How the AP Art and Design Program Works

Published

16 December 2025

Contents

Key Takeaways

The AP Art and Design program offers three portfolio options: 2D Design, 3D Design, and Drawing, each requiring a Sustained Investigation (15 images) and Selected Works (5 pieces)
Portfolios are scored on a 1–6 scale, based on your skills, creativity, ideas, and how well you show your thinking process.
Submissions are due in early May through the AP Digital Submission portal, and your teacher must verify your work before the deadline

What Is the AP Art and Design Program?

Are you thinking about taking the AP Art and Design program? You may be looking at the three sections, wondering where to start. It can be a little overwhelming until you figure it out. No matter which of the three courses you choose, it’s more about growth as an artist, not perfection.

The AP Art and Design (opens in a new tab) program is a year-long course that lets you develop a portfolio of artwork instead of taking a traditional exam. The program is based on inquiry-based learning. That means you get to explore artistic ideas through creating and investigating.

You have three course options to choose from:

AP 2D Art and Design focuses on two-dimensional work. You will develop your skills using materials and processes like graphic design, photography, collage, printmaking, and digital art. You'll explore how elements like line, shape, and color create visual compositions.

AP 3D Art and Design centers on three-dimensional work such as sculpture, ceramics, architecture, and metalwork. You'll investigate how materials and forms occupy and interact with space.

AP Drawing emphasizes drawing techniques using different media. This includes traditional drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media approaches.

The program is designed for students who want to demonstrate college-level artistic skills and thinking. It's ideal if you're passionate about visual arts and want to build a portfolio that could support university applications or future creative careers.

Portfolio Structure Explained

Your AP Art and Design portfolio (opens in a new tab) has two main sections: the Sustained Investigation and Selected Works. Together, these sections showcase both your creative process and your finished artistic works.

You’ll build a portfolio for each class. A portfolio will have two parts: Sustained Investigation and Selected Works. The Sustained Investigation will require you to provide 15 photos of your work. Selected Works will need to showcase your five best finished pieces.

Sustained Investigation

The Sustained Investigation is the heart of your portfolio. It demonstrates how you explore a single idea, question, or concept through multiple artworks over time.

You'll need to submit 15 images that show the development of your investigation. These images should reveal how your thinking evolved based on your experiments and methods. You should show how your work progressed from beginning ideas to refined pieces.

You'll also write a typed response explaining the investigative process. The written component will explain the question or idea that guided your work, how you explored it, and how your investigation developed over time.

The key here is depth, not breadth. Assessors want to see you dig into one central idea rather than jumping between unrelated concepts. Your Sustained Investigation should tell a story of artistic growth and inquiry.

Selected Works

The Selected Works section showcases five of your strongest finished pieces. These works should demonstrate your technical skill, control of materials, and intentional decision-making.

Unlike the Sustained Investigation, these five pieces don't need to connect to each other thematically. They just need to represent your best work and show the range of your abilities.

When selecting pieces, choose works that show confident handling of your chosen medium. Look for pieces where your artistic intent is clear and well-executed.

How the AP Art and Design Portfolio Is Scored

Your portfolio will be scored using a 5-point scale. Sustained Investigation will count for 60% of your score, and Selected Works is the other 40%. The Sustained Investigation is scored using a 3-point scale, which is broken down into four weighted sections. The Selected Works portion is scored holistically using a 5-point scale.

The Sustained Investigation is the largest part of your portfolio. It is broken down into four rows:

Row A: 12% of the total score
Row B: 18% of the total score
Row C: 18% of the total score
Row D: 12% of the total score

The Selected Works section is worth 40% of the overall score, and it will consist of 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, or drawings, depending on the AP Art and Design class you are taking.

Both sections will be assessed based on how well your artistic choices connect with your thinking and decision-making processes. Don’t forget that the quality of your written portion will also be considered.

Sustained Investigation Scoring Rubric: This rubric uses three proficiency levels: moderate, good, and advanced.
Selected Works Scoring Rubric: This section has its own rubric. Your score will be graded based on how well it connects to your processes and your finished works.

Key Deadlines and Submission Process

The AP Art and Design portfolio submission deadline usually falls in early May. You’ll want to check the current year’s submission dates on the official College Board's exam calendar (opens in a new tab).

You’ll upload everything to the AP Digital Submission portal. The College Board provides a digital submission guide (opens in a new tab) for students to work you through the process.

Your teacher plays a vital role in this process. They must verify that the work you submit is yours before the deadline. Most teachers set an earlier deadline for students to submit their portfolios so they have time to review them.

Don't leave submission to the last minute. Technical issues can arise, and you want time to troubleshoot any problems that might occur. Once a portfolio component has been submitted, it is final. You cannot change it unless your teacher returns it to you.

Tips for Building a Successful Portfolio

Choose a meaningful topic. Your Sustained Investigation will occupy months of your creative life. Pick a question or idea that you are really interested in. If you are personally connected to your topic, it will help you stay motivated.

Stay consistent. The portfolio isn't something you can wait to complete in a rush at the last minute. Set regular studio time and treat it as non-negotiable. Small, consistent efforts will add up to larger works.

Document everything. Photograph works in progress, not just finished pieces. Keep notes about your thinking, experiments that failed, and moments of breakthrough. This documentation will help you write your statement and select your strongest images for your portfolio.

Ask for feedback often. Share your work with your teacher, classmates, and other artists. Fresh perspectives can reveal blind spots and open new directions for your investigation. Don't wait until the end of the year for critique. Make sure that getting feedback is planned and regular.

Try new things. Your Sustained Investigation should show risk-taking and growth. Not every experiment will succeed, but evidence of pushing your boundaries demonstrates the kind of artistic thinking assessors value.

Reflect on your work. Every so often, step back and ask yourself some questions like:

What am I learning?
What is and is not working?
What should I try next?

Self-reflection will strengthen both your work and your written statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 2D, 3D, and Drawing portfolios?

The main difference in the three portfolios is the focus and dimensionality. 2-D Art and Design (opens in a new tab)applies design principles to 2-dimensional or flat media like painting, digital art, photography, or graphic design. 3-D Art and Design (opens in a new tab) explores 3-dimensional space and form. It focuses on sculpture, fibers, ceramics, etc. AP Drawing (opens in a new tab)focuses on 2-dimensional techniques and mark-making like charcoal, ink, pencil, or paint on paper or other flat surfaces.

How many pieces do I need for AP Art and Design?

You need 20 images in total: 15 images for your Sustained Investigation and 5 works for your Selected Works section. The Sustained Investigation images should show process and development, while the Selected Works should represent your strongest finished pieces.

What is a Sustained Investigation topic?

A Sustained Investigation topic is the central question, idea, or concept that guides your year-long artistic journey. You will get to choose the topic you want to explore. It should be open-ended enough to explore through multiple works but focused enough to create coherence.

Do I need to write an essay for my portfolio?

You don’t need to write a traditional essay, but you do need to write a statement for your Sustained Investigation. This written component should explain your guiding question, how you explored it through your art-making, and how your investigation developed over time.

Final Thoughts

The AP Art and Design program celebrates creative exploration and growth. It's not about producing perfect artwork or meeting some impossible standard of artistic genius.

What matters most is clear communication of your ideas. Assessors want to see that you can think like an artist by asking questions, experimenting with solutions, and developing your vision over time.

Focus on consistent progress throughout the year rather than last-minute perfection. Document your journey honestly, including the experiments that didn't work. Reflect on what you're learning and let that reflection shape your next steps.

Your portfolio tells the story of your year as an artist. Make it a story of genuine inquiry, bold experimentation, and meaningful growth. That's what the AP Art and Design program is really about.

Start early and pace your work. You are not in this alone. Check out Save My Exams for AP study resources.