The SAT tries to even the playing field for students with documented disabilities by providing a variety of SAT testing accommodations. The most common one is extended time (or “extra time”), but there are many others to fit the needs of every student. If you may be eligible for SAT accommodations, it’s important to make sure you know how to apply for them and what to expect during the application process. Read on to learn more about how to get accommodations for the SAT.
What accommodations are there for the SAT?
The College Board grants SAT testing accommodations to students who have documented disabilities that impact their ability to take the test. Let’s break down what that means.
- If you have a documented disability such as a learning disorder or visual, medical, physical, or motor disorder (among others), you may be eligible to receive accommodations.
- Beyond having a disability, you must have documentation demonstrating that your disability will impact your ability to take the standard administration of the SAT.
- Lastly, you have to demonstrate that you actually need the applied-for accommodations. Much of the time, having similar accommodations at school is helpful and/or necessary.
If you are deemed eligible for an accommodation, the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) will determine exactly which accommodations they consider to be necessary. Some common accommodations that students can get on the SAT include:
- 50% extended time (“time and a half”)
- 100% extended time (“double time”)
- Extra and/or extended breaks
- Braille or large-print exams
- The ability to record answers in the test book rather than on an answer sheet
- Prerecorded audio of test questions
This is far from an exhaustive list; if you’re curious about whether you may be able to get a different accommodation for the SAT, you can find a more comprehensive breakdown of available accommodations on College Board’s website.
How do I apply for SAT test accommodations?
Most students have their school help them apply for accommodations. This is usually the easiest option, as your school guidance counselor (or other SSD Coordinator) may already have experience applying for SAT accommodations, is often familiar with both you and your circumstances, and may even already have all required documentation on hand. If you apply through your school, here are the steps you will take:
- Your SSD Coordinator gains access to SSD Online.
- Your parent or guardian provides consent for the SSD Coordinator to apply for accommodations on your behalf.
- Your SSD Coordinator requests accommodations.
- If necessary, your SSD Coordinator provides documentation.
- SSD reviews all information, comes to a decision, and then notifies you and your SSD Coordinator accordingly.
It’s important to note that while it’s often easier for students to get SAT accommodations through their school, a student who is homeschooled or who doesn’t wish to involve their school in the application process for whatever reason may also apply for accommodations without going through the school.
Whichever path you choose to take, it is very important that you apply for SAT accommodations early. The College Board website states that decisions may take up to a full 7 weeks after all documentation has been received. If you then need to submit additional documentation or another accommodations request, it may even take another 7 weeks on top of that before you receive your final decision. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to complete the process in advance of your test date—you can view a calendar with accommodation deadlines for each SAT administration here.
If you have already applied for and received accommodations for another test through the College Board (such as the PSAT or AP Test), you may not need to request additional accommodations unless your situation has changed.
If students have any questions or concerns about any step of this process, I always advise that they reach out to the College Board’s SSD directly.
How do I get better at the SAT?
That wraps up our overview of how to get SAT testing accommodations. The best way to get more information about how to get extra time or other accommodations on the SAT is by contacting the College Board directly, or by consulting with the official at your school in charge of the application process. If you’re looking for support with any other aspect of the test to help you get better at the SAT, head over to GoTutor’s SAT prep headquarters. Our team of experienced SAT tutors has designed several courses that can help you get better at the test and crush the SAT.