Does Your Child Need Testing Accommodations?

SAT or ACT? It might not seem like there’s much difference between the two college admissions tests. But, in fact, there is. And depending on your child’s learning and attention issues, one test may be a better fit than the other.

One thing to think about is whether your child needs accommodations. To get accommodations, he’ll have to show documentation of a disability. And accommodations may have to appear in his Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. Your child may be required to explain in writing how specific accommodations can help address his limitations.

Most students work with their school to apply for accommodations. Your child will complete a consent form for his school. The school then requests accommodations on his behalf. Applications may be due at the time he applies for his test—or before.

SAT

Beginning in Spring 2016, the SAT will focus on knowledge and skills that current research shows are most essential for college and careers. It will be designed to better capture what students have learned in class. Your child might prefer the SAT if he:

• Works slowly.
• Reads a lot and has a strong vocabulary. (Though the new version will shift from testing obscure words to more “collegiate” words, vocabulary is still important.)
• Thinks “outside the box.” (Questions tend to test problem-solving ability rather than factual knowledge.)
• Writes well. (The essay section will be optional, but the test will still include reading and writing sections.)

The SAT’s accommodations for students with documented learning and attention issues are generous. They include:

• Presentation. (This includes large print, a reader and oral presentation.)
• Responding. (Dictation, a tape recorder and large block answer sheets can help.)
• Timing. (Extended time and frequent breaks are allowed.)
• Setting. (This can mean a small group setting, special room and adaptive equipment.)

The College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities page explains who is eligible for accommodations. It also outlines how to apply for them and how to make use of them.

ACT

The ACT leans toward testing what students learn in school instead of assessing ability. Slightly more high school students now take the ACT than the SAT.

Your child might prefer the ACT if he:

• Works quickly.
• Excels in math and science. (The SAT only tests math; ACT tests math and science.)
• Prefers seeing questions like he sees on school tests.
• Struggles with essay writing. (The ACT essay is optional, but may be required by target schools.)

The ACT offers two accommodations options. Your child may choose only one:

• National Extended Time. (This gives students up to 50% more time, with breaks.)
• Special Testing (at school). Your child can test at school with extended time and alternate formats instead of at a test center.

If your child gets time-and-a-half for tests, he may need to take the test over multiple days. Other accommodations include alternate test formats like cassettes, DVDs or a reader; a computer or scribe for essays, and alternate response modes, such as responding orally.

Visit the ACT’s Services for Students with Disabilities page for an explanation of available accommodations and directions on how to apply for them.

If standardized testing is a real challenge for your child, it’s good to know that more and more colleges are becoming test-optional. But most still require either the SAT or ACT for admission. Knowing the basic differences between the two can help your child pick the best test for him.