Instructions:
Review the information provided about the AP 2D Art portfolio.
Navigate through the College Board website to learn more about portfolio requirements.
When finished, take the quiz to check your understanding of the expectations.
This is the core of the AP portfolio. It’s not about making random projects. It’s about exploring one idea over time and showing how your thinking develops.
Everything in this section should connect back to:
a central idea
a question you are trying to answer
or a concept you are investigating
15 images total and written responses
Your images can include:
finished works
multiple views (especially for 3D)
close-ups or details
process work
experiments and revisions
👉 Important: This is not 15 separate finished pieces. It’s a body of work that shows growth and exploration.
At the center of your Sustained Investigation is your inquiry question. Your work should respond to this question over time, not just repeat the same idea.
This should:
guide your work
be open-ended (not yes/no)
allow for multiple outcomes and directions
You will submit writing that explains:
what your investigation is about
how your work shows development over time
how your ideas changed, grew, or shifted
This is not a long essay. It’s about clearly explaining your thinking and decisions.
Sustained Investigation is scored in two areas:
Do you have a clear, focused investigation?
Is your question strong and meaningful?
Does your work actually relate to your question?
Do you experiment with materials and ideas?
Do you take risks?
Do you revise and improve your work?
Can we see growth over time?
Weak examples:
vague ideas
no clear direction
work that doesn’t connect
Strong examples:
clear focus
thoughtful idea
work consistently connects back to the question
AP wants to see:
trying new approaches
problem-solving
changes and improvements
not just repeating the same thing
Selected Works is a collection of your 5 strongest finished pieces.
This section is meant to show:
your highest level of skill
your ability to make intentional choices
how well your ideas, materials, and form work together
This is not about showing growth or experimentation. That happens in your Sustained Investigation. This is about showing what you can do when a piece is fully developed and resolved.
5 total works
If you are in AP 3D Art & Design:
You must submit 2 images of each piece
Each image should show a different view
Total = 10 images
Your Selected Works are scored in two main areas:
Are you using materials with purpose?
Do your techniques support your idea?
Are your decisions intentional?
This is about how well everything comes together.
Does the form match the idea?
Does the scale feel intentional?
Does the piece feel complete?
Does it make sense visually and conceptually?
Strong work feels cohesive. Nothing feels random.
Clearly planned and intentional
Materials are chosen for a reason
Clean, stable, and well-constructed
Visually strong from multiple angles
Feels finished, not rushed
Choosing pieces because you spent a long time on them, not because they’re strong
Including work that connects to your investigation but isn’t your best
Weak craftsmanship (loose parts, messy construction)
Poor photos or unclear angles
Work that feels unfinished
Flat or primarily flat work:
Drawing (graphite, charcoal, ink)
Painting (acrylic, watercolor, oil)
Printmaking
Fiber Art (if 2D)
Photography
Digital art
Collage (mostly flat)
What Counts as 3D
Work that exists in physical space:
Sculpture (clay, plaster, wood, etc.)
Assemblage
Installation
Jewelry / wearable art
Architectural models
Fiber art (if sculptural)
Mixed media / found object work
These two sections together make up your entire portfolio, which is scored on a 5-point scale.
An average score of 3 is considered passing, 4 is above average, and 5 is excellent.
Get familiar with the AP Art and Design Selected Works and Sustained Investigations Rubrics (.pdf/199KB).
This page explains the two main parts of your AP Art & Design portfolio:
Sustained Investigation
Selected Works
It also includes requirements, scoring information, and example portfolios so you can see what AP-level work looks like in both 2D and 3D.
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-2-d-art-and-design/portfolio
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-3-d-art-and-design/portfolio
This page explains how your portfolio will be scored. It breaks down what AP readers are looking for in both Sustained Investigation and Selected Works.
🔗 https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-2-d-art-and-design/assessment
🔗 https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-3-d-art-and-design/assessment
Here you can view real student portfolios from past AP exams along with scoring explanations.
Use this to:
understand what high-level work looks like
see how ideas develop over time
compare different styles and approaches in 2D and 3D
understand how AP scoring is applied
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-2-d-art-and-design/portfolio/past-exam-questions
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-3-d-art-and-design/portfolio/past-exam-questions
This page includes AP Daily videos and learning resources to help you develop your skills and ideas throughout the course.
You can use it for:
technique practice
idea development
understanding AP expectations
portfolio preparation
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-2-d-art-and-design/classroom-resources
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-3-d-art-and-design/classroom-resources
This guide explains how to upload and submit your AP Art & Design portfolio correctly.
It includes:
image requirements
formatting rules
submission steps
technical guidelines
This applies to both 2D and 3D portfolios.
This document explains everything about the AP Art & Design course, including:
Sustained Investigation requirements
Selected Works requirements
scoring guidelines
course structure and expectations
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-2-d-art-and-design
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-3-d-art-and-design
These resources give you ideas to help you start developing your AP portfolio themes and concepts.
Use them to:
brainstorm inquiry questions
explore themes and concepts
get inspired for projects
begin thinking about your Sustained Investigation
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-2-d-art-and-design/professional-learning
🔗 https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-3-d-art-and-design/professional-learning
This site shows real AP Art & Design student portfolios with examples and explanations.
You can use it to:
see what successful portfolios look like
understand how ideas develop over time
get inspiration for materials and concepts
compare 2D and 3D approaches