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AP Capstone™

What is AP Capstone?

AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from College Board based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research.

AP Capstone™

AP at a Glance

The Advanced Placement® Program (AP) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school.

The AP Program develops college-level courses that high schools can choose to offer and corresponding AP Exams that are administered once a year.

"AP Capstone helps students develop key skills that they will use over and over in college: conducting research and communicating their results."

- Stu Schmill, Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Service, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Fast Facts

  • AP courses are available in seven subject categories.
  • Each AP course is modeled on a comparable introductory college course in the subject. Learn how AP courses are developed.
  • Each course culminates in a standardized college-level assessment, or AP Exam.
  • AP Exams are given in May each year at testing locations all over the world.
  • Schools must be authorized by the AP Course Audit to offer approved AP courses and use the “AP” designation.

Benefits

Taking AP courses and exams can help students:

  • Stand out on college applications. AP courses on a student’s transcript show that they’ve challenged themselves with the most rigorous courses available to them. And success on an AP Exam shows that they’re ready for college-level coursework.
  • Earn college credit and/or skip introductory courses in college. Most four-year colleges and universities in the United States—as well as many institutions in more than 100 other countries—grant students credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP Exam scores. Search credit policies by college.

Learn more about how AP benefits students.