AP Research
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About the Assessment
There is no end-of-course written exam for AP Research. Instead, you’ll be assessed on performance tasks you complete that are based on your yearlong research project: an academic paper (which you’ll submit online for scoring through the AP Digital Portfolio), a presentation, and an oral defense of your research. These components all contribute to your final AP score on a scale of 1–5.
Updates to AP Research Performance Task
Given the implications of ChatGPT and other similar generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools on the AP Research performance task components, we’ve updated the guidance regarding the use of these tools. These guidelines require your teacher to attest to the authenticity of your work in order for you to receive a score on the associated performance task. Review the AP Research Course and Exam Description for the full policy and details.
Assessment Date
Wed, Apr 30, 2025
11:59 PM ET
AP Research Performance Task Due Date
Submit your AP Research performance task as final in the AP Digital Portfolio by this date.
Assessment Components
Academic paper.
75% of Score
The academic paper should be 4,000–5,000 words long. You’ll be evaluated on the content, structure, format, and conclusions of the paper as well as your ability to properly and accurately cite sources.
Presentation and Oral Defense
25% of Score
The culminating event of the AP Research course will be a presentation of your research question, research methodology, and findings, including an oral defense that addresses a set of questions about your research inquiry. The presentation and defense take 15–20 minutes. You will also be required to answer 3–4 questions from a panel of trained evaluators and your AP Research teacher.
- AP Research teachers use a scoring rubric designed by the AP Program.
- AP Research teachers also take part in mandatory training from the AP Program in how to score these components.
How We Score Your Work
Teacher Scored Components
Your in-class presentation and oral defense is scored by your AP Research teacher.
Here’s how we make sure that scoring by AP Research teachers is standardized:
College Board Scored Components
After you submit your academic paper online through the AP Digital Portfolio, it is scored by trained, experienced educators called AP readers.
Assessment Essentials
Assessment preparation, ap daily videos.
Once you join your AP class section online, you’ll be able to access AP Daily videos in AP Classroom. AP Daily videos cover every proficiency and skill outlined in the AP Research Course and Exam Description. Sign in to access them.
Performance Task Samples and Scoring Information
Go to AP Central to review student samples of the academic paper, as well as scoring information for both performance tasks, from past years.
AP Research Course and Exam Description
This is the core document for the course. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the assessment and the AP Program in general.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations for the through-course assessment and the end-of-course exam. If you’re using assistive technology and need help accessing the PDFs in this section in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected] . For information about taking AP Exams, or other College Board assessments, with accommodations, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website.
Guidance for Artificial Intelligence Tools and Other Services
Learn more about the AP Program’s policy on generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT).
Credit and Placement
Search AP Credit Policies
Find colleges that grant credit and/or placement for AP Exam scores in this and other AP courses.
Additional Information
College Board AP Research: Past Exams
Browse our range of College Board AP® Research Past Exams and Mark Schemes below. Testing yourself with AP® Research past exams is a great way to identify which topics need more revision, so you can ensure that you are revising as effectively as possible to help you get ready for your AP® Research exam.
Visit all of our College Board AP® Past Exams here .
AP Research: 2021 Results
Trevor Packer
- July 20, 2021
The following data reflect the 24,049 students worldwide who submitted an AP Research academic paper.
AP Research score distributions, 2019 vs. 2021
The following table enables comparisons of student performance in 2021 to student performance prior to the covid-19 pandemic:
| AP Score | 2019 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 11% | 14% |
| 4 | 22% | 26% |
| 3 | 43% | 42% |
| 2 | 19% | 14% |
| 1 | 5% | 4% |
Of these 24,049 students, 375 achieved perfect scores of 80 out of 80 points possible from all professors/teachers across their academic paper and their presentation and oral defense.
The Academic Paper
The following information is specific to the academic paper scored externally at the AP Reading by college professors and AP teachers. Out of 10 points (each of which is then multiplied by 6; the Academic Paper is worth 60 of the 80 points possible for the AP Research score):
- 1 point: <1%
All Subjects
🔍 AP Research
The academic paper.
Academic Paper: Introduction
Academic Paper: Methodology
Academic Paper: Literature Review
Academic Paper: Discussion and Analysis
Academic Paper: Conclusion
Academic Paper: Bibliography and Citation Styles
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
2016: Through-Course and End-of-Course Assessments. Download sample Academic Papers along with scoring guidelines and scoring distributions. If you are using assistive technology and need help accessing these PDFs in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected].
Sample: E Score: 3. This paper earned a score of 3. A method of content analysis is presented on page 4, followed by a description of the method on pages 4-5. The methods, however, are inconsistent, with two different descriptions given for how movies were chosen on pages 4 and 5.
AP® Research — Academic Paper 2021 Scoring Guidelines. The Response... Score of 1. Report on Existing Knowledge. Score of 2. Report on Existing Knowledge with Simplistic Use of a Research Method. Score of 3. Ineffectual Argument for a New Understanding.
AP® Research — Academic Paper 2021 Scoring Guidelines. The Response... Presents an overly broad topic of inquiry. Presents a topic of inquiry with narrowing scope or focus, that is NOT carried through either in the method or in the overall line of reasoning. overall line of reasoning, even though the focus or scope might still be narrowing.
Your group will be assigned one of three sample papers (from the Exam tab on the AP Research course home page). Spend about 10 minutes reading the paper and then discuss with your group where the required elements of the Academic Paper are located within the sample. Indicate these page numbers on the table below. Required Element Description
If you're using assistive technology and need help accessing the PDFs in this section in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected]. For information about taking AP Exams, or other College Board assessments, with accommodations, visit the Services for Students with ...
2018 AP Research Academic Paper Rubric v1.0 The response… Score of 1 Score Report on Existing Knowledge Well of 2 Report on Existing Knowledge with Simplistic Use of a Research Method Score of 3 Ineffectual Argument for a New Understanding f 4-Supported, Articulate Argument Conveying a New Understanding f 5 Rich Analysis of a New Understanding
The paper describes in detail the approach, method, or process. 5 The paper provides a logical rationale by explaining the alignment between the chosen approach, method, or process and the research question/project goal. 7 . 5 Establish Argument . The paper presents an argument, conclusion or understanding, but it is simplistic or inconsistent,
AP Research Summer 2021 Task 2 UNDERSTANDING A SAMPLE AP RESEARCH PAPER Directions: Select one of the high scoring AP Research sample papers. o These PDFs are located in Teams > General > Files > Scored Samples o All official AP samples ending in "a," "b," "c," or "d" earned scores of 4 or 5 from the college
AP RESEARCH WORKSHOP HANDBOOK. 7. Required Element Description. Page numbers where this element is found in the sample paper Conclusion and Future Directions. Articulates the new understanding generated through the research process and the limitations of the conclusion or creative work. Discusses the implications to the community of practice.
AP® Research 2021 Scoring Commentary Academic Paper Overview This performance task was intended to assess students' ability to conduct scholarly and responsible research and articulate an evidence-based argument that clearly communicates the conclusion, solution, or answer to their stated research question.
May 2017 Sample A (MS) + 15 more. 2016. May 2016 Sample C (QP) May 2016 Sample C (MS) + 14 more. Visit all of our College Board AP® Past Exams here. Exam paper questions organised by topic and difficulty. Our worksheets cover all topics from GCSE, IGCSE and A Level courses.
The following information is specific to the academic paper scored externally at the AP Reading by college professors and AP teachers. Out of 10 points (each of which is then multiplied by 6; the Academic Paper is worth 60 of the 80 points possible for the AP Research score): 10 points: 3% of students. 9 points: 6%. 8 points: 12%. 7 points: 21%.
Academic Paper: Literature Review. 7 min read. Academic Paper: Discussion and Analysis. 5 min read. Academic Paper: Conclusion. 4 min read. Academic Paper: Bibliography and Citation Styles. 4 min read. Fiveable is best place to study for your AP® exams.
Sample: D Score: 4. The paper earned a score of 4 because it presents a narrow topic of inquiry with an explicit connection to prior work in the study of these bacteria (page 3, paragraph 1, and page 4, paragraph 1 in which V. fischeri is rationalized as an alternative to H. pylori).
meworkRubr. NCUR sample papers. "There is a problem" initiator. icky note postersActivities:Defining and locating "a gap" in the research: Students will identify and define new or unfamiliar terms on the AP Research Rubric such as method, mplications, limitations, etc. In addition they will conduct a close reading of an article and ...
AP Research Past Exam Questions. Download free-response questions from past exams along with scoring guidelines, sample responses from exam takers, and scoring distributions. If you are using assistive technology and need help accessing these PDFs in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at ...
Assessment Overview. In AP Research, students are assessed on the academic paper and presentation and oral defense of research. The academic paper is 4,000-5,000 words, and the presentation and defense take approximately 15-20 minutes. Encourage your students to visit the AP Research student page for assessment information and practice.
AP® RESEARCH 2017 SCORING GUIDELINES Performance Task Rubric: Academic Paper. NOTE: To receive the highest performance level presumes that the student also achieved the preceding performance levels in that row. ADDITIONAL SCORES: In addition to the scores represented on the rubric, readers can also assign scores of 0 (zero).
AP RESEARCH 2017 SCORING GUIDELINES Performance Task Rubric: Academic Paper NOTE: To receive the highest performance level presumes that the student also achieved the preceding performance levels in that row. ADDITIONAL SCORES: In addition to the scores represented on the rubric, readers can also assign scores of 0 (zero). - A score of . 0 . is assigned to a single row of the rubric when the ...
He keeps re stating that In. 2012, 71 percent of students graduating from four-year colleges had student loan debt: Represents 1.3 million students graduating with debt, increase from 1.1 million in 2008. 66. percent of graduates from public colleges had loans (average debt of $25,550).According to.