2025 AP® Research Academic Paper Scoring Guidelines
2025 AP® Research Academic Paper Scoring Guidelines is a 5-point scoring rubric published by College Board: it scores research writing at grades 9-12 on 1 criterion, Academic Paper (5 points), and scores run from 1 to 5.
1 page, US Letter, black and white. Free, no account, no email. Criteria and point weightings only, with a blank scoring sheet.
How it is scored
- Academic Paper5 pts · 5 levels
Score an essay against this rubric in the grader. Free account, 20 essays.
What each criterion measures
This rubric is published by College Board and its level descriptors are their copyright, so we summarise the structure here rather than reprinting it. The criteria and their weightings are above; the full wording is in the official document linked below.
- Academic Paper is worth 5 of the 5 points, scored across 5 levels.
Source
College Board. Official document. Rubrics are revised periodically, so check the source before using this for a graded assessment.
Common questions
What does the AP Research Academic Paper rubric for Grades 9-12 score?
It scores research writing at grades 9-12 on 1 criterion: Academic Paper (5 points). Each criterion has 5 performance levels. The level descriptors are the publisher's copyright, so this page shows the criteria and point totals and links to the official document for the wording.
What is the top score on the AP Research Academic Paper rubric for Grades 9-12?
5 points. The single criterion is scored from 1 to 5.
Who publishes the AP Research Academic Paper rubric for Grades 9-12?
College Board. The official document is linked in the Source section of this page. Rubrics are revised periodically, so check the source before using this for a graded assessment.
Can NudgeLearn grade essays with the AP Research Academic Paper rubric for Grades 9-12?
Yes. This rubric is built into the NudgeLearn essay grader. Upload an essay, typed or handwritten, and it comes back with a score on every criterion and the reasoning written out. The teacher stays the grader: review it and change any score before it goes back to the student. A free account covers 20 essays.
Grading against this rubric
The essay grader is measured on 78 real student essays that Texas released with official examiner scores: nine in ten came back within one point of the examiner. That study used the STAAR rubrics, not this one. The accuracy study: method, numbers and limits.
Can AI grade AP free-response questions?: which AP points hold up and which to check by hand.
Score an essay against this rubric
This rubric is built into the essay grader. Upload an essay, typed or handwritten, and get a score on every criterion with the reasoning written out. You can change any score before it goes back to the student.
Grade an essay against this rubricFree account, 20 essays.