How to approach the AP Seminar Performance Tasks and End-of-Course Exam: exam skills quiz quiz

A research paper and two presentations

Performance Task 1 (Team Project), Performance Task 2 (Individual Research-Based Essay), and the End-of-Course Exam

Multiple choice, a synthesis essay, and an oral exam

Three written essays sat on one day

All three are weighted equally at one third each

PT1 35 percent, PT2 20 percent, exam 45 percent

PT1 45 percent, PT2 35 percent, exam 20 percent

PT1 20 percent, PT2 35 percent, exam 45 percent

Both Performance Tasks

None of them

Only Performance Task 1

Only the End-of-Course Exam

One source, asking you to identify the argument, explain the line of reasoning, and evaluate the evidence

Four sources, asking you to synthesize an argument

No sources, asking for your own opinion

Two sources, asking you to compare them

Answer three short-answer questions on one source

Summarize each of four sources in turn

Write a personal reflection on the course

Build your own evidence-based argument that synthesizes four sources on one theme

Around the longest sources first

Around your reasons, drawing on whichever sources support each

Around your personal experiences

One paragraph per source, in the order given

Summary uses attribution and synthesis does not

Summary retells what each source says; synthesis combines sources with your own reasoning to support a claim

Synthesis is shorter than summary

There is no difference

Every piece of evidence the author uses

What the source is about, as a topic

The author's central claim in one precise sentence

Your own opinion of the issue

How long the source is

Whether the author is famous

Whether you agree with the author's conclusion

Whether the evidence is relevant, sufficient, and credible, and actually supports the claim

Academic integrity is a scored expectation, so unattributed ideas lose credit even when the reasoning is strong

It is optional and only affects PT1

It makes essays longer

It only matters in the multiple choice section

Choosing a problem that is too hard

Using too many visuals in the presentation

Treating teaming as merely dividing work rather than combining strengths and resolving disagreement

Writing too many sources

All two hours on Part B

Exactly one hour on each, with no planning

About 50 to 55 minutes on Part A and about 60 to 65 minutes on Part B

Five minutes on Part A and the rest on Part B