AP Seminar

Learn all about the course and assessment.

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. All measure your proficiency in the course skills, and all contribute to your final AP score on a scale of 1–5.

Assessment Dates

Assessment Components

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-based essay (1,200 words): scored by the College Board
  • Team multimedia presentation and defense (8–10 minutes): scored by your teacher

35% of Score

The 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 the College Board
  • Individual multimedia presentation (6–8 minutes): scored by your teacher
  • Oral defense (2 questions from the teacher): scored by your teacher

4 questions 2hrs 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 the College Board. These scores also contribute to your final AP score. All these components are scored by trained, experienced educators called AP readers.

Assessment Essentials

Submit Your Work

How to Submit Your Work

Exam-Day Policies

Exam Accommodations

AP Capstone Diploma Program Policies

Assessment Preparation

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Additional Information

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