What is AP Seminar, and what is AP Research?

AP Seminar is a yearlong course in which students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives. Students learn to synthesize information from different sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. During the course, students complete a team project and an individual paper and presentation, as well as take a written end-of-course exam. These components contribute to the overall AP Seminar score. Go to the AP Seminar course page.

AP Research lets students deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of interest to them. Students design, plan, and conduct a yearlong research-based investigation to address a research question, documenting their process with a portfolio. The course ends with a 4,000- to 5,000-word academic paper and a presentation with an oral defense which contribute to the overall AP Research course. There is no end-of-course exam. Go to the AP Research course page.