A year-long independent research project culminating in an academic paper and oral defense.
Format reflects the current published structure — always confirm against AP Central before test day, since formats occasionally change.
| Section | Details | Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Paper | 4,000–5,000 word paper reporting original research | Completed during the course | 75% |
| Presentation & Oral Defense | Presentation plus a defense responding to examiner questions | ~20 min oral component | 25% |
Course units, in the order they're typically taught.
Unofficial practice questions written for this study guide — not official AP content and not from College Board. Use them to self-check, then use the real past free-response questions below for authentic exam practice.
Unofficial practice, timed to feel like the real thing. Section I pulls from this page's full multiple-choice bank; Section II gives you free-response prompts to write out and self-score against a rubric. Bank size is still growing toward full exam length — timing is paced per-question, not pulled from this subject's official duration.
Official sources — course details, exam format, and real past free-response questions with scoring guidelines.