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AP Test scoring rubrics
AP Seminar Grades 10–12 3 official rubrics

AP Seminar performance task rubrics, every IRR, TMP, IWA, and EOC row.

The three official AP Seminar scoring rubric sets from the College Board. The End-of-Course Exam (39 pts), Performance Task 1 (Team Project, 54 pts), and Performance Task 2 (Individual Essay, 48 pts), all sourced verbatim from the 2025 College Board scoring guidelines.

Browse all 3 rubrics View source PDFs
Verified against College Board AP Central Last updated May 2026
01 About AP Seminar

The AP Seminar scoring rubrics, FRQ by FRQ

AP Seminar is the first year of the AP Capstone program, taken by 10th, 11th, or 12th graders. The course is graded through three rubric-scored components, the End-of-Course Exam (taken in May), Performance Task 1 (a year-long team project), and Performance Task 2 (an individual research-based essay).

Each component uses its own analytic rubric. The End-of-Course Exam Part A (15 pts) scores a single-source analysis across three rows. Part B (24 pts) scores a multi-source synthesis across four rows. Performance Task 1 combines the Individual Research Report (30 pts across 6 rows) with the Team Multimedia Presentation (24 pts across 5 rows). Performance Task 2 is the Individual Written Argument (48 pts across 7 rows).

Total AP Seminar score combines the three components and is weighted by the College Board (PT1 and PT2 are externally scored by trained AP readers; the EOC is scored centrally). The final scaled 1 to 5 AP score reflects all three. The rubrics on this site are extracted verbatim from the 2025 College Board scoring guidelines.

02 The rubrics

The three AP Seminar rubric sets

AP Seminar uses three rubric sets that combine into the final AP score. The End-of-Course Exam (Part A 15 pts plus Part B 24 pts) is taken in May. Performance Task 1 covers the Individual Research Report (30 pts) plus Team Multimedia Presentation (24 pts). Performance Task 2 is the Individual Written Argument (48 pts), graded by trained AP readers.

Grades 10–12
End-of-Course Exam
AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam Rubric (Parts A + B)

Two-part written exam. Part A (15 pts) asks students to analyze one provided source across three rows. Part B (24 pts) asks students to synthesize multiple sources into an argument across four rows. 2 hours total.

Part A Row 1: ArgumentPart A Row 2: Line of ReasoningPart A Row 3: Evaluate EvidencePart B Rows 1–4: Establish, Reason, Evidence, Conventions
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Grades 10–12
Performance Task 1
AP Seminar PT1 Team Project Rubric (IRR + TMP)

Year-long team performance task. Each student writes an Individual Research Report (IRR, 30 pts) and contributes to a Team Multimedia Presentation with oral defense (TMP, 24 pts). Combined 54 pts.

IRR Rows 1–6 (30 pts)TMP Rows 1–5 (24 pts)
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Grades 10–12
Performance Task 2
AP Seminar PT2 Individual Written Argument Rubric (IWA)

Individual research-based essay (IWA, 48 pts) responding to a stimulus packet released annually by the College Board. Students develop their own research question and argument. 7-row analytic rubric.

Row 1 Stimulus IntegrationRow 2 ContextRow 3 PerspectivesRow 4 ArgumentRow 5 EvidenceRow 6 Conventions (Citation)Row 7 Conventions (Style)
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03 Scoring

How AP Seminar scores writing

All three AP Seminar components use multi-row analytic rubrics. Each row is scored independently against the preponderance of evidence (best-fit) standard. The College Board explicitly warns readers not to re-listen to recorded presentations and to score the first 10 minutes of the team presentation and the first 8 minutes of the individual presentation only.

01
End-of-Course Exam (39 pts)

Two-part written exam taken in May. Part A (15 pts) asks students to analyze the argument of one provided source across 3 rows. Part B (24 pts) asks students to synthesize multiple sources into their own argument across 4 rows (Establish Argument, Establish Argument again for reasoning/organization, Select and Use Evidence, Apply Conventions).

02
Performance Task 1 (54 pts)

Year-long team project. Each team chooses a real-world or academic problem, divides research, and presents a team solution. Individual Research Report (IRR, 30 pts) is scored across 6 rows (Context, Argument, Evidence, Perspectives, Citation Conventions, Style Conventions). Team Multimedia Presentation (TMP, 24 pts) is scored across 5 rows including a team oral defense.

03
Performance Task 2 (48 pts)

Individual research-based essay built around a College Board stimulus packet released each January. Students develop their own research question rooted in at least two of the stimulus sources and write a 1,200-word Individual Written Argument (IWA). 7-row analytic rubric covering stimulus integration, context, perspectives, argument, evidence, citation conventions, and style.

Scale Multi-row analytic rubrics across all three
Total possible 39 to 54 pts (varies by rubric)
Type Analytic
04 FAQ

Common questions about AP Seminar writing

How is AP Seminar scored?
AP Seminar uses three rubric-scored components that combine into the final AP score. Performance Task 1 (the team project) is worth 54 points across the Individual Research Report and the Team Multimedia Presentation. Performance Task 2 (the individual essay) is worth 48 points. The End-of-Course Exam taken in May is worth 39 points (Part A 15 plus Part B 24). The College Board weights and scales these into the standard 1 to 5 AP score.
What is the AP Seminar Individual Research Report (IRR)?
The IRR is the individual portion of Performance Task 1. Each team member produces a 1,200-word academic research report on a sub-question of the team's overall problem or issue. It is scored across 6 rows (Context, Argument, Evidence, Perspectives, Citation Conventions, Style Conventions) for 30 points total. The IRR is submitted to the College Board for external scoring.
What is the AP Seminar Team Multimedia Presentation (TMP)?
The TMP is the team portion of Performance Task 1. Teams of 3 to 5 students deliver a multimedia presentation of their argument and solution, followed by an oral defense. Only the first 10 minutes are scored (excluding the defense). The TMP rubric scores 5 rows (Establish Argument, Evaluate Solutions, Engage Audience through Performance, Engage Audience through Design, Collaborate and Reflect) for 24 points total.
What is the AP Seminar Individual Written Argument (IWA)?
The IWA is Performance Task 2, the individual research-based essay. The College Board releases a stimulus packet each January with several sources on a broad theme. Students develop their own research question rooted in at least two of the sources and write a 1,200-word argument. The IWA is scored across 7 rows for 48 points total and is externally scored by trained AP readers.
How is the AP Seminar End-of-Course Exam scored?
The EOC is a two-part written exam taken in May. Part A (15 points, 30 minutes) asks students to analyze the argument of one provided source across 3 rows (Identify Argument, Explain Line of Reasoning, Evaluate Evidence). Part B (24 points, 90 minutes) asks students to read multiple sources and synthesize them into their own argument across 4 rows (Establish Argument, Line of Reasoning, Select and Use Evidence, Apply Conventions). Both parts are externally scored.
Where can I find the source documents?
The official AP Seminar scoring rubrics are published by the College Board at apcentral.collegeboard.org in the AP Seminar Course and Exam Description and the annual scoring guidelines. The rubrics on this site are extracted verbatim from those documents.
Can teachers use the AP Seminar rubrics in their classroom?
Yes. AP rubrics are public-domain scoring guides and are used throughout the AP Seminar year as instructional anchors. Teachers commonly assign practice IRRs, TMPs, IWAs, and EOC tasks scored against the live rubric to build student familiarity before the official submissions in April and the May exam.
Does EnlightenAI auto-score with these rubrics?
Yes. EnlightenAI scores AP Seminar IRR, TMP, IWA, and EOC responses against the official College Board rubrics with per-row feedback. Teachers can calibrate the AI against their own scored samples before deploying it for student practice, classwork, or norming sessions.

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