Skip to main content
If you are wondering how to get accommodations for the SAT and ACT, this post is a good place to start. You’ll get an overview of the process along with links to helpful resources. Please keep in mind that Summit offers extended time options for our free practice tests. If you’ve read any of our other articles, you have learned that taking a practice test is the first step in test preparation for your student.
GETTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Students who have documented learning differences (or English Learners) may qualify for accommodations from both the College Board and the ACT. While 50% extended time (i.e. time and a half) is the most common accommodation, other types are outlined in the table below.
The most efficient way to apply for accommodations is by working with your school to submit requests. In fact, the testing organizations strongly encourage this. Many schools have a designated educator who coordinates and submits the accommodations applications on your behalf on the testing organizations’ websites. School officials offer the advantage of having gone through the process with other students.
It’s important to start the process early. The College Board states on their website that it can take up to 7 weeks for accommodations requests to be approved, although in our experience if you’ve submitted all of the required documentation notification is usually faster. Once approved by the College Board, your accommodation applies to all their assessments: PSAT, SAT, and AP Exams. The ACT states that you will be notified within 10 to 14 business days of receiving your accommodations application. Once granted, your eligibility will apply to all future ACT test dates.
DEADLINES FOR ACCOMMODATIONS APPLICATIONS
You must submit a separate application to each testing organization – ACT and the College Board — if you wish to qualify for accommodations on all the tests (ACT, SAT, PSAT, Subject Tests, AP Exams). Click the links below to see their published deadlines for requests:
SAT accommodations request deadlines.
ACT accommodations request deadlines are due by the late registration date for each test date.
STEPS FOR REQUESTING TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Your steps for applying to both organizations are similar:
- Determine eligibility
- Gather the proper documentation
- Submit the application in consultation with your school
- Appeal the decision if denied
Once students are granted approval from the College Board, these accommodations may be used on all College Board tests — SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and AP exams — throughout their high school testing. Accommodations granted for the ACT are carried forward to all future ACT tests.
As always, please feel free to reach out with your questions by contacting us directly or using the comments box at the end.
