College Board AP® Art & Design: 2D specification (AP2)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your College Board AP® Art & Design: 2D exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official College Board AP® Art & Design: 2D specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official College Board AP® Art & Design: 2D (AP2) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official College Board specification PDF.
Specification overview
The AP® Art & Design: 2D course empowers students to create thoughtful, original works while developing mastery of design principles in two-dimensional media. Students cultivate their personal voice through sustained investigation and experimentation, exploring ideas that are meaningful to them. They learn to articulate their intent and process, refining their ability to make aesthetic and conceptual choices. Emphasis is placed on inquiry, revision, and reflection, aligning artistic practice with critical thinking to prepare students for advanced art study or professional pathways.Subject content breakdown
Big Idea 1: Investigate materials, processes, and ideas
- Explore a range of 2D materials (e.g. digital media, photography, printmaking, painting)
- Select and combine materials to support artistic intention
- Document and reflect on experimentation and growth
Big Idea 2: Make art and design
- Apply 2D design principles (e.g. balance, contrast, emphasis, movement)
- Use visual elements (line, shape, colour, texture) to support ideas
- Revise and refine works through iterative process
- Make purposeful compositional choices to enhance meaning
Big Idea 3: Present art and design
- Select works that demonstrate progression and intention
- Communicate meaning through visual and written evidence
- Curate final submission to articulate a clear artistic voice
Sustained Investigation
- Focused exploration of a theme or concept over time
- Involves continuous making, reviewing, and writing
- Reflects depth of inquiry and personal growth
Selected Works
- Demonstrates skill, synthesis, and intent through final images
- Requires clear, finished works with minimal editing
- Emphasises accomplished visual communication
Assessment structure
Portfolio Submission (No written exam)
Section 1: Sustained Investigation
- 15 digital images of process, development, and works
- Written commentary:
- 1 prompt response (100 words max)
- 2 question responses (each 200 words max)
- Assessed on inquiry, practice, experimentation, revision
Section 2: Selected Works
- 5 digital images of finished pieces (may be details or full works)
- Each accompanied by short text describing materials, processes, ideas (100 characters each)
- Assessed on skill, synthesis, and visual intent
Scoring Criteria
Sustained Investigation: 3 criteria (row-based rubric)
- Practice, experimentation, revision (Row A)
- Inquiry and investigation (Row B)
- Materials, processes, ideas (Row C)
Selected Works: 2 criteria
- Visual evidence of synthesis (Row A)
- Demonstrated skill in materials, processes, and ideas (Row B)
Total Weighting
- Sustained Investigation: 60%
- Selected Works: 40%
Submission Deadline
- Early May via AP Digital Submission web application
Key tips for success
Doing well in your College Board AP® Art & Design: 2D isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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