(For Parents) What is AP Seminar?

 “AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.”—College Board

Question and Explore: Challenge and expand the boundaries of your current knowledge.

Understand and Analyze: Contextualize arguments and comprehend authors’ claims.

Evaluate Multiple Perspectives: Consider individual perspectives and the larger conversation of varied points of view.

Synthesize Ideas: Combine knowledge, ideas, and your own perspective into an argument.

Team, Transform, and Transmit: Collaborate, reflect, and communicate your argument in a method suited to your audience 

CR 1: Students explore complexities of one or more themes by making connections within, between, and/or among multiple cross-curricular areas and by exploring multiple perspectives and lenses (e.g., cultural and social, artistic and philosophical, political and historical, environmental, economic, scientific, futuristic, ethical) related to those themes.

CR 2: Students develop and apply discrete skills identified in the learning objectives of the enduring understandings within the following five big ideas: Question and Explore, Understand and Analyze, Evaluate Multiple Perspectives, Synthesize Ideas, and Team, Transform, and Transmit.

2A: The course provides multiple opportunities for students to practice and refine their skills by engaging with the QUEST process.

2B: Students develop and apply discrete skills identified in the learning objectives within the Big Idea 1: Question and Explore.

2C: Students develop and apply discrete skills identified in the learning objectives within the Big Idea 2: Understand and Analyze.

2D: Students develop and apply discrete skills identified in the learning objectives within the Big Idea 3: Evaluate Multiple Perspectives

2E: Students develop and apply discrete skills identified in the learning objectives 

within the Big Idea 4: Synthesize Ideas.

2F: Students develop and apply written and oral communication skills identified in the learning objectives within the Big Idea 5: Team, Transform, and Transmit.

2G: Students develop and apply reflection skills identified in the learning objectives within the Big Idea 5: Team, Transform, and Transmit.

2H: Students develop and apply written and oral communication skills identified in the learning objectives within the Big Idea 5: Team, Transform, and Transmit.

CR 3: Students gain a rich appreciation and understanding of the issues through the following activities: reading articles and research studies; reading foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; viewing and listening to speeches, broadcasts, and/or personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances.

CR 4: Students develop an understanding of ethical research practices and the AP Capstone™ Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information.

4A: Students develop an understanding of ethical research practices.

4B: Students develop an understanding of the AP Capstone Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information.

CR 5: Students work collaboratively with a team to identify, investigate, analyze, and evaluate a real-world or academic problem or issue; consider and evaluate alternatives or options; propose one or more solutions or resolutions; and present and defend the argument for their solutions through a multimedia presentation.

CR 6: Students work independently to identify a research question based on provided stimulus material; research the issue; analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop an argument; present and defend a conclusion; and produce a multimedia presentation to be delivered to their peers.

(CR5) Task # 1: Team Project and Presentation (20% of Total AP Score)

Description: Students work in teams of three to five to identify, investigate, and analyze an academic or real-world problem or issue. Each team designs and/or considers options and evaluates alternatives; develops a multimedia presentation to present the argument for their proposed solution or resolution; and provides an oral defense to questions posed by the teacher. Each team develops a team research question, conducts preliminary research, and divides responsibilities among themselves for individual research that will address the team’s research question.

Scoring:

*Individual Research Report (1,200 words): Internally scored, externally validated 

*Team Multimedia Presentation and Defense (8–10 minutes, plus defense questions): Internally scored 

*Presentations must be recorded and submitted to the College Board. 

(CR 6) Task # 2: Individual Research Report (35% of Total AP Score)

Description: For the Individual Research Report, students individually investigate their assigned approach, perspective, or lens on the issue or topic of the team research question. Students present their findings and analyses to the group in a well-written individual report that ■ identifies the area of investigation and its relationship to the overall problem or issue; ■ summarizes, explains, analyzes, and evaluates the main ideas and reasoning in the chosen sources; ■ identifies, compares, and interprets a range of perspectives about the problem or issue; and ■ cites all sources used and includes a list of works cited or bibliography

Scoring: 

*Individual Written Argument (2,000 words): Internally scored, externally validated

*Individual Multimedia Presentation (6–8 minutes): Internally scored

*Oral Defense (two questions from the teacher): Internally scored

*These presentations must be recorded and submitted to the College Board. 

Task # 3: End-of-course Exam (45% of Total AP Score)

Description: Students will take the AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. 

The AP Seminar Exam consists of four items: three short-answer questions and one essay question. 

Part A (30 minutes) consists of three short-answer questions in which students interpret, analyze, evaluate, and summarize the argument in a single source or document.

Part B (90 minutes) consists of one essay question. Students must read four sources and construct an argumentative essay using at least two of those sources.

Scoring: External by the College Board