I am grateful that I would be able to pay $700 without it causing a hardship. Many other families can’t say the same, even though they are well above the subsidized lunch threshold. I don’t think we should get into the business of what a family should be able to afford. A kid should be able to take the AP class, and get the bump-up in GPA calculation for that, without taking the AP exam itself unless the school district is willing to pay the AP test fees, in which case I can see denying the bump-up if a kid chooses not to take the test.