Rising AP exam costs are putting pressure on Lisle High School students this spring. 407 exams are set to be taken at $103 each, according to counselor Kendra Meyer.
For some students, the increasing cost of these tests has become a financial challenge, especially for families with multiple children taking AP exams.
“This is the first year where the district added extra costs to cover for proctors,” Meyer explained. “Downers Grove is doing the same thing at $103, and some schools in Indiana are charging up to $114.”
Meyer, who has worked in the district for 33 years and served as a counselor for 23, said that she has seen the AP program expand dramatically.
“When I first started, we only had two AP classes: AP Calculus and AP U.S. History,” she said. “Now we have 14 classes, and over 400 AP exams are being given this year.”
Despite the rising costs, she said most students still see the exams as worthwhile to take. AP tests can potentially save students thousands of dollars in college tuition if they score high enough to earn college credit.
“If you compare $1,200 for a three-credit-hour college course to $103 for an AP exam, most students will realize that the exam is still a good deal,” Meyer said.
However, she acknowledged that not every student will earn college credit for their effort.
“With dual credit, you are guaranteed college credit if you pass the class. But with AP, it depends on your test score and if the college you plan on attending accepts those credits,” she said.
Meyer also emphasized that success in school is not defined by taking AP or honors classes or test scores.
“It is not the end of the world if you do not take an AP or honors class,” she said. “Success really comes down to your work ethic, showing up, putting in the effort, and doing your best is what really matters.”
As May approaches, Lisle students are preparing once again for the long hours of studying and stress of AP testing. But Meyer believes that their determination will pay off far beyond the classroom.
“At the end of the day, it is not your test score that defines you; it is your effort, your attitude, and the way you keep pushing forward that truly measure success.”