AP Exams, Schemes, Risks, and Rewards

AP students of all kinds dread May. The month marks the beginning of a stressful, tedious, and time-consuming exam season that can determine whether a student fulfills future college course requirements. Although taking AP exams can be a great way for students to challenge themselves and potentially excel in their academic careers, there are undeniable downsides to the glorified title of “Advanced Placement.”
Let’s start with the cost. In October, students are required to pay for each AP exam—around $96 per test—before a strict deadline. Miss that deadline? You’re hit with a late fee. The problem is, this deadline falls before students have had enough time to fully experience the course. How can someone be expected to commit to a test for a class they’ve barely begun? This is especially unfair to students from low-income households, who may feel financially pressured to commit early without knowing whether the course is truly right for them.
It feels like a trap. Students are essentially forced into a $100 gamble (per exam) that may or may not translate to college credit. And if you cancel later? That’s a $40 cancellation fee. If you register and decide not to take the test? You’re out $50. What sense does that make? The College Board appears more interested in locking students in than actually supporting their academic growth. It raises the question: is this really about education—or business?
That said, even this “scheme” has some legitimate benefits. The College Board argues that AP courses give students a competitive edge in college admissions, allow them to earn college credit, and help them develop college-level academic skills. Some of this, we admit, is true.
Ask students who have been admitted to highly competitive schools. The competitive edge is real. Having AP classes on a transcript helps out. And yes, for students attending in-state schools—like many of our peers at Lake Park—most AP credits do transfer, which can significantly reduce tuition costs and provide more flexibility in college course planning.
But we do take issue with the exclusive claim of “College-Level Academic Skills.” Who is the College Board to define what college-level skills look like? Are they really the only ones capable of preparing students for higher education? Plenty of honors courses, dual-enrollment options, and even rigorous extracurriculars teach time management, writing, and analytical thinking just as well—if not better—than some AP classes.
In the end, AP exams are a mixed bag. Yes, they can offer real advantages, but they also come with financial risks, stress, and questionable gatekeeping.
It’s important for students to weigh the benefits and drawbacks for themselves—and to remember that success in college isn’t limited to how many AP exams you took. Sometimes, the best education comes from questioning the system itself.