AP "unused exam" fee dispute with high school

[Anonymous]

OP here again.

I read it as the College Board does not assess the full $100 fee for a student who was registered but did not show up. It takes $40 from the school, and the school can choose to refund or not refund the rest to the family.

Right now the school has $100 of my dollars per exam, because I did not request any refund. It can give the College Board $40/exam as requested, and either keep the other $60, or refund me.

But I object to them asking for $40 EXTRA, when they already have more than they should have received from me.

[Anonymous]

The $40 shouldn’t be in addition to the $100 test fee but what’s kept as an “admin fee” or whatever after the refund. So, had you requested cancellation of a $100 test by the cancellation date, they refund you $60. If you don’t request refund or cancel before the stated date, I think it’s in their discretion to offer no refund.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The college board is such a racket

Do they offer prep classes too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here again.

I read it as the College Board does not assess the full $100 fee for a student who was registered but did not show up. It takes $40 from the school, and the school can choose to refund or not refund the rest to the family.

Right now the school has $100 of my dollars per exam, because I did not request any refund. It can give the College Board $40/exam as requested, and either keep the other $60, or refund me.

But I object to them asking for $40 EXTRA, when they already have more than they should have received from me.

I think the school owes $100 to College Board. You can “object” all you want. I’d cal college board in the morning and get clarification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. What do you understand from the College Board's own words? The bolded is key.



Unused/canceled exam fee

$40 per exam for:

Exams canceled in AP Registration and Ordering after November 15 and by March 15 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated. (Invoices are generated after late testing ends.)
The original exam fee is removed from the invoice.

Did you cancel before March 15th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. What do you understand from the College Board's own words? The bolded is key.



Unused/canceled exam fee

$40 per exam for:

Exams canceled in AP Registration and Ordering after November 15 and by March 15 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated. (Invoices are generated after late testing ends.)
The original exam fee is removed from the invoice.

Did you cancel before March 15th?

OP here.

No. Our case falls under number 2 (formatting disappeared when I copied and pasted):
"Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated."

This means that regardless of whether someone canceled or not, the College Board just goes ahead and takes $40 from the school if the student does not show up.

And since the school never refunded my $100, it sure as heck isn't getting an extra $40 from me, per exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. What do you understand from the College Board's own words? The bolded is key.



Unused/canceled exam fee

$40 per exam for:

Exams canceled in AP Registration and Ordering after November 15 and by March 15 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated. (Invoices are generated after late testing ends.)
The original exam fee is removed from the invoice.

Did you cancel before March 15th?

OP here.

No. Our case falls under number 2 (formatting disappeared when I copied and pasted):
"Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated."

This means that regardless of whether someone canceled or not, the College Board just goes ahead and takes $40 from the school if the student does not show up.

And since the school never refunded my $100, it sure as heck isn't getting an extra $40 from me, per exam.

You’re probably right but not because you’re acting thought about it. Call college board and confirm what your obligation is for the no shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. What do you understand from the College Board's own words? The bolded is key.



Unused/canceled exam fee

$40 per exam for:

Exams canceled in AP Registration and Ordering after November 15 and by March 15 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated. (Invoices are generated after late testing ends.)
The original exam fee is removed from the invoice.

Did you cancel before March 15th?

OP here.

No. Our case falls under number 2 (formatting disappeared when I copied and pasted):
"Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated."

This means that regardless of whether someone canceled or not, the College Board just goes ahead and takes $40 from the school if the student does not show up.

And since the school never refunded my $100, it sure as heck isn't getting an extra $40 from me, per exam.

You’re probably right but not because you’re acting thought about it. Call college board and confirm what your obligation is for the no shows.

OP here. I certainly plan to, first thing tomorrow. The College Board was already closed for the day when this issue showed up in my inbox.

This is particularly irritating because this school's AP coordinator and colleagues have had many complaints from parents, due to apparently frequent mix-ups about ordering exams, paying for them, registering students for the right ones, etc. Parents have involved the Principal and College Board to resolve problems generated by this person (or this group), notably students who found out days before their AP exams that they had not been registered correctly, even though their parents had paid before the deadline.

We had never had a problem with her until now. But now, it's our turn, 2 weeks before graduation!

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Not knowing is on you. Pay it and be done with it. My kid's school requires that anyone taking an AP class takes the exam so no issues arise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not knowing is on you. Pay it and be done with it. My kid's school requires that anyone taking an AP class takes the exam so no issues arise.

My kid is required to sit for the AP exam and I register and pay college board directly. I guess there’s less mass confusion that way.

[Anonymous]

Even though I don't think you're wrong, I would be pay it and be done with it. Pay and if you like, continue to haggle about it afterward to see if they're reimburse you, but don't let it impact your son and his ability to graduate.

[Anonymous]

MCPS charges students to take AP Exams?

Sad to see Pay to Play education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS charges students to take AP Exams?

Sad to see Pay to Play education.

Yes, because AP exams are not run by MCPS, but the College Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. What do you understand from the College Board's own words? The bolded is key.



Unused/canceled exam fee

$40 per exam for:

Exams canceled in AP Registration and Ordering after November 15 and by March 15 (11:59 p.m. ET)
Exams that aren't taken and are indicated as unused in AP Registration and Ordering before the school's invoice is generated. (Invoices are generated after late testing ends.)
The original exam fee is removed from the invoice.

You shouldn't have to pay an additional fee. The school either pays CB $100 for a test that was used, or $40 for an unopened (and returned) test. I wouldn't expect a refund, but they also shouldn't ask for more. Are you communicating directly with your school's administrator in charge of AP testing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS charges students to take AP Exams?

Sad to see Pay to Play education.

Yes, because AP exams are not run by MCPS, but the College Board.

Even Florida paid AP fees for students.