APFIVE AP Art & Design Exam Info
Download PDFYou’ll submit a portfolio of artwork for evaluation through the AP Digital Portfolio at the end of the school year.
- All portfolio types (2-D, 3-D, and Drawing) are submitted digitally only.
- Students are prohibited from using any and all artificial intelligence tools in any AP assessment work. Read more about our policy.
The three Art and Design Portfolio Exams (2-D, 3-D, Drawing) consist of two sections: Sustained Investigation (60% of total score) and Selected Works (40% of total score). The Sustained Investigation section has two components: Images and Written Evidence. The Selected Works section has one component: Works. Portfolio components are scored separately, and each contributes to the final portfolio score, which is on a 5-point scale.
In the AP Digital Portfolio, you’ll need to submit these three portfolio components as final (Sustained Investigation Images, Sustained Investigation Written Evidence, and Selected Works) by the AP Program deadline in May.
Note: You may submit more than one Art and Design Portfolio Exam in a given year, but each must be a different type of portfolio. You may not duplicate works or images among the portfolios and portfolios may not be combined. For example, if you want to submit a portfolio for both Drawing and 2-D Art and Design, you will need to submit two separate portfolios with two completely different sets of artwork, two different inquiry statements, and your AP coordinator must order two exams for you.
For the AP 2-D Art and Design Portfolio Exam:
- Your work should focus on the application of two-dimensional (2-D) elements and principles, including point, line, shape, plane, layer, form, space, texture, color, value, opacity, transparency, time, unity, variety, rhythm, movement, proportion, scale, balance, emphasis, contrast, repetition, figure/ground relationship, connection, juxtaposition, and hierarchy.
- Think about how materials, processes, and ideas can be used to make work in a two-dimensional space.
- There’s no preferred or unacceptable content or style.
- Here are some formats you can submit: graphic design, photography, collage, fabric design, weaving, fashion design, illustration, painting, and printmaking.
- Don’t submit video clips—they’re not allowed. You may submit still images from videos or film and composite images.
AP Art and Design Portfolio Due Date
Your teacher or AP coordinator will likely set an earlier deadline, which you should follow, but you must submit all three AP Art and Design portfolio components as final in the AP Digital Portfolio by this date.
Exam Components
Section 1: Sustained Investigation
You’ll create a body of work that demonstrates:
- sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision
- sustained investigation of materials, processes, and ideas
- synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas
- 2-D art and design skills
You’ll have to document in writing:
- the inquiry that guided your sustained investigation
- ways your sustained investigation developed through practice, experimentation, and revision
Section 2: Selected Works
You’ll choose works that demonstrate:
- 2-D art and design skills
- synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas
For each work, you’ll have to describe in writing:
- your ideas
- the materials you used
- the processes you used
- image citations describing the source of ideas or pre-existing works (APA or MLA formal citations not required)
Works may come from the Sustained Investigation section, but they do not have to. They may be a group of related works, unrelated works, or a combination of related and unrelated works.
Skills You'll Learn
Investigating the materials, processes, and ideas that artists and designers use
Practicing, experimenting, and revising as you create your own work
Communicating your ideas about works of art and design