AP 2-D Art Selected Works

Overview

• The Selected Works section represents 40% of your total portfolio score
• You'll submit 5 digital images of 5 different works demonstrating 2-D skills
• Each work must show skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas
• For each work, you must write brief descriptions (100 characters max each) for:
  • Idea(s) visually evident
  • Materials used
  • Processes used
  • Digital tools used (if applicable)
  • Image citations (if using pre-existing images)
• Works can be related, unrelated, or a combination - your choice
• You may include works from your Sustained Investigation, but it's not required

Strategy Deep Dive

The Selected Works section is your chance to showcase your absolute best pieces - think of it as your highlight reel. Unlike the Sustained Investigation where you're showing process and growth, here you're presenting finished, polished works that show skill. The key word in the rubric is "synthesis" - the scorers want to see that you can smoothly blend materials, processes, and ideas into complete, well-developed works.

When selecting your five pieces, resist the urge to simply pick your most recent work or the pieces that took the longest to create. Instead, evaluate each potential work against three criteria: technical skill, conceptual depth, and synthesis. A technically perfect but conceptually shallow piece won't score as well as one that balances all three elements. Consider creating a chart where you rate each potential piece on these criteria to help make objective selections.

The written components are deceptively important. Those 100-character limits force you to be precise and specific. "Mixed media on canvas" tells the scorer nothing useful. "Acrylic paint, newspaper collage, thread embroidery on stretched canvas" gives them concrete information about your material choices and technical range. Similarly, for ideas, avoid vague statements like "exploring identity." Instead, try "Cultural duality through contrasting color palettes" - specific, visual, and directly observable in the work.

Process descriptions should highlight intentional techniques, not just list steps. Instead of "painted then added collage," write "Layered transparent glazes over collage to create depth." This shows you understand how process affects the final visual outcome. The scorers are artists and art teachers - they'll recognize when you truly understand your craft versus when you're just filling in blanks.

Pattern Recognition in Successful Portfolios

After looking at hundreds of high-scoring portfolios, clear patterns emerge in the Selected Works section. The most successful submissions rarely include five pieces that all use the same medium or explore the same idea. Instead, they show versatility within a cohesive artistic vision. Think of it like a musician's album - each song is different, but there's an underlying sensibility that connects them.

Successful portfolios often include at least one piece that shows exceptional technical skill in a traditional medium (drawing, painting, printmaking), balanced with works that push boundaries through mixed media, digital manipulation, or unconventional materials. This isn't a formula to follow blindly, but rather a reminder that showing range strengthens your portfolio.

Another pattern: the strongest portfolios have works where the connection between materials, process, and idea feels necessary. In a piece about environmental destruction, for example, using recycled materials isn't just clever - it's necessary for the concept. The medium becomes part of the message. Scorers notice when every element of a work feels purposeful rather than arbitrary.

Size and presentation matter more than many students realize. While you're submitting digital images, works that photograph well and maintain visual impact at different scales tend to score higher. This doesn't mean everything needs to be huge, but consider how your work will read on a computer screen. Dense, intricate works might benefit from detail shots (though these count toward your 5-image limit).

Rubric Breakdown

Understanding the scoring rubric is crucial because it tells you exactly what the evaluators are looking for. Here's each score point in practical terms:

Score of 5 (Advanced 2-D Skills + Synthesis): At this level, your works show strong skill. The 2-D skills are "highly developed" - this means advanced use of elements like line, shape, color, and composition. More importantly, the synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas is seamless. Every choice feels intentional and contributes to the overall impact. Your written evidence clearly identifies all required elements, and they're directly observable in the works.

Score of 4 (Good 2-D Skills + Clear Relationships): Works show "proficient" skills - solid technique without obvious struggles. The relationships between materials, processes, and ideas are evident but might not achieve that magical synthesis of a 5. Maybe your concept is strong but the execution has minor weaknesses, or your technique is excellent but the idea feels slightly disconnected.

Score of 3 (Moderate Skills + Inconsistent Relationships): This is where many portfolios land. The 2-D skills are "adequate" - competent but not exceptional. The connections between materials, processes, and ideas exist but may be unclear or inconsistently demonstrated across the five works. Perhaps three pieces show strong synthesis while two feel less resolved.

Score of 1-2 (Rudimentary Skills + Little Connection): These scores indicate fundamental problems. Either the 2-D skills are underdeveloped (struggling with basic techniques) or there's little evidence of purposeful relationships between elements. Works might feel random or just decorative without deeper meaning.

Time Management Reality

Creating strong works for the Selected Works section isn't about rushing to produce five pieces at the last minute. The most successful approach involves ongoing documentation and reflection throughout the year. Every few weeks, photograph your completed works with proper lighting and high resolution. Keep a running document with your materials, processes, and ideas for each piece while they're fresh in your mind.

Start identifying potential Selected Works pieces by winter break. This gives you time to create additional works if you realize you have gaps in your portfolio. Maybe you notice all your strongest pieces are portraits, or everything uses similar color palettes. Having time to address these limitations is crucial.

The actual selection process should happen about 6-8 weeks before the submission deadline. Lay out prints or high-quality digital displays of all your potential pieces. Invite trusted peers, your teacher, or mentors to help you evaluate. Sometimes we're too close to our own work to judge objectively. That piece you struggled with might actually show more advanced problem-solving than the one that came easily.

Documentation and writing typically take longer than expected. Budget at least two full weeks for photographing works properly, editing images to meet technical requirements, and crafting your written descriptions. Those 100-character limits require multiple revisions to get right. Test your image files early - discovering technical problems the night before submission is a nightmare you can avoid.

Final Thoughts

The Selected Works section is your opportunity to show the College Board scorers who you are as an artist right now - not who you were at the beginning of the year or who you hope to become. Choose pieces that you can stand behind confidently, where every decision from material choice to final presentation feels intentional.

Remember that synthesis doesn't mean complexity. Some of the highest-scoring works achieve profound synthesis through simplicity - a single material, process, and idea perfectly aligned. Don't feel pressured to create overly complicated mixed-media pieces if that's not authentic to your practice.

Most importantly, trust your gut feelings about your art. If you've been thoughtfully creating work all year, exploring ideas that genuinely interest you, and improving your technical skills, you already have strong pieces to choose from. The challenge is curating them effectively and articulating your choices clearly. Focus on selecting works that show not just what you can do, but how you think creatively. That's what this section truly measures - your ability to synthesize technical skill with conceptual thinking to create meaningful visual statements.