Not a Student?
Go to AP Central for resources for teachers, administrators, and coordinators.
About the Portfolio
You’ll submit a portfolio of artwork for evaluation through the AP Digital Portfolio at the end of the school year.
- All portfolio types (2-D, 3-D, and Drawing) are submitted digitally only.
- Students are prohibited from using any and all artificial intelligence tools in any AP assessment work. Read more about our policy.
The three Art and Design Portfolio Exams (2-D, 3-D, Drawing) consist of two sections: Sustained Investigation (60% of total score) and Selected Works (40% of total score). The Sustained Investigation section has two components: Images and Written Evidence. The Selected Works section has one component: Works. Portfolio components are scored separately, and each contributes to the final portfolio score, which is on a 5-point scale.
In the AP Digital Portfolio, you’ll need to submit these three portfolio components as final (Sustained Investigation Images, Sustained Investigation Written Evidence, and Selected Works) by the AP Program deadline in May.
Note: You may submit more than one Art and Design Portfolio Exam in a given year, but each must be a different type of portfolio. You may not duplicate works or images among the portfolios and portfolios may not be combined. For example, if you want to submit a portfolio for both Drawing and 2-D Art and Design, you will need to submit two separate portfolios with two completely different sets of artwork, two different inquiry statements, and your AP coordinator must order two exams for you.
For the AP Drawing Portfolio Exam:
- Your work should focus on the application of drawing skills, including mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition.
- Think about marks that can be used to make drawings, the arrangement of marks, the materials and processes used to make marks, and relationships of marks and ideas.
- There’s no preferred or unacceptable content or style.
- Here are some formats you can submit: drawing (analog and digital), painting, printmaking, and mixed media work.
- Don’t submit video clips—they’re not allowed. You may submit still images from videos or film and composite images.
Guidance for Artificial Intelligence Tools and Other Services
The use of artificial intelligence tools is prohibited at any stage of the creative process.
Portfolio Date
Portfolio Components
Section 1: Sustained Investigation
15 digital images 60% of Score
You’ll create a body of work that demonstrates:
- sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision
- sustained investigation of materials, processes, and ideas
- synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas
- drawing skills
You’ll have to document in writing:
- the inquiry that guided your sustained investigation
- ways your sustained investigation developed through practice, experimentation, and revision.
Section 2: Selected Works
5 digital images of 5 artworks 40% of Score
You’ll choose works that demonstrate:
- drawing skills
- synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas
For each work, you’ll have to describe in writing:
- your ideas
- the materials you used
- the processes you used
- image citations describing the source of ideas or pre-existing works (APA or MLA formal citations not required)
Works may come from the Sustained Investigation section, but they do not have to. They may be a group of related works, unrelated works, or a combination of related and unrelated works.
How We Score Your Portfolio
All portfolios are assessed by at least four highly experienced AP Art and Design teachers or higher education faculty. These evaluators, called AP readers, are trained to apply standardized scoring guidelines. Each of the two sections is reviewed independently based on criteria for that section.
If there is a wide divergence in the scores assigned by two to the same section of a portfolio, the section is forwarded to two Reading leaders for review and resolution of the scores.
Portfolio Preparation
Credit and Placement
Search AP Credit Policies
Find colleges that grant credit and/or placement for AP Exam scores in this and other AP courses.