Requesting SAT and ACT Accommodations
By Brooks Imel
For students with learning differences or other disabilities that negatively affect their ability to perform on tests, taking the SAT or ACT as part of the college application process can seem overwhelming. Luckily, many schools now offer “test optional” or “test blind” applications–so it is possible to avoid these tests altogether. However, many schools still require tests. And even at schools that don’t, if you are able to show a strong test score, it can go a long way in strengthening your application and make you a more competitive applicant. For this reason, students who struggle with tests due to a diagnosed learning difference or other disability should look into requesting SAT and ACT accommodations that will allow them to demonstrate their academic abilities on these standardized tests.
Test Accommodations
Test accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the testing environment or format that are designed to provide equal access to students with disabilities. The most common accommodation is extended time, but other common accommodations include more frequent breaks, large-print materials, and small-group testing environments. The most common disabilities associated with test accommodations are ADHD and specific learning disabilities (e.g., math or reading disability). Students interested in getting accommodations on the SAT or ACT will likely have already had some form of test accommodation in high school related to their disability. If you have not had accommodations in high school, it’s not likely that the College Board or ACT will approve them for their tests. (That said, if you are one of the small number of students diagnosed with a learning disability, ADHD, or other condition that affects your learning later in high school, it is still possible to be granted accommodations on the ACT and SAT–it just takes a bit more work!)
Eligibility Criteria
To request test accommodations, you must meet specific eligibility criteria outlined by the testing organizations:
1. College Board (SAT):
Your disability must be documented by a certified evaluator.
The disability should directly impact your performance on College Board assessments.
Requested accommodations must be necessary for you to perform to your potential.
2. ACT:
Your disability must be diagnosed and documented by a credentialed professional.
The disability should directly affect your performance on ACT assessments.
Documentation should include information about current and prior accommodations provided in similar settings, especially during school tests.
The Application Process
Both the College Board (SAT) and ACT are set up for you to apply for accommodations through your school. All public schools and most private schools will have a designated Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Coordinator who is responsible for helping students apply for accommodations on the SAT and ACT. Usually, this person is a guidance counselor. Reach out to your guidance counselor to find out who this person is, and work with them to apply for accommodations. For SAT accommodations, the College Board strongly recommends applying through your school, and doing it this way is much easier than doing so on your own. If you want to apply without involving your school, you can do so by filling out a paper application form and sending in documentation yourself–but this process is more difficult, and it takes much longer to get approved! For the ACT, you have no choice: applications for accommodations have to go through your school.
Required Documentation
If you have a current, official Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan, then that’s sufficient for both ACT and the College Board. Both of these documents require a diagnosis from a certified evaluator (for learning disabilities and ADHD, this would be an educational psychologist or neuropsychologist), and this information is included in these plans. The two tests have different thresholds for how recent evaluations need to be, and these also vary depending upon the disability in question. For the ADHD and learning disabilities, the SAT requires testing to have been done within the last five years; ACT requires it to have been in the last three years.
You are more likely to be approved for accommodations by the College Board and ACT if you have a demonstrated history of using accommodations at school. Especially for private school students applying for accommodations on the ACT, you will probably get denied if you’ve only just recently started receiving accommodations at your school. For extended time, in particular, it’s best for private school students to apply after three months of being granted extended time in school–but longer is better (ideally, you’ve had extended time for a year or more!).
Harder to Get ACT Extended Time?
Historically, it has been much more difficult for students to get extended time on the ACT than on the SAT. This is because the SAT is designed so that the average student can finish all of the questions in the time allotted. That is, extended time won’t affect everyone’s score the same–for a student who doesn’t require it, their scores on the regular exam and on an extended time version would be the same. But the ACT takes time into account–it’s designed so that the average student will struggle to finish. This is why ACT has been much more guarded about approving extended time requests. This changed in 2021, when ACT streamlined its process to be more in line with the College Board. Now, if you go to public school and have an IEP or 504 plan with extended time on tests, that’s sufficient for the ACT to grant extended time. However, ACT is still a more strict than the College Board, in that if you go to a private school, you still need to show a history of accommodations before ACT will grant them to you. This is because accommodations in private schools are often provided under more informal regimes–i.e., not official IEP or 504 plans (both of which require a standardized, rigorous approval process).
Timing
It can take a long time for both the ACT and SAT to review accommodation requests, so it’s best to get going early! For the SAT, you need to start the process of applying for accommodations before you apply, and it can take up to seven weeks for approval. For the ACT, you have to register for a test, then indicate that you are applying for accommodations. You’ll then receive an email from them with instructions for completing the application. For students requesting extended time up to 50%, ACT will review requests in 10-14 days. Any other accommodation can take much longer to be approved. Whether you’re planning on taking the SAT or the ACT, it’s a good idea to begin the process of registering and applying for accommodations about three months in advance to ensure you have time to get your request approved! Make sure that you review each test’s final deadlines to apply for accommodations:
Important Tips:
Start Early: Begin the process early to allow time for ACT and/or the College Board to review your application. If you are denied, you can appeal–but that will take more time!
Communicate: Keep in touch with your school's SSD testing coordinator and follow their guidance.
Be Prepared: Have all necessary documentation ready when submitting your request.
Review Deadlines: Double-check the specific deadlines for each organization's test dates.
Know Your Needs: Understand your specific needs and which accommodations will be most beneficial.