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← Back to all AP coursesIntro to AP Art & Design
AP Art & Design is a portfolio-based course where you create original works of art and design, document your creative process, and present your work for evaluation. Unlike most AP courses, there is no written exam — your portfolio is your assessment.
AP Art & Design is offered in three types: 2-D Art and Design (graphic design, photography, painting, printmaking, collage, and more), 3-D Art and Design (sculpture, ceramics, fiber arts, installation, and more), and Drawing (mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition).
You can submit a portfolio for more than one type in the same year, as long as each is a completely separate set of work.
The AP Art & Design portfolio deadline is May 8, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.
AP Art & Design has no written exam. Your assessment is a digital portfolio submitted through the AP Digital Portfolio — there is no exam day to show up to.
Two sections. Three components.
Your portfolio is made up of two scored sections — Sustained Investigation and Selected Works — submitted digitally through the AP Digital Portfolio.
The Sustained Investigation section documents a body of work driven by a central question or inquiry that guides your art-making throughout the year. This section has two components:
Sustained Investigation Images
15 images that document your inquiry — including works in progress, experiments, and finished pieces that show how your ideas developed over time.
Sustained Investigation Written Evidence
A written statement describing the questions that guided your investigation, how you used materials and processes, and how your work relates to art and design influences.
The Selected Works section showcases between 3 and 5 of your strongest individual pieces. These works may come from your Sustained Investigation but don't have to. Each submitted work must include:
- Front and back images (2 views per work)
- Written identification of the materials, processes, and dimensions
- Image citations if the work draws on pre-existing sources
All portfolios are scored by at least four experienced AP readers — AP Art & Design teachers or higher education faculty — trained on standardized rubrics.
Stay on track all year.
AP Art & Design is a year-long course. Your portfolio builds over the entire school year — don't wait until spring to start documenting your work.
🍂 Fall — Begin Your Inquiry
Join your class section in My AP and access AP Classroom. Start developing the central question that will guide your Sustained Investigation. Explore materials, processes, and ideas — and begin documenting everything from the start.
❄️ Winter — Build & Experiment
Create work actively, experiment, and revise. Upload images to the AP Digital Portfolio as you go — you can add, delete, and rearrange until you submit as final. Don't wait until spring to start uploading.
🌸 Spring — Refine & Submit
Finalize your 15 Sustained Investigation images, write your inquiry statement, and select your best 3–5 works for the Selected Works section. Submit each component as final before your teacher's deadline, which is usually before the May 8 AP deadline.
⚠️ Important: No Late Submissions
The AP Program does not accept late portfolio submissions under any circumstances. Once you click "Submit as Final," revisions are only possible if your teacher returns the component to you. Submit early to avoid last-minute issues.
How AP Art & Design portfolios are scored.
Each portfolio section is reviewed independently against standardized rubrics, then combined into a final score on the standard AP 1–5 scale.
Scores are released in July 2026 via the College Board website.
AP Art & Design FAQ.
No. AP Art & Design is assessed entirely through a digital portfolio. There is no written exam, no exam day to report to, and no multiple-choice or free-response questions. Your portfolio — including images of your work and a written inquiry statement — is your complete assessment.
2-D Art and Design focuses on work that exists in two dimensions — painting, photography, graphic design, illustration, collage, printmaking, and more.
3-D Art and Design focuses on work in three dimensions — sculpture, ceramics, fiber arts, installation, and similar forms.
Drawing specifically focuses on the application of drawing skills: mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition. It can include analog and digital drawing, painting, printmaking, and mixed media — but no video.
You can submit more than one portfolio type in the same year, but the portfolios must be completely separate sets of work — no duplicating images or works between them.
The College Board updated its AP Art & Design AI policy for the 2026-27 school year. Check the official AP Central policy page for current guidance, and ask your teacher for clarification on what's permitted in your course.
The AP Program does not accept late submissions under any circumstances. If you miss the May 8, 2026 deadline, your portfolio will not be scored. Submit well ahead of time — technical issues at the last minute are not accepted as a reason for extension. Your teacher will likely set an earlier internal deadline specifically to avoid this.
Register, or confirm your registration.
Your AP coordinator must order an AP Art & Design exam for you in order for your portfolio to be scored. Check My AP to confirm your enrollment and registration status.
If you plan to submit more than one portfolio type (e.g., both 2-D and Drawing), your coordinator must order a separate exam for each type. Confirm this well in advance of the spring deadline.
Fees aren't paid on this site — your AP coordinator collects them directly. See 2026 AP Exam Fees for current pricing. If you're submitting multiple portfolio types, a separate fee applies to each.
Visit the AP College Board Website for the full registration walkthrough, or the AP Art & Design Portfolio Timeline for year-by-year guidance.
Portfolio Deadline!
Submit all three portfolio components — Sustained Investigation Images, Written Evidence, and Selected Works — as final in the AP Digital Portfolio by 8 PM ET. Good luck!
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