Time can make all the difference for disability accommodations, standardized test accommodations.
Standardized exams are high-stakes, and for many, the time constraints can feel like an insurmountable barrier. Your future can feel dependent on a single test score, and if you have a condition that affects your processing speed, attention, or reading, the clock can be your biggest enemy.
Throughout your educational career have you found it difficult to complete a test in the allotted time? Do you have trouble paying attention during a test? Do timed tests cause you greater anxiety?
If you are diagnosed with a condition which penalizes you for slow performance, such as a learning disability or ADHD, you may be eligible for accommodations. These can include significantly more time on classroom exams and crucial standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, or USMLE.
Why a Professional Evaluation is Required
Testing agencies have a complex set of requirements that you must meet to be considered for accommodations. They require a current, comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation (sometimes called a psychoeducational evaluation) in which specific tests are administered and reported in a precise format. The report must include detailed information about your condition and history. Unless these instructions are carefully followed, the report will be rejected, and you will be denied accommodations. A simple letter or statement from your doctor is not adequate.
Depending on your diagnosis you may be eligible for one or more of the following test accommodations: * Additional time (1.5 time or double time) * Testing in a quiet environment * A designated reader for testing * A designated scribe for testing * Enlarged Scantron answer sheets
Our Expertise Makes the Difference
At the Cognitive Assessment Group, we perform several of these evaluations each week and have successfully helped thousands of individuals secure the accommodations they need. Our reports are produced by a Board Certified Neuropsychologist who specializes in this work. We have helped our patients receive:
- ACT accommodations
- GMAT accommodations
- LSAT accommodations
- MCAT accommodations
- USMLE accommodations
- CFA accommodations
- And many other school and professional accommodations
We don’t just provide a report; we guide you in putting your information together for the school, college, university, or testing agency so that you have the best advantage with your request.
Get Accommodation Testing Started in NYC, Chicago, or via Telehealth
We provide evaluations for testing accommodations at our offices in New York City and Chicago. We also offer telehealth evaluations for clients in 43 states via our certification in PsyPACT. Contact us to learn more.
Call Us Today to Discuss Your Evaluation for Classroom or Standardized Test Accommodations
New York or Chicago: +1(212) 784-6105
Frequently Asked Questions
Most testing agencies, like the College Board (SAT) or LSAC (LSAT), require a recent and comprehensive neuropsychological or psychoeducational evaluation report. This report must be from a qualified professional, detail your diagnosis, and include specific test scores that support the need for accommodations. A simple doctor’s note or letter is not sufficient.
A comprehensive evaluation typically involves an initial consultation, several hours of direct testing spread over one or two sessions, and a feedback session. The entire process, including the final detailed report, is usually completed within two to four weeks. We can often expedite this timeline if you have an urgent deadline. There is a supplemental fee for expediting reports.
The most common accommodation is extended time, usually 1.5x or 2x the standard time. Other common accommodations include a separate, quiet testing room, extra breaks, use of a scribe or reader, and enlarged print test materials.
Yes. It is common for conditions like ADHD or learning disabilities to be formally diagnosed in adulthood. As long as the current evaluation provides clear evidence of a disability that substantially affects a major life activity, you can be approved for accommodations regardless of when you were diagnosed.
While our comprehensive evaluations provide the specific, detailed evidence required by testing agencies, the final decision rests with the agency itself. However, our team has extensive experience and a very high success rate in providing reports that meet their strict criteria, giving you the best possible chance for approval.
Testimonial
Great news.
I rec’d an email from the ACT. (Patient) was approved for extended time!!
Much appreciation for your efforts. When Andrea has time we will appreciate it if she can mail back to me (Patient’s) records.
Thank you again. We are all so happy!Patient approved for accommodations on ACT exam.
August 4, 2014