Starting this school year, MCPS will cover the fees of all Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, using a sizable portion of their budget. Without subsidies, AP and IB exams cost $86 and up to $119 per exam, respectively.
The county will contribute about $3.4 million from its yearly budget towards this goal. B-CC AP coordinator, Ms. Yener, said, “I am hopeful that MCPS’s effort to eliminate the cost of exams also eliminates the barrier for students who have been hesitant to participate because of the cost commitment.”
In previous years, the AP and IB exams were not accessible for some students due to the expensive fees. According to the Montgomery County Board of Education website, “Students enrolled in an AP or IB course will be encouraged to participate in the corresponding exam at no cost to them.”
Senior Danny Loughlin shared, “I was not planning on taking the exams but now that they are free I don’t see why I would not.”
MCPS has made a significant effort for middle and high school students to have better access to higher education resources in the past years. In addition to getting rid of the exam fees, the county has also created a new policy for this school year which allows students to take classes at Montgomery County Community College with no additional fee and provides transportation.
The deadline for registering for these exams is quickly approaching. The registration deadline for both exams is Nov. 1. Reach out directly to Ms. Yener (AP) and Mrs. Smithson (IB) with questions.
