AP Capstone

About AP Capstone

College Board’s AP Capstone program emphasizes teaching students vital skills that colleges and employers value. An integral part of the AP Capstone program are two courses:

AP Seminar (starts in the Fall of 2025; a core English course for Sophomores or a core elective for Juniors)
AP Research (starts in the Fall of 2026; a core elective for Juniors or Seniors)

These two courses allow students to immerse themselves in topics that matter to them while they develop the analytic, research, problem-solving, and communication skills that colleges seek in their applicants. Students in these courses follow their passions, build their confidence, and gain a global perspective.

Recognition

Successful completion of AP Seminar and AP Research (by earning a score of three or higher) qualifies a student for the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Students who have earned the certificate and earn a three or higher on four additional AP Exams throughout their high school careers will achieve the AP Capstone Diploma—a prestigious distinction endorsed by more than 140 selective colleges and universities for its challenging interdisciplinary curriculum.

AP Seminar

In AP Seminar, students learn research techniques and presentation skills necessary for success in the program and college. AP Seminar is typically taken in grade 10 as a core English credit. Juniors are also welcome to take AP Seminar, but it is considered a core elective for them, and is taken in addition to, not instead of, their Junior English class.

Students in AP Seminar learn how to:

Investigate real-world topics from multiple perspectives
Carefully analyze information, write evidence-based arguments and effectively communicate them
Work independently and with a team to research a topic, develop a written report and deliver a presentation

The team project is worth 25% of their score, and the individual essay and presentation is worth 35%, for a total of 60% of their score. The other 40% of their score is the end-of-course exam given in May. To be considered “successful” for the AP Capstone certificate or diploma, students’ scores must be a 3 or higher. Visit the AP Seminar course page to learn more.

AP Research

In AP Research, students are challenged to take the skills they learned in their AP Seminar class and apply them in a long-term, independent research project. AP Research is typically taken in grades 11 or 12, in addition to, not instead of, their Junior or Senior English class. AP Research is considered a core elective credit.

In AP Research, students will:

Create and collect primary research
Analyze data
Problem solve and develop a solution to the research question they created
Defend their academic research to a panel made up of mentors and instructors

The academic paper is worth 75% of their score, and the presentation and oral defense are worth 25% of their score. Visit the AP Research course page to learn more.