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SAT Testing Accommodations
By
Zach Skillings
Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Newsletter Editor. He specializes in college admissions and strives to answer important questions about higher education. When he’s not contributing to Scholarships360, Zach writes about travel, music, film, and culture. His work has been published in Our State Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine, The Nocturnal Times, and The Lexington Dispatch. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Taking the SAT can present certain challenges for students with disabilities. Fortunately, the College Board provides a variety of SAT accommodations for students who have documented disabilities. Accommodations are special arrangements meant to make the testing process easier. In this guide, we’ll cover the various testing accommodations available to students. We’ll also talk about eligibility requirements and request procedures.
Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool
Am I eligible for accommodations?
To be eligible for testing accommodations, students must have a disability that affects their capacity to read, write, or sit for extended periods. Examples include learning disorders, physical and medical impairments, and blindness or visual impairments. Additionally, students must provide documentation of their disability. This can be a doctor’s report or a psychoeducational evaluation. Learn more about documentation guidelines on the College Board’s website.
Temporary medical or physical conditions (such as illness or injury) are usually not considered disabilities. In these cases, the College Board recommends that students reschedule their test date for a time after they have recovered. If that is not possible, students can submit a request for temporary assistance.
What kind of testing accommodations are available?
Accommodations vary depending on the student’s individual needs. Some students may require extended time or additional breaks, while others may need some type of assistive technology. The following list is not all inclusive, but it covers the main types of accommodations provided by the College Board. If you need a different type of accommodation not listed below, you may be able to make a special request.
Extended time
Students can request extended testing time if their disability causes them to work more slowly than other students. Extended time accommodations vary depending on the student’s needs. Students may receive additional time for only certain sections of the exam, or they may receive extended time for the entire exam.
Additional breaks
The SAT includes scheduled breaks, but students with disabilities might be eligible for additional or longer breaks. For instance, students can request breaks to take medication, test their blood sugar, or rest and regain focus.
Recording responses
Some students have disabilities that impact their ability to record responses to test questions. Disabilities may include dysgraphia, visual impairments, or motor skill deficits that affect their ability to write. Fortunately, there are several accommodations available. Depending on their specific needs, students may receive a computer for word processing, a large-print answer sheet, or a scribe.
Assistive technology
Students can request assistive technology if they have visual or physical disabilities that impair their ability to read or write. Examples of assistive technology include electronic magnifying machines, text-to-speech (screen reader), speech-to-text, and electronic or talking calculators.
Use of a four-function calculator
In some cases, students can request the use of a four-function calculator for use on non calculator sections. To be eligible, students must have a diagnosed disability (such as dyscalculia) that impairs their ability to perform math calculations.
Reading and seeing accommodations
There are several accommodations available for students who have a disability that affects their capacity to read or see. Disabilities may include blindness, other visual impairments, or severe reading disabilities. Examples of accommodations include large-print test books, braille with raised line drawings, prerecorded audio, and human readers.
Related: ACT testing accommodations
How do I receive accommodations?
To receive accommodations, students must make a request and be approved by College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). There are a couple different ways to make accommodation requests, which we’ve listed below. Keep in mind that the approval process can take up to seven weeks, so it’s best to make any requests well ahead of your test date.
Requesting through the school
Most accommodation requests are made through the school since this is the easiest and most efficient way. To make their request, students should contact their school’s SSD coordinator. If you don’t know who this is, your guidance counselor should be able to point you in the right direction. From there, your SSD counselor will submit a request to the College Board through SSD Online. Learn more about this process on the College Board’s website.
Requesting without going through the school
Although most families request accommodations through their school, it’s also possible to submit a request directly to the College Board. This usually happens when the student is homeschooled, when the family does not wish to involve the school, or when the school is unable to access SSD Online. To make this type of request, the Student Eligibility Form must be completed and mailed or faxed to College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities. Learn more about this process on the College Board’s website.
Preparing for the exam
There are several SAT practice tests available for students who have made a request to use assistive technology during the exam. If you plan on using a screen reader or other assistive technology, these practice tests are a great way to find out what the actual exam will be like. Also be sure to check out our guide on free SAT prep resources. Good luck!
Related: How to improve your SAT score in 6 steps
Frequently asked questions about SAT accommodations
Can I get a SAT accommodations for anxiety?
It should also be noted that generally, test-taking anxiety will not qualify as a factor that justifies accommodations. However, we do have a list of pointers to help students with this problem do their best on standardized tests.
How far in advance do I have to request SAT accommodations?
Do students with ADHD or ADD get extra time on the SAT?
How much extra time can I get on the SAT?
Are there ESL SAT accommodations?
Do I need documentation of my disability to get SAT accommodations?
