AP Art and Design
Advanced Placement course family
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Advanced Placement (AP) Art and Design,[1] formerly known as AP Studio Art, is a series of courses offered by the College Board as part of its Advanced Placement program. AP Art and Design is divided into three categories: 2-D Art and Design, 3-D Art and Design, and Drawing.
Portfolio
Unlike traditional AP exams that utilize a multiple-choice section, free response section, and occasionally an audio section, the AP Art & Design Exam is a portfolio that contains two categories: selected works and sustained investigation. The selected works are 5 pieces that are selected by the student for their quality alone. The sustained investigation is a series of 15 slides put together by the student that contain a strong theme around the artwork created. The sustained investigation contains an additional written portion where the student must explain the both their theme for the portfolio and provide evidence for practice, experimentation, and revision throughout. Selected works are graded completely separately from the sustained investigation. Depending on the AP Art & Design exam the student is taking, the components for each of the categories and what is required for a high score will vary. Regardless of the exam, all AP Art & Design portfolios have to be turned in by a set date and time.
AP 2-D Art and Design
AP 2-D Art and Design deals with two-dimensional applications such as graphic design, photography, weaving, and collage. Contrary to AP Studio Art Drawing, focus is applied on the design itself instead of the composition of the artwork.
Portfolio
- Section I: Quality: A student submits 5 actual artwork that represents the student's quality of designing pieces in 2D.
- Section II: Concentration: A student submits 12 different slides that demonstrate the student's ability to make a variety of pieces in 2D that relate to one idea. These are arranged in a special order on slide coverings from College Board. Starting in 2009, an online application replaced the use of physical slides and associated documents.
- Section III: Breadth: A student submits 12 additional and different slides that demonstrate the student's ability to incorporate 2D design principles that include unity/variety, balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm, repetition, proportion/scale, and figure-ground relationship.[2] These are arranged similar to Section II. Starting 2009, an online application replaced the use of physical slides and associated documents.
Grade distribution
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | % of scores 3 or higher | Mean score | Standard deviation | Number of students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007[3] | 5.30% | 27.40% | 34.80% | 21.30% | 11.10% | 67.30% | 3.06 | 1.07 | 13,410 |
| 2008[4] | 5.60% | 26.40% | 33.50% | 21.90% | 12.60% | 68.00% | 3.10 | 1.10 | 15,478 |
| 2009[5] | 4.40% | 27.10% | 32.60% | 23.50% | 12.40% | 68.50% | 3.12 | 1.08 | 17,387 |
| 2010[6] | 4.20% | 25.40% | 32.70% | 26.40% | 11.30% | 70.40% | 3.15 | 1.06 | 20,699 |
| 2011[7] | 4.10% | 23.60% | 34.60% | 25.60% | 12.10% | 72.30% | 3.18 | 1.05 | 21,765 |
| 2012[8] | 3.90% | 21.20% | 32.10% | 28.50% | 14.30% | 74.80% | 3.28 | 1.07 | 23,591 |
| 2013[9] | 3.10% | 17.70% | 34.40% | 31.30% | 13.40% | 79.10% | 3.34 | 1.02 | 24,928 |
| 2014[10] | 3.20% | 18.30% | 35.10% | 29.50% | 13.90% | 78.50% | 3.33 | 1.03 | 26,811 |
| 2015[11] | 4.30% | 17.40% | 32.30% | 28.70% | 17.20% | 78.20% | 3.37 | 1.09 | 27,999 |
| 2016[12] | 2.20% | 15.50% | 35.00% | 33.00% | 14.40% | 82.40% | 3.42 | 0.99 | 30,925 |
| 2017[13] | 1.80% | 13.10% | 34.60% | 31.20% | 19.30% | 85.10% | 3.53 | 1.00 | 32,732 |
| 2018[14] | 3.20% | 12.20% | 35.80% | 30.90% | 17.90% | 84.60% | 3.48 | 1.02 | 36,249 |
| 2019[15] | 2.80% | 10.80% | 34.00% | 31.50% | 21.00% | 86.40% | 3.57 | 1.02 | 37,749 |
| 2020[16] | 0.60% | 9.80% | 41.30% | 36.10% | 12.10% | 89.50% | 3.49 | 0.85 | 36,901 |
| 2021[17] | 0.40% | 12.50% | 42.30% | 34.70% | 10.20% | 87.10% | 3.42 | 0.85 | 34,509 |
| 2022[18] | 0.50% | 12.80% | 40.30% | 35.50% | 10.80% | 86.60% | 3.43 | 0.87 | 37,045 |
| 2023[19] | 2.00% | 14.40% | 40.70% | 31.50% | 11.50% | 83.60% | 3.36 | 0.93 | 43,854 |
| 2024[20] | 3.20% | 14.00% | 42.80% | 28.80% | 11.20% | 82.80% | 3.31 | 0.95 | 47,902 |
| 2025[21] | 3.30% | 13.70% | 41.80% | 29.30% | 11.90% | 83.00% | 3.33 | 0.96 | 48,279 |
AP 3-D Art and Design
AP 3-D Art and Design is a three-dimensional (3-D) art course that holds many similarities to the 2-D course. The course deals with 3-D artistic applications such as metalworking, sculpture, computer models, and ceramics. Like AP Studio Art 2D, the focus is on the design of the artwork itself as opposed to its composition.
Portfolio
- Section I: Quality: The actual work for this exam is three-dimensional and not flat, so transporting it directly to The College Board could cause damage to the artwork and the pieces would most likely not fit in portfolios. Because of this, five pieces of artwork are shown in ten slides to showcase the quality of the student's three-dimensional pieces.
- Section II: Concentration: 12 different slides are submitted to demonstrate the student's ability to produce a variety of pieces that relate to a single idea. The slides are arranged in slide coverings in an order designated by The College Board. Starting in 2009, an online application replaced the use of physical slides and associated documents, and the student was allowed to determine the order of the works in their concentration.
- Section III: Breadth: Eight different works are shown in 16 slides which are meant to demonstrate the student's ability to incorporate a variety of different 3D Design principles, including unity/variety, balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm, repetition, proportion/scale, and figure/ground relationship.[2] Similar to Section II, this section's slides are also arranged in an order designated by The College Board. Starting 2009, an online application replaced the use of physical slides and associated documents.
Grade distribution
In the 2012 administration, 3,840 students took the exam with a mean score of 3.00.
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | % of scores 3 or higher | Mean score | Standard deviation | Number of students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007[3] | 7.50% | 28.70% | 40.30% | 14.00% | 9.60% | 63.90% | 2.90 | 1.05 | 2,320 |
| 2008[4] | 8.30% | 29.70% | 37.40% | 14.70% | 9.80% | 62.00% | 2.88 | 1.07 | 2,468 |
| 2009[5] | 7.00% | 31.10% | 37.20% | 15.60% | 9.10% | 61.90% | 2.89 | 1.05 | 2,761 |
| 2010[6] | 6.90% | 30.90% | 35.30% | 16.80% | 10.20% | 62.30% | 2.93 | 1.07 | 3,182 |
| 2011[7] | 6.90% | 31.60% | 33.40% | 18.10% | 10.10% | 61.50% | 2.93 | 1.08 | 3,406 |
| 2012[8] | 6.10% | 28.50% | 34.60% | 20.40% | 10.30% | 65.40% | 3.00 | 1.07 | 3,840 |
| 2013[9] | 5.90% | 26.30% | 37.60% | 19.40% | 10.90% | 67.80% | 3.03 | 1.06 | 4,167 |
| 2014[10] | 4.80% | 27.70% | 36.80% | 19.60% | 11.00% | 67.50% | 3.04 | 1.05 | 4,256 |
| 2015[11] | 3.30% | 24.70% | 36.00% | 23.60% | 12.30% | 72.00% | 3.17 | 1.04 | 4,590 |
| 2016[12] | 2.90% | 22.30% | 35.80% | 25.70% | 13.20% | 74.80% | 3.24 | 1.03 | 5,051 |
| 2017[13] | 3.20% | 25.20% | 37.60% | 22.00% | 12.00% | 71.60% | 3.15 | 1.03 | 5,571 |
| 2018[14] | 4.40% | 26.60% | 34.00% | 23.50% | 11.40% | 69.00% | 3.11 | 1.06 | 5,777 |
| 2019[15] | 4.30% | 25.70% | 37.50% | 22.40% | 10.00% | 70.00% | 3.08 | 1.02 | 6,040 |
| 2020[16] | 3.50% | 20.90% | 36.50% | 31.90% | 7.20% | 75.60% | 3.18 | 0.96 | 5,281 |
| 2021[17] | 3.70% | 24.90% | 36.30% | 28.60% | 6.50% | 71.40% | 3.09 | 0.97 | 4,573 |
| 2022[18] | 2.60% | 23.80% | 38.50% | 28.60% | 6.50% | 73.60% | 3.12 | 0.93 | 5,377 |
| 2023[19] | 4.40% | 23.50% | 39.90% | 25.20% | 7.10% | 72.10% | 3.07 | 0.97 | 7,505 |
| 2024[20] | 4.70% | 23.40% | 41.40% | 24.30% | 6.20% | 72.00% | 3.04 | 0.95 | 9,180 |
| 2025[21] | 3.90% | 24.50% | 39.90% | 24.90% | 6.70% | 71.60% | 3.06 | 0.96 | 7,375 |
AP Drawing
AP Drawing deals with basic painting and drawing. Focus is applied on the composition of the different lines/colors/shape/etc... of the painting instead of the design itself. Originally called AP Studio Art, it was later changed to AP Studio Art Drawing.
Portfolio
- Section I: Quality: A student submits 5 actual artwork to the AP College Board that represent the student's quality of technique and their design concepts.
- Section II: Concentration: A student submits 12 different slides that demonstrate the student's ability to paint and draw a variety of pieces that relate to one idea. These are arranged in a special order on slide coverings from College Board. Starting in 2009, an online application replaced the use of physical slides and associated documents.
- Section III: Breadth: A student submits 12 additional and different slides that demonstrate the student's ability to incorporate drawing techniques and issues that include drawing from observation, work with inverted or nonobjective forms, effective use of light and shade, line quality, surface manipulation, composition, various spatial systems, and expressive mark-making.[2] There are arranged similar to Section II. Starting 2009, an online application replaced the use of physical slides and associated documents.
Grade distribution
In the 2016 administration, 18,407 students took the exam with 21 students earning a perfect score of 72/72.
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | % of scores 3 or higher | Mean score | Standard deviation | Number of students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007[3] | 6.00% | 26.20% | 37.20% | 18.20% | 12.40% | 67.80% | 3.05 | 1.09 | 13,558 |
| 2008[4] | 5.60% | 26.90% | 36.40% | 17.50% | 13.50% | 67.50% | 3.06 | 1.10 | 14,120 |
| 2009[5] | 4.40% | 26.40% | 37.50% | 18.10% | 13.60% | 69.20% | 3.10 | 1.07 | 14,589 |
| 2010[6] | 4.30% | 23.10% | 38.90% | 19.30% | 14.40% | 72.60% | 3.16 | 1.07 | 15,027 |
| 2011[7] | 5.10% | 23.20% | 41.50% | 17.50% | 12.70% | 71.70% | 3.09 | 1.05 | 16,266 |
| 2012[8] | 4.30% | 22.30% | 38.60% | 20.90% | 13.90% | 73.40% | 3.18 | 1.06 | 16,188 |
| 2013[9] | 2.70% | 18.90% | 42.70% | 20.40% | 15.30% | 78.50% | 3.27 | 1.02 | 16,597 |
| 2014[10] | 3.50% | 19.00% | 40.60% | 20.90% | 16.00% | 77.50% | 3.27 | 1.05 | 16,928 |
| 2015[11] | 3.30% | 18.50% | 40.40% | 22.20% | 15.60% | 78.10% | 3.28 | 1.04 | 18,105 |
| 2016[12] | 2.40% | 14.60% | 38.80% | 27.20% | 17.00% | 82.90% | 3.42 | 1.01 | 18,407 |
| 2017[13] | 1.60% | 12.90% | 35.80% | 27.70% | 21.90% | 85.50% | 3.56 | 1.02 | 19,957 |
| 2018[14] | 1.40% | 9.00% | 35.50% | 31.70% | 22.40% | 89.50% | 3.65 | 0.97 | 20,853 |
| 2019[15] | 1.10% | 7.80% | 37.00% | 33.30% | 20.80% | 91.10% | 3.65 | 0.93 | 21,769 |
| 2020[16] | 1.20% | 9.80% | 33.20% | 40.30% | 15.50% | 89.10% | 3.59 | 0.90 | 20,486 |
| 2021[17] | 1.40% | 12.40% | 34.30% | 37.70% | 14.20% | 86.20% | 3.51 | 0.93 | 18,096 |
| 2022[18] | 1.30% | 10.20% | 35.50% | 38.30% | 14.70% | 88.30% | 3.54 | 0.91 | 19,210 |
| 2023[19] | 2.10% | 13.10% | 36.10% | 32.90% | 15.70% | 84.80% | 3.47 | 0.98 | 22,555 |
| 2024[20] | 2.70% | 13.50% | 37.60% | 31.10% | 15.10% | 83.80% | 3.42 | 0.99 | 22,882 |
| 2025[21] | 3.20% | 12.60% | 35.60% | 31.50% | 17.10% | 84.20% | 3.47 | 1.02 | 23,107 |