Not a Student?
Go to AP Central for resources for teachers, administrators, and coordinators.
About the Assessment
The AP Seminar assessment has three parts: two performance tasks—which you’ll complete over the course of the year and submit online for scoring through the AP Digital Portfolio—and the end-of-course AP Exam. The end-of-course exam is a fully digital exam in the Bluebook testing app and all responses are automatically submitted at the end of the exam. The three parts of the assessment measure your proficiency in the course skills, and all contribute to your final AP score on a scale of 1–5.
2hrs
Assessment Dates
AP Seminar Performance Tasks Due Date
Submit your AP Seminar performance tasks as final in the AP Digital Portfolio by this date.
AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam
This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam.
Assessment Components
Team Project and Presentation
20% of Score
Work in teams of 3–5 to identify, investigate, analyze, and evaluate an academic or real-world problem, question, or issue. Your team will design and/or consider options, alternatives, or solutions and develop a multimedia presentation to communicate your conclusion or recommendations. The team project and presentation will be evaluated based on the following components:
- Individual research report (1,200 words): scored by College Board
- Team multimedia presentation and defense (8–10 minutes): scored by your teacher
Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation
35% of Score
College Board will provide stimulus material (texts) representing a range of perspectives focused on a single theme or topic. You will use these texts to identify a research question of your own; research, analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop a written argument of your own that you will present; and then you will defend your conclusion. The individual research-based essay and presentation will be evaluated based on the following components:
- Individual written argument (2,000 words): scored by College Board
- Individual multimedia presentation (6–8 minutes): scored by your teacher
- Oral defense (2 questions from the teacher): scored by your teacher
End-of-Course Exam
4 questions 45% of Score
During the AP Exam administration window, you will take a two-hour exam. The exam consists of four questions (three short-answer questions and one essay question). The exam will be scored by College Board–trained readers, similar to other AP Exams.
- 3 short-answer questions: These questions will be based on a single source. You’ll be asked to explain and analyze an argument.
- 1 essay question: This question will be based on 4 different sources, which give different perspectives on 1 theme. You’ll be asked to synthesize information and create an evidence-based argument.
How We Score Your Work
Teacher-Scored Components
The two AP Seminar in-class presentations and defenses are scored by your AP Seminar teacher. Your scores on these components contribute to your final AP score.
Here’s how we make sure that scoring by AP Seminar teachers is standardized:
- AP Seminar teachers use a scoring rubric designed by the AP Program.
- AP Seminar teachers also take part in mandatory training from the AP Program in how to score these components.
College Board–Scored Components
The individual research-based essay, the individual written argument, and the end-of-course exam given in May are scored by College Board. These scores also contribute to your final AP score. All these components are scored by trained, experienced educators called AP readers.
Assessment Preparation
Link
AP Daily Videos
Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos in AP Classroom. AP Daily videos in AP Classroom. AP Daily videos cover every proficiency and skill outlined in the AP Seminar Course and Exam Description. Sign in to access them.
Link
Practice on Bluebook
Download the Bluebook app and log in with your College Board account information to access test previews for the digital AP Exams.
Link
Online Performance Task Coaching
On-demand videos to walk you through performance task directions. These logistics-specific videos will be released throughout the school year on the AP YouTube channel. For in-depth videos to support your learning in AP Seminar, head to AP Daily in AP Classroom.
Link
Exam Questions and Performance Tasks
Go to AP Central to review directions and stimulus materials for the performance tasks, free-response questions from the end-of course exam, and sample student responses and scoring information from previous years.
Download
AP Seminar Course and Exam Description
This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the assessment and AP Program in general.
Link
Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations for the through-course assessment and the end-of-course exam. If you’re using assistive technology and need help accessing the PDFs in this section in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected]. For information about taking AP Exams, or other College Board assessments, with accommodations, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website.
Link
Guidance for Artificial Intelligence Tools and Other Services
Learn more about the AP Program’s policy on AI tools.
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.