AP Seminar is the first course in College Board's two-course AP Capstone program; AP Research follows after Seminar.
AP Seminar is the first of the two yearlong courses in the AP Capstone program. Students investigate real-world issues, evaluate sources and perspectives, build evidence-based arguments, and present conclusions through team and individual work plus an end-of-course exam.
AP Research is the second course. For College Board eligibility, students must complete AP Seminar, including its end-of-course exam and all required performance tasks; this is the only course prerequisite. Getting a score of 1 or 2 does not prevent a student from enrolling in AP Research. Scores of 3 or higher are important for the AP Capstone awards, but not for enrollment. However, schools may still have their own local scheduling or enrollment rules.
Typically Grade 10 or 11
AP Seminar
Typically Grade 11 or 12
AP Research
College Board requires students to complete AP Seminar before AP Research; schools may apply local scheduling and enrollment policies.
Team Project and Presentation
Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation
Two-Hour Digital Exam
College Board says AP Capstone can help students stand out in college admissions while building research, writing, and presentation skills; admission and credit policies vary by institution
Develops analytical skills and creative problem-solving abilities
Builds confidence in personal thoughts, opinions, and research
Follow Your Passion
Choose topics and courses that genuinely interest you; especially for AP Research
Strategic Selection
Pick AP courses aligned with your college major and career goals
Get Support
Don't hesitate to seek help from teachers, tutors, and online resources
AP Capstone is not a single course. It is a two-year program based on two yearlong courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who score 3 or higher in both can earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate; adding scores of 3 or higher on four other AP Exams of their choice qualifies them for the AP Capstone Diploma.
In order to earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must achieve a score of 3 or higher on both the AP Seminar and AP Research courses, but do not need to score 3 or higher on any additional AP exams.
College Board says AP Capstone can help students stand out in the college admission process. The program also gives students sustained practice in evaluating sources, building evidence-based arguments, conducting research, collaborating, and presenting conclusions. Colleges make their own admission, credit, and placement decisions, so the award is not a guaranteed admissions advantage.
Students usually enroll in AP Seminar during grade ten or eleven, then take AP Research the following year. Both of these courses last the entire school year. To meet College Board requirements, AP Seminar is the only course that must be completed before taking AP Research. However, the specific timing, course availability, and any other local enrollment rules are determined by each student's school.
AP Seminar is the first course in the AP Capstone sequence. Students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives, evaluate sources and arguments, synthesize evidence, and communicate conclusions individually and as part of a team.
There are two performance tasks and an end-of-course exam that make up the AP Seminar score.
Students work in teams of three to five on an academic or real-world problem. Each student submits a 1,200-word individual research report, and the team combines its findings into an 8–10 minute multimedia presentation and defense.
For example, if the team chooses the topic of voter reform, one member may research the economic impact of revamping the voting system, while another might research the social impact.
The second task centers around a package of stimulus material given to every student taking the AP Seminar course by the College Board. All packages are identical and contain several texts of varying natures, designed to inspire students.
The individual written argument is 2,000 words and uses the stimulus material as a starting point for a student-developed research question and wider evidence.
The individual multimedia presentation lasts 6–8 minutes and is followed by an oral defense with two questions from the teacher.
The current AP Seminar end-of-course exam is a two-hour fully digital exam with four questions:
Part 1: Students are given an argumentative text to read and must determine the author's central claim, the argument's line of reasoning, and the evidence used to support the argument.
Part 2: Students are given four different argumentative texts and must create their own argumentative essay, synthesizing the four texts to do so.
College Board does not require a minimum AP Seminar score to enroll in AP Research. Its only course prerequisite is completing AP Seminar, including all required performance tasks and the end-of-course exam. Students who score a 1 or 2 are still eligible for AP Research. A school may apply separate local enrollment policies.
AP Research is a yearlong individual investigation into a student-chosen, researchable topic. It culminates in a 4,000–5,000-word academic paper and a presentation with an oral defense. There is no end-of-course written exam.
The presentation and oral defense together are worth 25% of the AP Research score and are scored by the AP Research teacher. They take 15–20 minutes total, including 3–4 questions from a panel of three evaluators.
Research Design
It must be clearly shown that the research question, method, argument, and conclusion are present and logically fit together.
Findings and Conclusions
The student connects the findings to supported conclusions or new understanding.
Process and Reflection
The student explains important research choices, limitations, and changes in understanding.
Clear Communication
The presentation communicates the inquiry clearly and supports claims with relevant evidence.
Based on questions from the panel:
Research/Inquiry Process
The student must explain why they chose the particular methodology that they did and defend why it was appropriate.
Depth of Understanding
The student must show comprehension of specific details related to their work and connect them to their conclusions.
Reflection Throughout the Inquiry Process
The student must demonstrate how the process of the year-long research project has personally affected their own understanding or development.
The academic paper is worth 75% of the AP Research score and is scored by College Board readers. It should be 4,000–5,000 words and show how the student developed a research question, selected and justified an appropriate ethical method, analyzed evidence, and reached supported conclusions. The paper contributes to the final AP score on the 1–5 scale; it is not separately assigned an AP score of 1–5.
Topic & Context
The topic and context for the research question
Research Question
The research question and purpose
Literature Synthesis
The synthesis of knowledge gained from secondary reading
Method Explanation
The explanation, justification, and limitations of methodology
Analysis
The analysis of findings
Final Argument
The final argument
Proper Citing
Proper citing of information and bibliography
Knowledge Gap
An attempt to fill a knowledge gap in an existing field of study
Personal Reflection
Personal reflection
In order to receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, all you need to do is score 3+ on both AP Seminar and AP Research.
However, in order to receive the AP Capstone Diploma, you need to score 3+ on AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP exams of your choosing. Students should take AP exams that they are interested in and that will benefit them in post-secondary.
Students should follow their passions, especially when choosing the research topic for AP Research and the AP exams they will take. Students will do better when they study and write about things they genuinely care about.
College Board allows the four additional qualifying AP Exams to be in subjects of the student's choice. Students can choose based on their interests, preparation, school availability, workload, and future study goals.
Lastly, students should seek help when they need it! Whether it is from teachers, tutoring services, or free online resources.
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Everything you need to know about the AP Capstone Program