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AP, IB, ACT, and SAT Fee Waiver Programs for New York State Students

Fee waiver programs exist for eligible New York State students for the following exams: ACT, Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, and International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams.  These fee waiver programs either reduce or eliminate student fees for the exams.

Student Qualification Guidelines

Eligibility for the AP / IB Exam Fee Waivers is based on students' Free and Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL) Eligibility.  The New York State Education Department will reimburse a portion of exam fees for students' who qualify for either free or reduced price meals.

Alternate Funding Sources

Title IV

Under Title IV, section 4104 (b) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states may choose to utilize a portion of their Title IV formula funds for various state activities, which may include paying all or a portion of “accelerated learning” exam fees for low-income students. 

Title I

The United States Department of Education has indicated that local educational agencies (LEAs) may use Title I, Part A funds to pay the cost for low-income students to take an AP or IB exam in limited circumstances.

  • Title I, Part A funds may be used to pay the cost of taking an AP or IB exam for a student from a low-income family who is participating in a Title I, Part A program, provided that paying for those costs is otherwise the responsibility of the student’s parents. In other words, Title I, Part A funds may be used to pay the cost of taking the exam if, absent the Title I, Part A funds, the student would not be able to access the exam.
  • To the extent that the LEA covers the cost of the exams for all students or the LEA has a fund to pay the cost for students from low-income families in general, Title I, Part A funds may not be used.

LEAs interested in using Title I, Part A funds for this purpose should reference:

Advanced Placement Fee Waivers

New York State Funding for Eligible Students’ 2023 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

For public and non-public school students qualifying for the College Board fee reduction of $35 per exam, the state of New York will pay an additional:

  • $40 per AP Exam (except AP Seminar and AP Research Exams)
  • $88 per AP Seminar Exam and AP Research Exam

The final fee for any AP Exam (including AP Seminar and AP Research Exams) for a fee-reduced student is $13.

Process for School Districts

Each school or district's AP coordinator will take the following steps:

Before the exams:

  • For your invoice to accurately reflect any fee reductions, the AP coordinator must indicate the fee reduction status for each eligible student in AP Registration and Ordering.
    • For each student who is eligible for the College Board fee reduction, check the box for reduced fee next to their name in the student roster.
    • For students who aren't eligible for the fee reduction, no action is needed.
  • Fee reduction status is indicated only once per student, not for each exam.
  • A best practice is to indicate the fee reduction status for each student by the time you submit your exam order, if possible, to ensure you have time to plan for and collect the appropriate exam fees from students. However, if you need more time to verify this information, the deadline to indicate students' fee reduction status in AP Registration and Ordering is April 30, 2023 (11:59 p.m. ET).

After the exams:

  • Your invoice will be sent to you via email after the late-testing administration. At that point, you can also access and print the invoice through AP Registration and Ordering.
  • Send $13 to College Board for each AP Exam, including AP Seminar and AP Research Exams, taken by fee-reduced students.
  • June 15, 2023 is the postmark deadline for payment due to College Board.
  • College Board will bill the New York State Education Department (NYSED) directly for $40 per AP Exam ($88 per AP Seminar and AP Research Exam) per fee-reduced student.
  • AP coordinators do not need to send a copy of their invoice to NYSED.

Resources for Students

The College Board will be offering a variety of testing options for the 2023 AP Exam Administration.  Additional information can be referenced on the College Board’s About AP webpage. Additional questions about testing options for the 2023 AP Exam Administration may be directed to the classroom teacher, the school’s AP Coordinator, or the College Board (Send a Message to the College Board).

International Baccalaureate Fee Waivers

New York State Funding for Eligible Students’ 2023 International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams

For 2023 administration dates, qualifying public and non-public school students are eligible for a New York State IB fee reduction of $114 per exam.

The final student (school) exam fee in 2023 for any IB exam is $5.  

Process for School Districts

  • Complete the Standard Voucher and Supplemental Roster (Excel version or PDF version).
    • The Supplemental Roster must be signed by school principal certifying that all students qualify for the fee waiver.
  • Mail the Standard Voucher, Supplemental Roster, and a receipt from the IBO (summary only, not itemization) to the New York State Education Department by December 31, 2023.
    • The address is listed on the Supplemental Roster as well as the instructions for the Standard Voucher.

The New York State Education Department will reimburse school districts in the order requests are received, until all funding is exhausted.​

ACT Fee Waiver Program

What's Included?

The registration fee for up to four ACT tests is covered. Students registering with a fee waiver will also receive free access to free learning resources and additional score reports. Students who receive an ACT fee waiver may also request college application fee waivers.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the ACT fee waiver program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be currently enrolled in high school in the 11th or 12th grade.
  • Be testing in the United States, US territories, or Puerto Rico.
  • Meet one or more of the indicators of economic need listed below:
    • Enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program at school, based on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) income levels.
    • Enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged (for example, a federally funded program such as GEAR UP or Upward Bound). Note: If the student participates in a program, but is not economically disadvantaged, they are not eligible for a fee waiver.
    • Resides in a foster home, is a ward of the state, or is homeless.
    • Family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally subsidized public housing.
    • Family’s total annual income is at or below USDA levels for free or reduced-price lunches on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.

Application Process

  1. Check with your school counselor to see if you are eligible to apply.
  2. Once your school counselor determines you are eligible, you can receive up to four fee waivers to take the ACT test for free and you will receive free learning resources.
  3. When you register for the ACT online or by mail, use your ACT fee waiver code.

Additional Resources

Questions?

The ACT Fee Waiver Program is not managed by the NYS Education Department.  Please contact the ACT directly for additional information.

SAT Fee Waivers

What's Included?

  • Free Tests and Feedback
    • 2 free SATs
    • 2 free Answer Services
  • Free College Benefits
  • Other Benefits
    • Fee reductions for score verification reports
    • No non-U.S. regional fees for free tests (if you're a U.S. student testing abroad)
    • No late registration fees for free tests (if you're in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands)
    • No cancellation fees (upon cancellation, your unused fee waiver benefits will be returned to you)
  • Additional Details
    • You can take your free SATs in grades 11–12.
    • Depending on when you take the SAT, your free QAS or SAS reports will include your test's questions and answers, or just your answers. Learn more about Answer Services.

Eligibility Requirements

SAT fee waivers are available to low-income 11th- and 12th-grade students in the U.S. or U.S. territories. U.S. citizens living outside the country may be able to have test fees waived.

You're eligible for fee waivers if you say "yes" to any of the following:

  • You're enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
  • Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
  • You're enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., Federal TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
  • Your family receives public assistance.
  • You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or are homeless.
  • You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

Application Process

If you think you're eligible, your school counselor or a representative of an authorized community-based organization will help you get a fee waiver.

If you're homeschooled, you can get fee waivers by contacting a local high school counselor. Just provide proof of eligibility, such as tax records or proof of enrollment in an aid program like those listed below.

Additional Resources

Questions?

The SAT Fee Waiver Program is not managed by the NYS Education Department.  Please contact your local high school counselor or the College Board directly for additional information.

SAT Fee Waiver Program

  • If you're eligible for a fee waiver, you can take the SAT for free and get other benefits to apply to college.