For students with LD and/or AD/HD, needed accommodations can be critical on test day. By reducing the impact of attention problems or learning difficulties, accommodations allow for a fair comparison among students. Beyond general preferences for the ACT or the SAT, students can, and should, consider the available accommodations when choosing which test to take. Types of Accommodations Offered on the ACT and SATIn most cases, students will request the accommodations they already receive in school. The need for these accommodations is already well documented, and testing companies are unlikely to approve accommodations not given in school.
Accommodations offered may include:
- Extended time (either 150% time or double time)
- Multiple-day testing
- Extra or extended breaks
- Small-group testing
- Access to a reader or audio cassette/DVD
- Access to a computer to type the essay
Students and their parents should strategize about which accommodations to request. While extra breaks on the SAT may sound like a great idea, keep in mind that they will add an additional hour onto an already grueling test—so it’s important not to request accommodations that aren’t truly needed. Students shouldn’t hesitate to seek out the advice of a school counselor, who typically is the person submitting the application to the testing companies.
While most students should select a test based on their own preferences and their performance on practice exams, in some cases the accommodations awarded may sway a student toward one exam or the other. The accommodations-administration procedures should be considered as well. For example, the most commonly requested
accommodation, extended time, is administered differently for the two tests. In many cases, students with LD and/or AD/HD may find the ACT to be a better choice because of the format of its standard extended-time administration. While the SAT observes strict timing of each section with structured breaks, the ACT allows students to move from one section to the next at their own pace within one overall time limit. Further, students may choose the length of their breaks, as well as whether to take one between each section. This flexibility can be a real advantage, especially for students who have trouble maintaining focus over long periods. Learn more about which test—the ACT or the SAT—is a better fit for your teen.
Please note: Students receiving accommodations in school do not automatically qualify for accommodations on the ACT and SAT. They still have to go through the application process. School accommodations definitely increase the chances of approval from the SAT or ACT, but they are not a guarantee. Always be prepared for the possibility of taking the test without them, at least until you’ve received notification to the contrary!
Requesting Testing Accommodations: When and How to Apply Almost all students, except home schoolers, will apply through their school counselor. The ACT requires that students to apply through the school. The SAT does allow you to apply without the involvement of the school, but, if you choose this path, the chances of approval are slim.
Generally speaking, both test companies have become less generous in awarding accommodations in recent years. Ideally, students seeking accommodations should apply as early as possible (end of sophomore year) to ensure ample time to appeal if the initial request is denied. Up-to-date diagnostic testing (within the last three years) is helpful for most applicants, and a necessity for recently diagnosed students or those who are not receiving accommodations in school.
If the test is coming up soon and a teen hasn’t yet applied, it’s important to act fast. The SAT requires accommodations applications to be filed about six weeks before the test. The ACT deadline is, roughly, a month prior to the test. If a student applies too late, there is no guarantee that the application will be reviewed before the test date. This is especially true for the most popular test dates: May, June, September, and October. Waiting to apply can make test prep challenging, as students don't know if they'll be taking the test with accommodations or not.
If you are denied accommodations on the first request, you have the option to appeal and provide further documentation. It is important that students appealing a denial NOT take the test. If a student does so and scores in the average range or better, that performance will hurt his or her chances of winning the appeal. Test companies are not interested in a student’s potential to score higher, as they don’t want to be perceived as awarding an “unfair advantage.”
Finally, remember that colleges will not know that a student took the test with accommodations. Many students (and parents) are fearful of the stigma that might be attached to the test results. Unless students choose to disclose that information on a college application, the admissions office will not have any information beyond the ACT and/or SAT scores.
For more in-depth information on accommodations and how to apply, visit the SAT and ACT websites.
Jenn Cohen is an online SAT/ACT tutor specializing in working with students with LD and AD/HD. You can find her on the web at satprepforadhd.com.
