Advanced Placement exams measure how well students have learned the material in AP courses. Most exams are given at the end of the school year at high schools and testing centers across the United States. Colleges often use AP exam scores to award credit or place students in higher-level classes.

Students in the United States, Canada and Department of Defense Education Activity schools pay a fee of $99 per exam. Students testing outside the U.S. pay $129 per exam, though costs vary slightly depending on the exam. The deadline to pay for this year’s exams was Nov. 14, 2025, and late, unused or canceled exams cost an extra $40 each.

Although most students pay $99 for an exam, the College Board receives $90, while schools keep $9 for administration costs. The College Board reports that it uses exam fees to cover test development, scoring and administration. Some of the organization’s remaining revenue goes toward assets and executive compensation, which totals more than $8 million. The rest supports exam processing and related services.
The College Board offers a $37 fee reduction for students with financial need, but it applies to only one exam per qualifying student. Schools must still charge the additional $9 administrative fee. Students can apply for a reduction through the College Board website until April 30, 2026. AP coordinators must confirm eligibility through AP Registration and Ordering.

Srisanvitha Banda, a sophomore planning to take two AP exams, said, “Some people who take multiple AP courses have to pay a lot of money. It might be worth it if they score high on the exam, but if they score low then their money is just going to go to waste, and that can have a huge impact.”