The AP Drawing Portfolio focuses on works that emphasize mark making, line, surface, light and shade, space, and composition. Students explore how drawing—both traditional and digital—can be used to observe, imagine, and communicate ideas. They learn to combine materials, processes, and concepts with intention, developing personal visual languages that express meaning through skillful control of drawing elements.
Each portfolio includes 20 digital images, submitted in 2 sections. In Selected Works (5 images), students present finished drawings that demonstrate advanced drawing skills and clear synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas. Each image is accompanied by short written notes identifying what the work represents and how it was created.
The Sustained Investigation (15 images) centers on discovery through inquiry-based, student-driven learning. Students identify one guiding question or area of inquiry and explore it in depth through practice, experimentation, and revision. This process allows students to investigate materials, mark-making approaches, and ideas as they evolve, revealing curiosity, persistence, and growth over time. The submitted images may include completed drawings as well as process documentation that shows how ideas and techniques developed. Together, these selections demonstrate how students think critically, take creative risks, and refine their work through sustained inquiry and reflection.
What the Exam Assessors Look For
What the Exam Assessors Look For
Assessors evaluate each portfolio using the AP Art and Design scoring guidelines. In the Sustained Investigation, assessors look for evidence that the student’s inquiry drives discovery and development through practice, experimentation, and revision using drawing skills. Strong portfolios demonstrate skillful synthesis—clear relationships among materials, processes, and ideas—and show how written and visual evidence together convey inquiry-based learning and artistic growth.
In the Selected Works, assessors evaluate visual evidence of advanced drawing skills; synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas; and clear written identification of each work’s intent and creation. The highest-scoring portfolios show clear synthesis—where materials, processes, and ideas merge seamlessly to create visually and conceptually compelling works.
Students may work in a variety of media, including graphite, ink, charcoal, pastel, painting, digital drawing, printmaking, and mixed media. Still images from video or film and composite images are also accepted. All work must be the student’s original creation, submitted digitally through the AP Digital Portfolio. Generative artificial intelligence tools are prohibited at every stage of the creative process.
