The AP Capstone Diploma Program is a two-year program based on two AP courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who fulfill the requirements can earn academic awards recognized by colleges around the world. AP Seminar has students develop and practice the skills in research, collaboration, and communication that you’ll need in any academic discipline. You’ll investigate topics in a variety of subject areas, write research-based essays, and design and give presentations both individually and as part of a team. AP Research builds on what students learn in AP Seminar to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students will design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based investigation to address a research question. After the completion of both Seminar and Research, and a passing score of at least 4 other AP Exams, students can earn the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma. 

Exam Structure

Seminar: 

The exam structure is different compared to other AP courses. It is based on three individual components to make up the final score. The performance tasks are done throughout the entire year. 

• Performance Task 1 (20%)

  • Individual Research Report (50% of 20%): Students work with a group to determine a topic. Students will then branch off to write a research report based on a certain perspective of that topic (1200 Words)

  • Team Multimedia Presentation (50% of 20%): Students reconvene after writing their individual reports to create and give a presentation using technology to answer a research question by exploring it through the different perspectives that they decided to write their paper about (8-10 Minutes)

• Performance Task 2 (35%)

  • Individual Written Argument (70% of 30%): Students read and analyze a stimulus packet with select sources on one cohesive theme and then utilize those sources, along with other academic sources to synthesize and develop a cohesive argument for an issue regarding that cohesive theme

  • Individual Multimedia Presentation (20% of 35%)

    • Students will then utilize their findings and prepare a 6-8 minute presentation that highlights their questions, relevant sources, conclusions/solutions, limitations, and implications.

  • Oral Defense (10% of 35%)

    • After completing their presentation, students will be asked 2 questions by the teacher at their own discretion, but it may be relevant to one's research process, how they reached conclusions, or the overarching implications of their solutions. 

• End of Course Exam - 2 hours (45%)

  • Understanding and Analyzing an argument (30% of 45%): Students will be given a passage arguing for or against a certain topic and they will be asked 3 short answer questions relating to the argument as a whole, claims used to support the argument, and analyzing the credibility and effectiveness of the evidence used. It is suggested by CollgeBoard that this portion should take 30 min, but Ms. Z recommends that one spends closer to 45 min in order to get the most complex response possible. 

  • Evidence-Based Argument (70% of 45%): Students will be given a packet of multiple sources that relate to one another under a common theme. Students will then use those sources to develop a unique and complex argument. CollegeBoard recommends that students take 90 min for this portion, but Ms. Z recommends that one spends closer to 75 minutes. 

Research:

• Academic Research Paper (75%): Students will write a research paper of 4000-5000 words that examines a gap in the current body of academic literature. While it seems like a lot of work, students will continue to work on this for the entire year under the guidance of Ms.Z

• Presentation and Oral Defense (25%): After completing their research paper, students will prepare a 15-20 minute presentation that highlights the important material in their paper. Students will also invite a teacher of their choice to watch their presentation and ask questions. Students will then be asked 3-4 questions at the teachers' discretion about their topic.