
What is AP Seminar? What Do You Learn in AP Seminar? Why Should You Take AP Seminar? How Can You Prepare for AP Seminar? What is the AP Seminar Exam? How Do You Score Well on the AP Seminar Exam? What is the Next Step After AP Seminar? Conclusion Additional Resources
The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Seminar is a yearlong course designed to develop students’ skills in research, analysis, and argumentation. AP Seminar is part of the AP Capstone program, which also includes AP Research.

The AP Capstone program is designed to give students experience with the kind of academic work they will encounter in college. AP Seminar and AP Research are both college-level courses, and students who score a 3 or higher on the AP Seminar exam can earn college credit.
In AP Seminar, students learn how to:
- Conduct research
- Analyze and evaluate sources
- Develop and support arguments
- Communicate their findings in a variety of formats
Students also have the opportunity to choose a topic for their research paper, which they will write and defend in front of a panel of experts.
There are many benefits to taking AP Seminar, including:
- Develops skills that are essential for college and career success
- Gives you a head start on your college coursework
- Helps you earn college credit
- Makes you a more competitive candidate for college admissions
There are a few things you can do to prepare for AP Seminar, including:
- Take a challenging English course in high school
- Develop strong research skills
- Practice writing and speaking about complex topics
- Get involved in extracurricular activities that require you to do research and analysis
The AP Seminar exam is a three-hour exam that is divided into two sections:
- Section 1: This section consists of two essay questions that require students to analyze and evaluate sources.
- Section 2: This section consists of one essay question that requires students to develop and support an argument.
To score well on the AP Seminar exam, you need to:
- Understand the requirements of the exam
- Practice writing and speaking about complex topics
- Manage your time wisely
- Be able to think critically and analyze sources
After completing AP Seminar, students can choose to take AP Research. AP Research is a yearlong course that gives students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research on a topic of their choice. Students who complete AP Research and earn a score of 3 or higher on the AP Research exam can earn college credit.
AP Seminar is a challenging but rewarding course that can help you develop skills that will be valuable in college and beyond. If you are interested in developing your research, analysis, and argumentation skills, then AP Seminar is a great option for you.