What is AP Capstone？
AP Capstone, created by the College Board, is a research-based program representing the pinnacle of the AP discipline. Comprising two one-year components, AP Seminar and AP Research, students undertake AP Seminar in the initial year and AP Research in the subsequent one.
Why AP Capstone？
Collaboration
Work alone, in a group and with expert advisers to communicate your ideas.
Critical Thinking
View issues from multiple perspectives and create arguments based on evidence.
Collaboration
Explore vrious research methods and complete research projects on topics of you own choosing.
Public speaking
Present and defend your work as a group and idividually.
What College Faculty and Admission Officers Are Saying
We can help
Novel Prep partner school takes pride in presenting the innovative AP Capstone Diploma™ program, a diploma initiative offered by the College Board, the organization responsible for overseeing Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams.
AP Capstone students make an impression.
TheAP Capstone Diploma is available at just around 2,000 out of over 42,000 highschools across the United States.
Withover 100,000 students from 2,500+ schools worldwide participating in 2022-23.About 15,800 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 9,600 students earnedthe AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
- Stand out in the college admission process, Ivy League schools highly value students who have completed the AP Capstone program.
- Earn academic awards recognized by colleges worldwide.Develop key skills you’ll use in college and career
- Become a self-confident, independent thinker and problem solver.Study topics you’re passionate about, in depth.
- AP Capstone students excel in crafting evidence-based arguments, using research methods, teamwork, professional presentations, and completing long-term projects. This highlights their critical thinking, communication, and research skills.
How Does It Work?
You must take AP Seminar before AP Research. Each is a yearlong course.
Structure of the AP Capstone Program
First Year Take AP Seminar
In AP Seminar, you’ll investigate topics in a variety of subject areas, write research-based essays, and design and give both individual and team presentations.
Second Year Take AP Research
In AP Research, you’ll build on what you learned in AP Seminar to design, plan, and conduct a yearlong research-based investigation on a topic of your choice.
Earn Awards
You can earn 1 of 2 AP Capstone awards if you take both courses and fulfill other requirements. And you’ll receive an AP score for each separate course.
Earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.
Earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of your choice. You can take the four additional exams anytime during high school.
Q&A
Yes. Students will be able to earn a US High School transcript after passing AP Seminar and AP Research.
A grade of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research earns an AP Capstone Certificate; a grade of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research plus a grade of 3 or higher in four other AP classes earns an AP Capstone Diploma.
Upon completion of the AP Capstone program, students will be able to earn a U.S. High School transcript, receive credit and GPA for AP Seminar and AP Research, which will enhance their acceptance rate during the college application process, making it easier for them to stand out, and allowing them to adapt to college coursework more quickly once they enter college. Students who need to take the exams can travel to the U.S. to take the exams on their own. At that time, students will be able to view and download the certificates/diplomas they have earned from AP Capstone online, and these awards will be included in the AP Scholars Awards, which will be listed on the Scholars Roster; at the same time, students will have the opportunity to earn college credits for skipping the introductory courses and going directly to the higher level courses.
No. If a student wishes to earn a certificate or diploma from AP Capstone, the student must take the AP exam and meet the required grades.
AP Seminar, the first course in AP Capstone, is for 10th and 11th graders. It’s recommended to take AP Seminar in 10th grade and AP Research in 11th grade for the full benefits before applying to college.
