Securing Accommodations for College Entrance Exams: 7 Tips for Parents
SAT, PSAT, ACT… few acronyms strike more fear in the hearts of high schoolers, especially those struggling with learning disabilities. As a parent, understanding accommodation options can help you take the fear out of high-stakes testing and play an important role in your teen’s success.
Remember these tips when working to get your kid the support they need:
Pay attention to eligibility requirements
Accommodation options vary depending on the student’s diagnosis and each specific test’s criteria. The College Board administers SATs, PSATs, and AP exams while the American College Testing Program administers the ACT. Generally, eligibility requirements for these tests are similar. To secure accommodations, you must:
Prove that your student has a disability diagnosis from an accredited specialist
Provide evidence and documents of how the diagnosis impairs your student’s learning, and to what extent
Specify and justify the requested accommodations, potentially by providing pages from their IEP or 504 Plan
This list is not exhaustive, and certain tests may require additional steps for your child to secure the support they need. In all cases, however, diagnostic documentation is necessary.
2. Learn about ineligible conditions
Like IEP and 504 decisions, not all learning differences will qualify students for accommodations during college entrance exams. Commonly rejected impairments include walking or movement disabilities that don’t directly impair writing, hearing impairments (as college exams are generally written), or behavioral disorders that have not previously impacted their test-taking abilities.
3. Explore common accommodations
Test administrators will consider all reasonable requests for accommodations, hinging on the student’s supporting documentation. Common examples of requested accommodations include:
Additional time to complete the test
Additional or longer breaks during the test period
Computer use for students with language-based learning disorders or impaired writing abilities such as dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia
Use of specific tools, such as calculators with limited functions
Visual and auditory supports such as large-print test books, braille graphs, or test recordings
Generally, test administrators will consider any accommodations that a student is already provided through an existing IEP or 504 plan.
4. Research top options for your teen’s diagnosis
Parents often know what works best for their kid, but they may not be aware of every accommodation that’s available or effective for their teen’s unique diagnosis. For example, parents may request that their teen with ADHD be given extended testing time, but they may not know that some kids with ADHD perform better when testing among a small group. Consulting with an Educational Psychologist can help you learn the most effective accommodations for your student’s unique needs, and guide you through the approval process. Educational Psychologists can also provide the necessary documentation required to submit your accommodation requests.
If you suspect that your teen has a learning disability that may qualify them for test accommodations, schedule your consultation to learn about diagnostic testing
5. Don’t waste time
Requests to The College Board and ACT can take several weeks to be processed, and you aren’t guaranteed accommodations if your requests come in late. The earlier you get the ball rolling, the higher likelihood your student will be approved for accommodations in time. Visit the following links to review upcoming college entrance exam test dates.
6. Work with your school
Submitting accommodation requests can feel daunting, but you don’t need to approach the process alone. Both the College Board and ACT recommend working with your school to submit requests, taking some weight off of your family’s shoulders.
Many schools have specially authorized educators who have access to the online request systems for both The College Board and the ACT. The College Board refers to these officials as SSD Coordinators, and ACT refers to them as TC’s (Test Coordinators) or TAC’s (Test Accommodations Coordinators). Working with an SSD Coordinator or TAC can streamline the request process. In cases where coordinators are not available, a member of your student’s IEP team may be able to give you some additional advice on the process.
*Note: A coordinator is helpful, but not needed to request accommodations. Parents can complete the process on their own.
7. Consider educational consulting
Consulting with a 3rd party educational specialist can streamline the otherwise daunting process of securing college exam accommodations for your teen. Doing so will help you to gather the necessary information for submitting your request, or help you determine next steps if your request was initially denied. Whether you are struggling to understand the full request process, or you feel that your school is not meeting your student’s needs, Variations can help.
So you know you need help, but aren’t sure how
to find the right help?
If a loved one has a learning difference or other condition that impacts their mental health and education, you may feel lost in determining the best ways to support them.
Our Diagnosticians can provide psychological testing to remove the
guess-work and guide your family on the best path toward mental health, emotional wellness, and academic success.
Subscribe to our blog on topics that affect your life:
Click below to schedule your consultation
Click below to subscribe to Psychologically Speaking
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the highlighted topic. For a full consultation, and personalized assessment plan, schedule an appointment below
with one of our specialists.
More about Variations Psychology
Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions.
Our comprehensive evaluations test for conditions that impact mental health and development such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and developmental delays.
In addition to diagnostic services, we offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) of K-12 students to assess needs for accommodations in school and determine their appropriate placements. IEEs provide an objective second opinion on existing IEP and 504 Plans.
For K-12 and post-secondary students, we offer evaluations to assess needs for accommodations on standardized tests, college entrance exams (e.g. - SAT, ACT, AP Exams) and graduate and professional licensing exams (e.g. - MCAT, LSAT, GRE, CBEST, NCLEX, GMAT, CA Cosmetology Exam, CA Contractors State Licensing Exam, CA Bar Exam).
Schedule your consultation below to learn how our diagnostic services can support you and your family.
Variations Psychology is located in Newport Beach, CA and provides psychological testing to residents throughout Orange County and its surrounding areas including Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Irvine, Shady Canyon, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Pelican Hill, Crystal Cove, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, and more.
References:
American College Testing (n.d.). National vs Special: Which Type of Learner Support to Select. ACT.org. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/dam/a ct/unsecured/documents/Accommodations-National-Special.pdf
American College Testing (n.d.). Requesting Accommodations and English Learner Supports. ACT.org. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Accommodations-Infographic-Student.pdf
College Board (n.d.). Services for Students with Disabilities. CollegeBoard.org. Retrieved from https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/
Shinn. M.M. (2026). 6 Misconceptions About IEP Eligibility. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/6-misconceptions-about-iep-eligibility-
Shinn. M.M. (2023). 6 Things to Know About Your Student’s Math Struggles. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/6-things-to-know-about-your-students-math-struggles
Shinn. M.M. (2025). Educational Evaluations: Should I Get My Kid Tested this Summer? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/educational-evaluations-should-i-get-my-kid-tested-this-summer
Shinn. M.M. (2020). Understanding Education Plans: A Parent’s Guide to 504s and IEPs. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/understanding-education-plans-a-parents-guide-to-504s-and-ieps
Shinn. M.M. (2024). What Parents Need to Know About Dysgraphia: The Learning Disability that Impairs Writing. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blog/what-parents-need-to-know-about-dysgraphia-the-learning-disability-that-impairs-writing
How to Cite This Blog Article:
Shinn. M.M. (2026). TITLE. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from (https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/Securing%20Accommodations%20for%20College%20Entrance%20Exams:%207%20Tips%20for%20Parents)