Why do the SAT's cost so much?

They cost almost nothing! I looked up the fees because based on your question, I expected them to cost thousands, like the Bar Exam. I couldn't find this year's fee, but last year's was $45, and you can get a fee waiver if you can't afford it. The "conglomerate" you refer to is the College Board, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping students prepare for, and get into, college. It is supported by a group of more than 5400 schools, colleges, and other organizational institutions. No, they don't have a lot of competition for the SATs (other than the ACTs), but that mean that it would do them any good to rip anyone off. Think about it for a while. They have to pay people to develop the questions, to develop the computer systems which handle the test, to grade the essays, to send the scores to multiple school per student, often to use the locations where the test is administered, to pay the people who procter the tests, to handle disputes, etc. Perhaps the test isn't as simple as you thought it would be to conduct?

Remember those days when students would ask, "How come we don't get paid to go to school?", and then the teacher would say, "Your education is your payment." Now you have to pay to enter a college and must pay to get educated. I don't understand how these college professors make money when grade school education teachers are the ones who teach you the things important in life. All you need is a high school diploma to do anything remotely good.

yeah, all tests seem to be expensive. My AP exams will cost me 250, and I still have to take SAT and ACT.... But I know that those who are economically disadvantaged get to take SAT for free and pay 8 dollars for each AP exam. Sorry, I don't really know the answer though, but good question. Maybe this will be helpful: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/business/yourmoney/28test.html wow, the first answer was really random hahaha