The AP Seminar exam is a highly distinctive assessment experience that departs significantly from the traditional multiple-choice and free-response question formats of most other AP exams. Instead, it focuses heavily on evaluating students' abilities in research, argumentation, and presentation through a series of performance tasks and a unique end-of-course exam.
This innovative structure, part of the AP Capstone™ program, emphasizes real-world academic and professional skills, requiring students to engage deeply with complex topics, collaborate effectively, and communicate their findings persuasively.
The Unique Structure of AP Seminar Assessment
Unlike a single sit-down test that relies solely on recall or short analytical responses, the AP Seminar assessment is composed of three interconnected components, completed over the course of the academic year:
- Performance Task 1: Team Project and Presentation (PT1)
- Performance Task 2: Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation (PT2)
- End-of-Course (EOC) Exam
Together, these components comprehensively assess a student's capacity to investigate issues, analyze sources, synthesize information, and present arguments both individually and collaboratively.
Component Breakdown
Let's delve into each component to understand what students are expected to do:
1. Performance Task 1: Team Project and Presentation (25% of AP Score)
This task emphasizes collaborative inquiry and presentation skills. Students work in teams to identify a problem or issue, research it thoroughly, and propose a solution or develop an argument.
- What you do:
- Collaborate with 3-5 teammates to choose a research question, gather evidence, and develop a common understanding of an issue.
- Synthesize individual findings into a coherent group presentation.
- Respond to questions about your research and presentation.
- Deliverables:
- Individual Research Report (IRR): Each student writes a 1,200-word report on a specific aspect of the team's research question, justifying their individual line of inquiry and its contribution to the team's overall project.
- Team Multimedia Presentation (TMP): The team delivers an 8-10 minute presentation, collaboratively arguing their findings and proposed solutions.
- Oral Defense: Following the TMP, each team member individually answers questions from the teacher (or other evaluators) about their research, the team's process, and the presentation's content.
- Skills assessed: Teamwork, individual research, source analysis, synthesis, argumentation, public speaking, critical thinking, problem-solving.
- Timeline: Typically submitted in early spring.
2. Performance Task 2: Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation (35% of AP Score)
This task requires students to conduct independent research and develop a sustained, evidence-based argument in both written and oral formats. It often involves responding to a provided stimulus packet of various texts.
- What you do:
- Choose a research question derived from a set of provided stimulus materials.
- Conduct independent research beyond the stimulus materials to build an argument.
- Write a comprehensive essay that presents your argument and supporting evidence.
- Deliver an individual oral presentation summarizing your findings and argument.
- Defend your work during an oral defense.
- Deliverables:
- Individual Written Argument (IWA): A 2,000-word essay that presents your argument, supported by evidence from both the stimulus materials and your independent research.
- Individual Oral Presentation (IOP): A 6-8 minute presentation where you clearly articulate your argument and explain how your research supports it.
- Oral Defense: You answer questions from the teacher (or evaluators) about your research process, choices, and the validity of your argument.
- Skills assessed: Independent research, argument construction, source evaluation, academic writing, presentation skills, critical thinking, synthesis, self-reflection.
- Timeline: Typically submitted in late spring.
3. End-of-Course (EOC) Exam (40% of AP Score)
The EOC Exam is a timed, sit-down exam administered in May, but it is distinct from typical AP exams that rely heavily on multiple-choice questions or traditional free-response essays. Instead, it is a performance-based assessment that challenges students to analyze and synthesize information from provided sources under timed conditions.
- What you do:
- Receive a series of related and unrelated source texts.
- Analyze the arguments and perspectives within these texts.
- Synthesize information to develop your own arguments and proposals in written essays.
- Sections:
- Section I (30 minutes): Read and analyze an argument from a provided source. Identify the argument's main idea, evidence, and rhetorical strategies, then explain how these elements contribute to the argument's effectiveness.
- Section II (90 minutes): Read several provided source texts related to a common theme. Synthesize information from at least two sources to develop a sustained, evidence-based argument that explores a particular perspective or proposes a solution to a problem posed by the sources.
- Skills assessed: Source analysis, synthesis, argument construction, critical reading, academic writing, time management.
- Timeline: Administered during the official AP Exam period in May.
Overview of AP Seminar Assessment Components
| Component | Description | Deliverables | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Task 1 (PT1) | Collaborative research, argumentation, and presentation. | Individual Research Report (IRR), Team Multimedia Presentation (TMP), Oral Defense | 25% |
| Performance Task 2 (PT2) | Individual research, essay writing, and presentation based on stimulus materials. | Individual Written Argument (IWA), Individual Oral Presentation (IOP), Oral Defense | 35% |
| End-of-Course (EOC) Exam | Timed, source-based analytical and argumentative essay writing. | Two written essays based on provided source texts. | 40% |
Why the AP Seminar Exam is Unique
The AP Seminar exam's structure is a deliberate choice to develop and assess advanced academic skills essential for college and career success. It emphasizes:
- Inquiry and Research: Students learn to ask questions, conduct research, evaluate sources, and build evidence-based arguments.
- Collaboration: The team project fosters essential teamwork, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Communication: Both written and oral presentations are integral, honing students' abilities to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
- Critical Thinking: Students are constantly challenged to analyze different perspectives, identify biases, and synthesize information from various sources.
This comprehensive approach makes the AP Seminar exam a dynamic and engaging experience, preparing students not just for college-level coursework but for navigating the complexities of information in the modern world. For more detailed information on the course and its assessment, you can visit the official AP Seminar Course page on College Board.
