The College Board’s AP Capstone is an innovative program that allows students to engage in rigorous development of skills critical for success in college, and includes a two-course sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research, designed to be taken in sequence during the10th & 11thor11th & 12thgrade years.
AP Seminar is available to students entering 10th or 11th grade. This course equips students with the power to explore academic and real-world issues through an interdisciplinary lens and consider multiple points of view. Students will be challenged to explore complex questions, understand and evaluate opposing viewpoints, interpret and synthesize information, and develop, communicate, and defend their own points of view.Teachers have the flexibility of choosing themes based on student interests, whether they are local and/or civic issues or international topics.
Students are scored on a series of three assessments that combine to determine the exam score: a team project, followed by an individual project during the year and finally an end-of-course written exam taken during the traditional AP exam time in early May.
AP Research is available to students who successfully complete the AP Seminar course. AP Research allows students to design, plan, and conduct a yearlong mentored investigation on a topic of their choosing. Students will build on the skills learned in the AP Seminar course by using research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information to present and defend an argument, which combine to serve as the AP exam score.
The AP Capstone Diploma program offers two distinct awards —the AP Capstone Diploma and the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™:
- The AP Capstone Diploma is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing.
- The AP Seminar and Research Certificate is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.
For more information about the AP Capstone Diploma Program, please contactyour counselor.
Hear From Students
Watch a video below of high school students who were members of the first group to complete the AP Capstone Diploma™ program. Hear about their research projects and what surprised them most about the program!
FAQs
How many APS do you need for Capstone diploma? ›
Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing receive the AP Capstone Diploma™. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™.
Do colleges care about the AP Capstone diploma? ›The AP Capstone Diploma is increasingly recognized in admissions by higher education institutions around the world. Many colleges and universities offer credit and/or placement for a qualifying score in AP Seminar, AP Research, or both.
Does Harvard care about AP Capstone? ›If you want to take the class, take the class. But Harvard, and colleges at that level, will not care if you take the class or not. Again, this is in the context of Ivy League Admissions- what would you recommend dropping? AP Capstone.
How many people get the AP Capstone diploma? ›The program has reached a milestone of over 100,000 students participating during the 2022-23 academic year, representing over 2,500 schools worldwide. Approximately 15,800 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 9,600 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Is AP Capstone a hard class? ›There are three AP Capstone difficulty levels: easy, medium, and hard. Easy AP Capstone tasks are those that don't require a lot of effort. Medium AP Capstone tasks may require more insight but still don't require a great deal of knowledge. Hard AP Capstone tasks may require some serious thinking and concentration.
Is AP Capstone better than IB? ›Global Recognition: The IB Program enjoys broader global recognition compared to the AP® Capstone program, and is recognized by universities worldwide. While the AP® Capstone program is more familiar to US universities, the IB program is ideal for students aspiring to study outside the US.
Why is AP Capstone more expensive? ›Having taken both exams, they cost more because AP Seminar and Research require evaluators to look at papers. AP Seminar consists of two papers one with a group and another with individual research. Each paper a little more or less 10 pages. To get someone evaluate this paper according to runbric takes more money.
What level of recognition is AP Capstone diploma? ›Note: The AP Capstone Diploma™ and AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ are reported to colleges and universities as AP Scholar Awards and appear in Scholar Roster reports.
Is AP Capstone recognized nationally? ›Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards, which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world.
Is AP Capstone an honor? ›Awards are also included on any AP score report sent to colleges. Here are the requirements to earn an AP Capstone award: The AP Capstone Diploma is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing.
Which AP is easiest? ›
| AP Subject | Pass Rate (Exam Score of 3+) | Median Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ap Physics C Mechanics | 73.4% | 3.41 |
| AP Psychology | 58.3% | 2.71 |
| AP Research | 82.7% | 3.3 |
| AP Seminar | 82.6% | 3.19 |
- Fosters the research, argumentation, and communication skills that are at the core of college readiness and essential for lifelong learning.
- Provides a setting to build on the knowledge and rigorous course work of AP in an interdisciplinary format.
Yes, AP Capstone Diploma Candidates will receive a stole (student cost) and AP Capstone Certificate Candidates will receive a cord. Those who are in the courses but did not meet CollegeBoard expectations on AP Exams will not receive the recognition items.
How many years is AP Capstone? ›AP Capstone (properly the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma Program) is a 2-year program developed by the College Board, which consists of two courses: the AP Seminar and AP Research.
How much does it cost to take AP Capstone? ›If a student is participating in the AP Capstone program, the AP Seminar and AP Research exams cost $146 each. The fee does not increase for tests taken outside the US.
What do you need for a capstone diploma? ›The AP Capstone Diploma is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams of their choosing. The AP Seminar and Research Certificate is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.
How valuable is the AP Capstone diploma? ›Participating in AP Capstone Can Help Students:
Stand out to colleges in the application process. Develop key academic skills they'll use in other classes, college, and beyond. Become self-confident, independent thinkers and problem solvers. Earn college credit: Many colleges offer credit for qualifying scores.
Students who score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing earn the AP Capstone Diploma™. This signifies outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills.