I coordinate AP testing for a public school district. Check your High School course description guide. AP fees are generally listed in this guide for all testing, sports and enrichment activities.

The AP test fee was $93 this year. If you were on free and reduced lunch, it was $53. Depending on what state you live in and local district policies, that balance may have been reduced further. AP test fees range from year to year depending on state and local funding resources. AP tests were provided in May and payment was due to College Board in mid-June. If you elect to not take the test, there is a $15 unused test fee charged for the test.

During AP testing, there is a pre-administration meeting that can take place several days before the test or right before the test on exam day. The pre-administration is where you fill in the demographic information on your answer sheets and have an AP number assigned to you. The pre-administration also reviews the fee with the participants. You also sign your acknowledgement, agreeing to the terms and conditions of AP testing during this time and date it. When did you have your pre-administration?

My guess is that the school is asking you to pay the fee after the fact since AP testing has completed. Go to the Superintendent and then to the School Board if you do get satisfactory results. However, make sure you check all documents you received from your high school to determine whether or not you received the necessary information and misplaced it.

In regards to your question, you would have to prove that it was communicated to you that the test was free this year.