AP exam registration continues for students

Graphic by Arimeta Diop

Graphic by Arimeta Diop

Arimeta Diop, Online Editor

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Students are now signing up to take their respective Advance Placement course exams.  The time frame for registration has been extended into next week. The actual exams will be administered for two weeks in May, beginning May 4 and ending May 15.

The current cost for the AP tests is $98 per test a student registers for. At the time of registration students are not required to pay for their tests in full but will be expected to pay for it at a later date. Counselor and AP exam coordinator David Thorpe has been working with AP exams for the past ten years and has seen prices rise in a slow, plateau fashion.

“I really can’t tell you exactly what causes the hikes in prices other than probably good old inflation,” Thorpe said. “Costs to produce the materials, wages go up so CollegeBoard passes those costs on to schools and the students who take the exams. It truly pains me to have to continue to charge more for AP exams, but I have no control over the pricing structure that comes from Collegeboard.”

There is help available for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Those students will pay a reduced fee of $60 instead of the original $98. Nonetheless, even with this price reduction, Thorpe has been informed that finances are a primary factor keeping students from participating in the exams.

Senior Alecia Diede, who is currently enrolled in AP courses, is taking the AP English exam this year. However due to feeling underprepared for the exam Diede did hesitate with the test cost at first.

“My family and I have no problem spending on the test because it could potentially save hundreds” Diede said. “Unfortunately this year with a lack of preparation the money does come to mind; although [$98] isn’t terrible it is still a lot to lose if someone goes in there kind of prepared.”

Thorpe does express some long term good news for those who remain on the fence of whether or not to take the AP exam. An average three credit college course costs $1000 when tuition, fees and books for the course are figured in.  If a student scores a three or higher on the AP exam, they may be eligible to earn college credit for that course or be exempted from taking it once they attend college. Therefore, Thorpe marks that the current investment of $98 towards an AP exam rounds out to saving a student ten times as much in the long run.

Another thought which Thorpe would like to leave with students and their parents as they consider signing up for AP exams is the reality that other states, Minnesota in particular, subsidize the test for their AP students. This allows for the test takers to instead pay $28 per test. Since he has worked in Minnesota, Thorpe feels that students here should be able to experience similar aid with their test payments.

“Education is one of the wisest investments our state could consider right now and, although this doesn’t benefit our current students, it could have a significant payoff for our future AP students,” Thorpe said.