Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB): Test Fees
Answers to questions about AP and IB test fees.
The fees will be paid by FCPS for the first six AP and IB tests taken by each student for FCPS courses in which they are also enrolled for high school credit. To determine if a student has used six paid tests, the cumulative number of AP and IB tests over a student’s time in FCPS is counted, including all exams taken before the current school year.
- Students enrolled in courses beyond the six FCPS-funded, who do not opt out by November 1st, will be charged a fee of
- $123 per IB test which will be billed in December
- $99 per AP test which will be billed in December
- Students taking one or more AP tests without enrolling in the corresponding course will be responsible for the test fee(s):
- These test(s) will not count towards their six FCPS-funded tests.
- The billing for these test(s) will be a separate billing process from students enrolled in AP/IB courses.
All students are encouraged to take AP and IB tests for courses in which they are enrolled.
Opt-out
Students can opt-out of the test(s) by filling out an opt-out form provided by the school.
To help in the decision-making process, students will be provided a report in October. The report will include both
- The number of AP and IB tests taken.
- Current AP and IB course enrollment.
Only courses that have an AP or IB test will show in the current course enrollment list.
Students choosing to opt-out of one or more AP and IB tests will complete the opt-out form and return it to the Student Services office at their school.
Opt-out forms are due by November 1st.
What if the form is not returned by November 1st?
All tests will be ordered for currently enrolled AP and IB courses.
What if a student turns in the opt-out form after November 1st?
Applicable nonrefundable fees will be assessed.
Fee Payment
The online payment service, MySchoolBucks, is the same portal that many parents and guardians currently use to pay for school meals, providing them a convenient, efficient, flexible and secure way to pay for school-related purchases and fees. Parents and guardians currently enrolled in MySchoolBucks will receive an email notification information them of a bill for the AP/IB test fees for their respective child(ren). Note that each test fee is sent as a separate invoice with a unique invoice number.
Parents and guardians not enrolled in MySchoolBucks will receive an email with instructions on enrolling in MySchoolsBucks.
AP and IB test fees will be billed in December. Students who qualify for the free and reduced-price meals program and have submitted the consent to share their free and reduced-priced status will not be charged for these fees in accordance with their waiver selections on the fee consent form. These forms can be found on the Food and Nutrition Services, Free and Reduced-Price Meals web page.
For information about the fees or eligibility for economic hardship contact your child's school.
Test Fee Details
YES
FCPS will pay test fees for the first six AP and IB tests taken by each student for courses in which they are also enrolled for high school credit. The test count is cumulative over a student's FCPS academic career.
Students who choose to take one or more AP or IB tests beyond the six FCPS-funded tests will be charged a fee of
- $99 per AP test
- $123 per IB test
NO
Students who qualify for the free and reduced-price meals program and have submitted the consent to share their free and reduced-price status will not be charged for these fees. These forms are found on the Food and Nutrition Services, Free and Reduced-Price Meals web page.
YES
For students and families who are undergoing economic hardships and are financially unable to pay the stated student fees, assistance is available as noted in the current version of Regulation 2135, Assistance to Students. Students and families who believe they qualify for hardship support should reach out to their school.
YES
AP and IB tests taken before the 2024-25 school year for courses in which the student was enrolled in FCPS for high school credit will count towards a student’s cumulative test history.
Yes.
High school students who request to take one or more AP tests without being enrolled in the corresponding course will be responsible for the nonrefundable test fee(s) and these test(s) will not count towards their six FCPS-funded tests.
Non-enrolled students who choose to take an exam after November 1st will also be assessed a nonrefundable $40 late order fee. Schools will communicate the process for registering and paying for these tests.
No.
The IB program does not allow students to take tests for courses in which they are not enrolled.
Yes.
Parents or guardians of home instructed students must provide the Director of Student Services at the local school a copy of the FCPS Home Instruction acknowledgement letter before registering their child for AP tests, fees apply. AP Exams ordered after November 15th will incur an additional nonrefunable $40 late exam order fee. The AP Test Coordinator will collect fees and provide receipts. For registration information, visit the Home Instruction Exam Information page.
No.
Elementary and middle school students not enrolled in AP courses are not eligible to take AP tests.
No.
High school graduates and non-FCPS students (to include out-of-county and private school students) are not eligible to take AP tests in FCPS schools.
AP Exams
If the exam needs to be rescheduled for reasons stated by The College Board, there is no additional fee.
If not, a $40 late exam fee is assessed to the student.
Students should inform their school as early as possible to order an exam during the late testing window, and no later than 24 hours after the regularly scheduled exam date.
IB Exams
IB does not offer make-up exam dates.
Students with extenuating circumstances must speak to their IB Coordinator as soon as possible.
Opt-Out Process
NO.
While FCPS encourages all students to take AP and IB tests for courses in which they are enrolled, students will have the opportunity to opt out of the test(s) by completing an opt-out form provided by the school.
Opt-out forms are due to the school by November 1st.
YES.
Students auditing AP courses are considered enrolled in the course and must follow the opt-out process if they would like to opt out of the test. If the student chooses to take this test, it will count in the student’s cumulative AP and IB test history.
Students will be provided an opt-out report in October. The report will include both
- The number of AP and IB tests taken.
- Current AP and IB course enrollment.
Only courses that have an associated AP or IB test will show in the current course enrollment list.
Students choosing to opt-out of one or more AP and IB tests will complete the opt-out form and return it to the Student Services office at their school.
Opt-out forms are due November 1st.
NO.
The opt-out form only needs to be submitted to the school if a student is requesting to opt out of one or more AP and IB tests for a course in which they are currently enrolled.
What if the form is not returned by November 1st?
All tests will be ordered for currently enrolled AP and IB courses.
What if a student turns in the opt-out form after November 1st?
Applicable nonrefundable fees will be assessed.
YES.
Based on Regulation 2462, students earn weighted credit through successful completion of an AP or IB course.
The curriculum for these three AP courses is assessed through two separate tests. The two tests for each course will be considered as one test for the FCPS-funded test count and fees.
Fee Billing and Collection
A central billing and fee collection process has been developed by the Office of the Comptroller, Department of Financial Services to manage the invoicing and collection of AP and IB test fees. The payment of student fees is the responsibility of parents or guardians. Parents or guardians will be billed in December for AP and IB test fees.
Note: Each test fee is sent as a separate invoice with a unique invoice number and test number.
Parents or guardians will receive an invoice following test registration for tests beyond the first six paid for by FCPS. Parents and guardians can pay for fees online using a debit or credit card, or electronic check through MySchoolBucks, the same vendor many parents or guardians currently use to pay for school lunches. Cash or money order will be accepted onsite at the school.
For questions regarding the MySchoolBucks website or app, please see the MSB Frequently Asked Questions page.
Payment for AP and IB test fees should be submitted within 30 days of receiving the invoice.
No.
AP and IB test fees are nonrefundable.
Diploma candidates will not be required to pay fees for Theory of Knowledge; Creativity, Activity, and Service; or Extended Essay.
Any non-diploma students submitting these components for assessment WILL be required to pay a nonrefundable fee for these components.
No
- $123 per IB test which will be billed in December
- $99 per AP test which will be billed in December
There is no rate reduction for students who take multiple tests.
November 1st
Students who drop an IB or AP course by November 1st will not be sent a bill for the associated test. Any student that drops an AP or IB course after the November 1st will receive an invoice for exam numbers six and beyond in their test sequence.
AP and IB test fees are nonrefundable.
AP Exams
Students who cancel or do not sit for an AP exam will not be charged the College Board $40 cancellation fee.
IB Exams
Students who do not sit for an IB exam or do not submit an Internal Assessment for a course will not be charged a fee for exams 1-6. For exam number 7 and beyond, a nonrefundable full test fee will be charged.