Selected Works Overview

This section of your portfolio should show works that best demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas.

AP 3-D Art and Design

For AP 3-D Art and Design, you’ll submit ten digital images of five artworks (two views of each work). The second image of each work should be taken from a different vantage point than the first view, or it can be a detail, if the detail informs the evaluator about a particular aspect of the work.

AP 2-D Art and Design and AP Drawing

For AP 2-D Art and Design and AP Drawing, you’ll work with your teacher or AP coordinator to mail in your five physical works to the AP Program, and you’ll also submit digital images of your physical works.

For all three courses:

  • Carefully select 5 works that best demonstrate your skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas.
  • There is no preferred or unacceptable material, process, idea, style, or content.
  • These works may also be submitted in your Sustained Investigation section, but they don’t have to be.
  • Selected Works may be related, unrelated, or a combination of related and unrelated works.
  • For each work, you’ll submit written responses to prompts about the materials and processes used, as well as ideas that are visually evident in your work. Your responses to the prompts are evaluated along with the work you submit. The most successful responses in relation to the assessment criteria used here are clearly related to the images of work submitted, directly and completely address the prompts, and provide further evidence of skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas shown in the work. Although responses are not evaluated for spelling, grammar, or punctuation, you should make sure your responses are written clearly (e.g., don’t use extreme text speak or eliminate spaces between words). Do not use special characters or symbols, such as < > ' " ( ) + % &.

Guidelines for Submitting Physical Art for AP 2-D Art and Design and AP Drawing Portfolios

Follow the guidelines in the table below. Note: High-resolution printed photographic reproductions of physical work are accepted for this section. Reproductions should clearly and accurately represent all visual aspects of the work to be considered for evaluation. Reproductions should not exceed 18" x 24" in dimension. Printed photographic reproductions may be optimal to send in lieu of physical works if the physical work is either too large to fit in the portfolio envelope or too fragile to be shipped.

Do Do Not
  • mat or mount any works on paper, preferably on neutral colored matboard;
  • mount works smaller than 8" x 10" on backing at least 8" x 10" to ensure they aren’t overlooked in the portfolio;
  • use fixative on works that may smudge;
  • cover work that has a delicate surface with an overleaf fastened to one edge so it can be lifted easily;
  • unstretch canvases and back them with matboard;
  • submit the required number of works; and
  • remember the home address you provide in My AP is the address to which your portfolio materials will be returned in late June or July. We cannot ship your work to a P.O. Box.
  • Note: Although College Board and ETS make every effort to avoid loss or damage to your portfolio materials when they are being evaluated or in transit, accidents do happen. ETS and College Board do not assume responsibility or liability in such cases.
  • send work under glass, fragile work, or stretched canvases (they will be evaluated, but they are likely to be damaged in shipment);
  • send works rolled or folded, and don’t roll or fold works to make them fit in the portfolio (they won’t be evaluated and your score for that section will be based on the work remaining in that section);
  • send books or journals unless they fit easily in the envelope and they’re opened to the page desired for viewing (if they’re not opened to the correct page, they will be opened to one page at random for evaluation);
  • send more than 5 works (extra works won’t be evaluated);
  • send works that won’t fit easily into the 18" x 24" portfolio envelope (they won’t be evaluated, and your score for that section will be based on the work remaining in that section); or
  • place any information identifying you or your school on any of the materials in your portfolio, except where requested. Your AP coordinator or teacher will give you instructions on how to label your works. If you’ve already signed your work, however, don’t risk damaging it to remove a signature.

 

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