2017-18

AP Seminar:
Individual Research
Report
Scoring Guidelines

© 2017 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo
are registered trademarks of the College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org
AP Seminar Rubric 2017-18
Individual Research Report
Performance Levels
Content Area/ Points
Row Proficiency Low Medium High (Max)

1 Understand The report identifies an overly broad The report identifies an adequately The report situates the student’s
and Analyze or simplistic area of investigation and/ focused area of investigation in the investigation of the complexities of a
Context or shows little evidence of research. A research and shows some variety in problem or issue in research that draws
simplistic connection or no connection is source selection. It makes some reference upon a wide variety of appropriate
made to the overall problem or issue. to the overall problem or issue. sources. It makes clear the significance
to a larger context.
2 4 6 6
2 Understand The report restates or misstates The report summarizes information and The report demonstrates an
and Analyze information from sources. It doesn’t in places offers effective explanation understanding of the reasoning and
Argument address reasoning in the sources or it of the reasoning within the sources’ validity of the sources' arguments.* This
does so in a very simplistic way. argument (but does so inconsistently). can be evidenced by direct explanation or
through purposeful use of the reasoning
and conclusions.
2 4 6 6
3 Evaluate The report identifies evidence from The report in places offers some effective The report demonstrates evaluation of
Sources and chosen sources. It makes very simplistic, explanation of the chosen sources and credibility of the sources and selection of
Evidence illogical, or no reference to the credibility evidence in terms of their credibility and relevant evidence from the sources. Both
of sources and evidence, and their relevance to the inquiry (but does so can be evidenced by direct explanation
relevance to the inquiry. inconsistently). or through purposeful use.
2 4 6 6

4 Understand The report identifies few and/or The report identifies multiple The report discusses a range of
and Analyze oversimplified perspectives from perspectives from sources, making perspectives and draws explicit and
Perspective sources.** some general connections among those relevant connections among those
perspectives.** perspectives.**

2 4 6 6

AP Seminar Individual Research Report 2

©2017 The College Board
AP Seminar Rubric 2017-18
Individual Research Report (continued)
Performance Levels
Content Area/ Points
Row Proficiency Low Medium High (Max)

5 Apply The report includes many errors The report attributes or cites sources The report attributes and accurately
Conventions in attribution and citation OR the used but not always accurately. cites the sources used. The bibliography
bibliography is inconsistent in style and The bibliography references sources accurately references sources using a
format and/or incomplete. using a consistent style. consistent style.
1 2 3 3

6 Apply The report contains many flaws in The report is generally clear but contains The report communicates clearly to
Conventions grammar that often interfere with some flaws in grammar that occasionally the reader (although may not be free of
communication to the reader. The written interfere with communication to the errors in grammar and style). The written
style is not appropriate for an academic reader. The written style is inconsistent style is consistently appropriate for an
audience. and not always appropriate for an academic audience.
academic audience.
1 2 3 3

*For the purposes of AP Seminar, “validity” is defined in the glossary of the CED as “the extent to which an argument or claim is logical.”

** For the purposes of AP Seminar, “perspective” is defined in the glossary of the CED as “a point of view conveyed through an argument.”

Additional Scores
In addition to the scores represented on the rubrics, readers can also assign scores of 0 (zero) and NR (No Response).

0 (Zero)
▪ A score of 0 is assigned to a single row of the rubric when the response displays a below-minimum level of quality as identified in that row of the rubric.
For rows 1 to 4, if there is no evidence of any research (i.e. it is all opinion and there is nothing in the bibliography, no citation or attributed phrases in
the response) then a score of 0 should be assigned.
▪ Scores of 0 are assigned to all rows of the rubric when the response is off-topic; a repetition of a prompt; entirely crossed-out; a drawing or other markings;
or a response in a language other than English.

NR (No Response)
A score of NR is assigned to responses that are blank.

AP Seminar Individual Research Report 3

©2017 The College Board