If you take either test and you get approved for extra time, are colleges informed that you got extra time?
@Center. Definitely not.
Even if they are informed (which according to #1 they are not.) They aren’t allowed to hold it against in anyway as you were approved by the CB to have extra time
No
Nothing is reported to the schools in terms of accommodations-colleges have no way of knowing whether or not you received extra time, at least for undergrad (I think medical schools do know if you received extra time on the MCAT, though).
Interesting: Given the huge numbers of kids getting accommodations (many are questionnable) it seems somewhat unfair that schools don’t know. I’m not saying it should be held against you but if you are applying to competitive schools you would think it would matter. Your score really doesnt equate to someone’s who had to take the same test with less time. Makes me think that kids who take the test without an accommodation might disclose that they had no accommodation.
you certainly can choose to this…
@Center If you (or your child) had severe ADHD or a processing disorder you might think differently. As someone who has worked extensively with children with ADHD, I came across many kids with very high IQs who had difficulties with timed tests due to their disability.
I use extended time because I am legally blind. I need at least 4 other accommodations as well besides just extended time. To have the ACT/SAT disclose the use of accommodations to colleges would mean discrimination, and violation of the ADA. If I were to take the ACT without accommodations, I wouldn’t even be able to take the test. LOL.
So it really bothers me when most people make the assumption that accommodations on the SAT/ACT isn’t fair. But I’m betting most of you don’t have kids with 504s or IEPs or have been through the process. (You have to provide documentation of use of accommodations in school, plus other stuff.)
None of us chose to have disabilities. Yes, some people do get away with extended time without disabilities. But they are a minority.
@equationlover you are clearly why accommodations exist and I have no issue with that. I am VERY familiar with 504s and IEPS. I also know first hand that hyper competitive parents are getting their top performing kids accommodations to get extra time on test for visual processing disorders which clearly didnt affect their admittance to andover etc but is serious enough to cause headaches after intensive reading…inconceivable
@Center - I mean no disrespect, but I’m not sure you are aware of the process to get an accommodation for either the SAT or ACT. Some people assume it is automatically given to students with an IEP or 504 Plan. However, that is not the case. The College Board requires additional cognitive testing, done by a licensed educational psychologist, and determines if accommodations are applicable based on the test results, student’s current school accommodations, and results between timed and untimed tests. The student’s school counselor, teachers, and SSD coordinator are all involved in the process of evaluation. The College Board has very strict guidelines and requirements for approval of accommodations. I don’t believe they give out approvals lightly. The College Board has lots of information on their website if you want more information: https://www.collegeboard.org/students-with-disabilities/documentation-guidelines/disability-documentation
To all with accommodations, just a reminder that even if approved for accommodations on the SAT and/or ACT, you will need to notify your college if you request services in college.
@Center , I see comments like yours fairly often. My son has extended time on all standardized tests. He is dyslexic and dysgraphic. Extended time just helps to put kids with various disabilities on a more even footing. Personally, I don’t think it’s fair that we were all taught in the same way to read and write, when for some people, learning to read and write is much more diffcult. It would be better if we all did our reading and writing in Chinese, because apparently dyslexia doesn’t exist in that language. It’s also not fair that it takes my son much longer to read things. I think everyone else should be forced to read more slowly so that they can be at his level. When my son was first tested, he scored in the 3rd percentile for spelling. I think the 97 percent of people who can spell better than him should be forced to have all reading materials printed with all the letters jumbled up so that they can be at his level. That would be fair. Actually, these days his spelling is in the 26th percentile, so maybe not every word needs to be jumbled. 74 percent jumbled words would be okay. Then it would be fair for everyone. I hope you don’t have an issue with my perspective.
@Lindagaf I think that the point is that if kids get better scores than they otherwise would and get into better schools (more rigorous) than they might otherwise then how is that fair to anyone? Maybe everyone should get 5 hours to allow for the worst sorts of disabilities. CLEARLY there are many many legitimate accommodations made. It is however abundantly clear that if you pay the right psychologist you can get a diagnosis that will enable someone to get an accommodation thereby giving straight A students an extra edge. I have been told it is very easy to do and many consultants advise on this as well.
Your point is nothing new. People with money pay for many advantages. I can’t imagine there are so many people with that kind of money who can pay for made-up learning disabilities. You are talking about probably a very small number of students. No doubt if they are paying for that, they are paying for many other advantages too. At the end of the day, if they have that much money, they might get in regardless, or if they don’t have good qualifications otherwise, and aren’t development cases, their money won’t get them in.
The famous “I’ve been told” or “I’ve heard.” Its a shame that there are people who believe licensed professionals would put those licenses in jeopardy to help students through the “simple” process of getting accommodations on standardized exams. Thankfully, we live in a world now where most appreciate that those who suffer with conditions like dyslexia and ADHD cab be just as intelligent as those who don’t.
There are many articles published on this phenomenon. No one said that those with conditions like dyslexia or ADHD arent intelligent.
@iangrodman - Yes! “Thankfully, we live in a world now where most appreciate that those who suffer with conditions like dyslexia and ADHD cab be just as intelligent as those who don’t.” The naivety that it is a “simple” process to get accommodations is an old and tired argument. It would be interesting to know how many people without accommodations use the entire allocated 3 hours and 50 minutes. I also agree with you that it is more widely accepted that students with dyslexia can be as intelligent as those who don’t; arguably it can be shown that many students with dyslexia are gifted and have a higher intelligence than many. But, that is neither here nor there…
I think the point the OP is making is that some people try to cheat the testing system by getting accommodations that they don’t need to gain an “edge” on the test. Maybe that is true, but it would have to be a long and drawn out plan. I can only speak to a dyslexia diagnosis, since that is what I have experience in. To get an accommodation, a student needs to be diagnosed with a learning disability by a licensed psychologist (typically a neuropsychologist) not just identified by a school psychologist, full cognitive tests, show a history of school accommodations, prove that additional time (or accommodation) is needed for the student to commensurate to his or her true ability level, and then have all this reviewed by the College Board. Typically students are diagnosed with Dyslexia in the third grade and have years of accommodations and tests to provide the CB. Additionally, the CB requires that current testing is done to show that the accommodations are still required. If approved for an accommodation, the student is separated from the others and takes the test with a proctor. Trust me, a 16/17 year old child does not like being singled out like that and I am sure he or she would rather be able to take the test like all the other kids.
I forgot where, but someone made a very good point:
Why would a doctor or licensed professional risk his/her hard earned license and the $100k-$200k+ salary and all its relevant professional perks to make up some fake diagnosis for a few measly thousand bucks?
OP, don’t worry so much about how the few scam the system.
@mmk2015 Totally agree with you! I don’t see why a professional would risk their license to diagnose something false! Plus, there’s more than just one evaluation they give you. For example, a doctor would give the medical disability sign off, but then a school psychologist would verify the NEED for the accommodations through special testing.
You also have to provide documentation of use of accommodations through teachers or intervention specialists. There’s also a lot more than that I won’t get into.
BUT I think it’s highly unlikely that all of these professionals would be in on it and risk there jobs. The process involves multiple people.
As many have said before, is is a VERY small minority that get accommodations who don’t actually need them.
OP, FWIW here’s my perspective. While those with accommodations do not have to inform colleges, it is my experience that most of those who need accommodations will end up somewhere within their application discussing their specific issues as they are so integral to who the student is, what they have overcome, or what their needs may be. Certainly my son will. A college will clearly be alerted to the likelihood a kid with disabilities will have accommodations, though legally the student can not be discriminated because of this.
Do some manipulate the system to get an advantage? Possibly some, but I think the percentage of students with accommodations manipulating the system to get them is a relatively small one given the difficulty to get accommodations. (Frankly, my son has several issues including mild dysgraphia. If you saw his signature you wouldn’t think it was mild. Despite counselor and neuropsychologist letters, he was denied computer use for the SAT writing. We now have to start he process over and prove that not only was he diagnosed 8th grade, but he has been using this accommodation in testing throughout high school and we may have to retest him for a current diagnosis)
Yes, it is frustrating when people manipulate the system for their own advantage, just as it is frustrating when some students have others write their essays. It is unclear to me if your issue is mainly with the cheating, or is it also with those with learning disabilities getting additional time? I sense you take issue with both as your solution is to give everyone additional time.