The cost of a Skills Test in the UK is up to the examiner, they have to cover their overheads. It costs money to be an examiner so that cost has to be past on. Look at the cost of a medical or an hour with a solicitor and get an idea of what an hour of a professional persons time really costs. A PPL skill test is still good value for money, you get arround 5-6 hours of examiners time.