’ll create a portfolio of work and submit it for an AP score.

Overview

In an AP Art and Design course, you’ll develop the skills that artists and designers use and create a portfolio of work you’ll submit for an AP score. AP Art and Design students submit their portfolios digitally through the AP Digital Portfolio. Students do not mail physical work to the AP Program.

The AP Art and Design Program includes three different courses and portfolio exams:

AP 2-D Art and Design

Develop your 2-D skills through materials and processes such as graphic design, photography, collage, printmaking, and fashion illustration.

Learn More

AP 3-D Art and Design

Develop 3-D skills in materials and processes such as sculpture, architectural rendering and models, metal work, ceramics, and glass work.

Learn More

AP Drawing

Develop your drawing skills as you experiment with materials and processes such as analog and digital drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media work.

Learn More

The Skills You’ll Learn

In an AP Art and Design course, you’ll practice and develop the skills that artists and designers use.

Investigation

Investigating the materials, processes, and ideas that artists and designers use

Experimentation

Practicing, experimenting, and revising as you create your own work

Communication

Communicating your ideas about works of art and design

Your Goal for the Course

You’ll create a portfolio of college-level work and submit it for evaluation (instead of taking a year-end paper-and-pencil AP Exam). A qualifying portfolio score can earn you college credit, advanced placement, or both.

Want to see examples of student work?

Check out the 2022 AP Art and Design Exhibit, which showcases outstanding artwork created by students for the May 2022 exam.

Go to the Exhibit

Portfolio Requirements

AP Art and Design portfolio exams contain two sections: Sustained Investigation and Selected Works. Requirements for the three courses differ slightly.

Sustained Investigation

This section (60% of your total score) should show a body of related works that demonstrate an inquiry-based investigation of materials, processes, and ideas.

Learn More

Selected Works

Your Selected Works section (40% of total score) should feature five artworks that best demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas.

Learn More

The Portfolio Process

Follow these steps to build your portfolio and submit it for scoring.

Check Portfolio Policies

Learn about important rules and guidelines to follow when developing your portfolio.

Read the Policies

Plan Your Portfolio

Use the timeline to help you complete and submit your portfolio by the deadline.

View the Timeline

Submit Your Portfolio

You’ll submit your portfolio digitally using the AP Digital Portfolio.

See How It Works