Eligibility
When you first consider seeking accommodations on College Board tests, it may help if you view the Dear Parent letter (.pdf/43k) This letter offers a broad explanation of what is included in the College Board's eligibility process. It also explains that there may be differences in school-based procedures for identifying and receiving accommodations and the College Board's procedures for offering accommodations on its tests.
What are the College Board's eligibility requirements?
If you have a documented disability you may be eligible for accommodations on College Board tests (i.e., SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP, PSAT). If you are seeking accommodations on a College Board test, you must complete a Student Eligibility Form.
Instructions for Completing the Student Eligibility Form (.pdf/113K).
To be eligible, you must:
- have a disability that necessitates testing accommodations,
- have documentation on file at your school that supports the need for requested accommodations and meets the Guidelines for Documentation, and
- receive and use the requested accommodations, due to the disability, for school-based tests.
If any of these requirements are not met, you may still be eligible. You may send your disability documentation with the Student Eligibility Form to the College Board for review and determination. The disability documentation must adhere to the Guidelines for Documentation on page 1 of the Instructions.
What disabilities make you eligible for accommodations?
There are many disabilities that impact a student's academic functioning. Here are a few:
- Blindness/Vision Impairment
- AD/HD (formerly known as A.D.D. /A.D.H.D.)
- Learning Disabilities
- Deafness/Hearing Impairment
- Certain Medical Conditions
- Certain Physical Disabilities
- Certain Psychiatric Conditions
How do I know if I am eligible?
- Do I have a diagnosed disability that makes it difficult for me to learn and take tests in the traditional manner?
- Do I have documentation on file at school showing that I have a disability that requires testing accommodations and addresses each of the information categories in the Guidelines for Documentation?
- Have I received accommodations for tests I took in school?
If the answer is yes to these questions, and you wish to take College Board tests, accommodations may be appropriate for you.
What types of accommodations are available on College Board tests?
The College Board's procedures for determining appropriate accommodations on its tests provide for considerable flexibility or customization to accommodate your special needs (for greater detail, visit Accommodations). There are four major categories for testing accommodations:
- Presentation (e.g., large print; reader; Braille; Braille device for written responses; visual magnification; audio amplification; audiocassette; sign/oral presentations),
- Responding (e.g., verbal/dictated to scribe; tape recorder; computer without grammar/cut & paste features; large block answer sheet),
- Timing/scheduling (e.g., frequent breaks; extended time; multiple day; specified time of day), and
- Setting (e.g., small group setting; private room; special lighting/acoustics; adaptive/special furniture/tools; alternative test site [with proctor present]; preferential seating).
What happens if I have a temporary disability? Should I apply for a testing accommodation?
If you have a temporary disability, such as a broken arm, and cannot take an upcoming test for which you have registered, you should register for a test on a later date when the temporary disability has healed. This is the process for the SAT tests that are administered throughout the academic year. However, if you are planning to take a test that is only administered annually (e.g., AP exams; PSAT/NMSQT), your school and or you may contact the College Board at (609) 771-7137 to inquire if it would be possible for you to test with temporary accommodations (all contact information is on page 8 of the Instructions).
