The College Board, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE all offer testing accommodations for students with disabilities, including medical conditions and anxiety. Accommodations a student receives at school don’t carry over on their own: each testing organization (College Board, ACT, and E3n (SSAT and ISEE)) has to approve them.
Approval takes several steps, so start early and work with your school or consultant. Policies change every year, so confirm details on each organization’s website.
Choose your test
-
College Board
SAT, PSAT & AP Exams
- Approved by
- College Board SSD
- Approval time
- 2–7 weeks
- Next request deadline
- See the deadlines below
-
ACT
College admission
- Approved by
- ACT, after your school submits the request
- Approval time
- 5–10 business days
- Next request deadline
- See the deadlines below
-
SSAT
Private school admission
- Approved by
- E3n
- Approval time
- Up to 2 weeks
- Deadline
- Be approved before you register
-
ISEE
Private school admission
- Approved by
- E3n
- Approval time
- Up to 2 weeks
- Deadline
- Be approved before you register
College Board Testing Accommodations (SAT, PSAT & AP Exams)
Students with a documented disability may qualify for accommodations on the SAT, PSAT, and AP Exams. Once approved, accommodations generally apply across all College Board tests, so most students apply only once. See the College Board’s accommodations overview.
Who qualifies
The student must:
- Have a documented disability (see Providing Documentation and Disability Documentation Guidelines)
- Have a disability that affects their participation in College Board exams, such as their ability to concentrate
- Need the accommodation they’re requesting
- Receive that accommodation on school tests
What accommodations are available
The College Board groups accommodations into Typical Accommodations and Other Accommodations. They include:
- Extended time: time and a half, double time, or more (including testing over multiple days)
- Extra and extended breaks
- Reading and seeing accommodations, such as large-type or Braille test books
- A four-function calculator
- Small group testing
Good to know
Approval usually carries across the SAT, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and AP Exams, but list the accommodations needed for each test. A student approved for extended time in math only, for example, won’t get extended time on AP English Literature.
Some accommodations work differently by program. On AP Exams, extended time doesn’t include extra breaks; those need their own request. Some also work differently on digital tests.
How to apply
- Contact your school counselorAs early as possibleEvery school has a College Board Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) coordinator who submits requests. How school requests work
- Sign the Parent Consent FormBefore the school submitsComplete the Parent Consent Form and return it to the school.
- Wait for a decision2–7 weeksSubmit before the request deadline for your test date (below).
No school support? You can submit a paper request directly to the College Board.
College Board request deadlines
| Test date | Request deadline |
|---|---|
| November 7, 2026 (SAT) | September 18, 2026 |
| December 5, 2026 (SAT) | October 16, 2026 |
| March 6, 2027 (SAT) | January 15, 2027 |
| May 3–14, 2027 (AP Exams) | January 22, 2027 |
| May 1, 2027 (SAT) | March 12, 2027 |
| June 5, 2027 (SAT) | April 16, 2027 |
“Suggested start” is four weeks before the deadline, to give your school time to prepare the request.
PSAT deadlines depend on the day the student tests. See College Board dates and deadlines.
After approval
- Tell the school’s SSD coordinator or counselor which College Board tests the student will take with accommodations.
- When registering for the SAT, answer “Yes” to the accommodations question. It’s easy to miss, and skipping it can mean accommodations aren’t applied on test day.
- Already registered when approval arrives? Contact the College Board SSD office to confirm the accommodations will apply to that date.
- Keep the approval letter and the student’s SSD ID number. You’ll need the SSD ID to register and for future requests.
Approved for extended time? Practice under the same conditions: our SAT practice tests are offered with standard and extended time.
ACT Testing Accommodations
Students with an IEP or 504 plan at school (under IDEA or Section 504) are automatically eligible for ACT’s allowable testing accommodations when they register with accommodations. ACT offers two categories: National Extended Time and Special Testing. The ACT Policy for Accommodations Documentation explains the process.
Register for a test date first. Your school can’t submit the accommodations paperwork until the student is registered for an ACT date, even one they won’t end up taking.
Who qualifies
The student must meet all of these:
- A professional has diagnosed and documented the disability (criteria for diagnostic documentation)
- The disability directly affects performance on ACT tests
- The documentation describes current or past accommodations in similar settings, especially school tests
No IEP or 504 plan (for example, at a private school)?
Submit a report or letter from a qualified, licensed professional. It must identify a diagnosed physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and request accommodations that are appropriate for it. See ACT’s documentation guidelines by disability type.
What accommodations are available
National Extended Time: for students who need no more than 50% extra time.
- 50% extended time
- Large-type (18-point) test booklet
- Help marking answers in the test booklet
- An approved word-to-word dictionary
Special Testing: for any need beyond 50% extended time. Usually given at the student’s school by a Testing Coordinator, or at a nearby site that can provide the accommodations.
- More than 50% extended time, or testing over multiple days
- Alternate formats: braille, audio, or a reader
- A scribe or computer for the writing test, or extended time on the writing test only
- The option to request My Answer Key on any MAK date
Compare the two in ACT’s National vs. Special Testing infographic.
How to apply
- Register for a test date on MyACTFirstComplete the student profile to start the request.
- Forward the confirmation email to your schoolRight after registeringSend it to the student’s designated school official.
- The school submits the request in TAABefore the late registration deadlineTAA is ACT’s accommodations system.
- Wait for a decision5–10 business daysACT sends a Decision Notification listing the approved accommodations.
Can’t find a test location? Once you’ve tried your own options, ACT will try contacting 3 schools within 40 miles of your home; you’ll need to be flexible about dates and times. Contact ACT or read ACT’s full request instructions.
ACT request deadlines
| Test date | Request deadline |
|---|---|
| December 12, 2026 (ACT) | November 6, 2026 |
| February 27, 2027 (ACT) | January 22, 2027 |
| April 10, 2027 (ACT) | March 5, 2027 |
| June 12, 2027 (ACT) | May 7, 2027 |
| July 10, 2027 (ACT) | June 4, 2027 |
After approval
- Keep the Decision Notification. It lists the approved accommodations and the student’s TAA PIN.
- Before test day, ACT emails the student to confirm and asks them to reprint the admission ticket. Check it carefully: the test center may have changed.
- Upload the student’s photo by that test date’s photo deadline, or the registration will be cancelled.
- Not using the accommodations after all? Contact ACT Accommodations at least ten days before the test. Your preferred test center may not be available.
Approved for extended time? Our practice tests are offered with standard and extended time.
SSAT Accommodations
Students with a documented disability may qualify for SSAT accommodations. E3n, the organization behind the SSAT, reviews requests; its Testing Accommodations Guide for Students walks through the process.
Who qualifies
Students with a documented condition or impairment that substantially limits one of these:
- Seeing
- Hearing
- Speaking
- Reading
- Concentrating
- Thinking
- Communicating
- Learning
What accommodations are available
- Presentation: changes how test content is presented, such as large-type or Braille test books
- Item response: other ways to answer and organize questions, such as assistive technology
- Setting: testing in a separate location to reduce distractions
- Timing or scheduling: extended time, or changing the order of the test
- Participation: using otherwise prohibited devices or equipment to manage individual needs
How to apply
- Apply online for accommodationsBefore registeringStart on E3n’s accommodations page.
- Wait for approvalAllow at least two weeksE3n recommends this lead time before the registration deadline for testing with accommodations.
- Register for a testAfter approvalChoose a standard or Flex test (below).
Deadlines
There’s no separate request deadline table. Count back at least 3–4 weeks from the registration-with-accommodations deadline for your test date.
After approval
Standard test
Register once accommodations are approved, before the registration-with-accommodations deadline.
Registration stays open until test day, but it depends on whether the test administrator can provide the accommodations and E3n can provide any special materials.
Not sure which accommodations your student needs? Read E3n’s accommodations website, talk to school professionals, or email [email protected].
Preparing for the SSAT? Request a tutor or call us at 203.352.3500.
ISEE Accommodations
Students with a documented disability may qualify for ISEE accommodations, which are reviewed by E3n.
Who qualifies
The student must meet all of these:
- Have a diagnosed disability that requires testing accommodations
- Have current documentation that supports the requested accommodations
- Regularly receive and use the requested accommodations in school
Accepted documentation (must be current):
- Formal testing, such as a psycho-educational evaluation
- An IEP or 504 Plan
- A school accommodation plan
- A letter from the student’s physician°
°A physician’s letter is enough for a medically treated condition, such as a vision impairment, deafness, paralysis, ADD, ADHD, or a physical disability.
What accommodations are available
- Extended time
- Large print or Braille tests
- Distraction-free rooms
ISEE accommodations include, but aren’t limited to, these.
How to apply
- Create a parent accountFirstSet up a parent account and submit a request for your student.
- Have the school complete the request formAfter you submitYou’ll receive the ISEE Accommodation Request Form; the student’s school completes, signs, and dates it.
- Send the supporting documentationWith the formSee accepted documentation above.
- Wait for a decision by emailUp to 2 weeksYou can register for a test only after the decision arrives.
Deadlines
There’s no separate request deadline. Because you can’t register until E3n decides, allow at least two weeks before your test’s registration deadline.
After approval
- Register for a test. Not every test center offers every accommodation.
- If no test center can provide the accommodations, arrange private proctoring through the admission office of one of the schools your student is applying to.
- Reapply every 15 months if accommodations are still needed.
Preparing for the ISEE? Request a tutor or call us at 203.352.3500.
Frequently asked questions
Will colleges know my child tested with accommodations?
No. Colleges are not told whether a student received testing accommodations.
My child has an IEP or 504 plan at school. Does that carry over automatically?
Not automatically. Each testing organization must approve accommodations, even for students who already receive them at school. For the ACT, students with an IEP or 504 plan are automatically eligible for ACT’s allowable accommodations when they register with accommodations. For the College Board and ISEE, receiving the accommodation at school is one of the eligibility requirements.
Can anxiety or a medical condition qualify?
Yes. Testing organizations offer accommodations for students with disabilities, including medical conditions and anxiety, when the condition is documented. For the ISEE, a physician’s letter is sufficient documentation for a medically treated condition such as ADD, ADHD, or a vision impairment.
My child’s school doesn’t offer IEPs or 504 plans. What are our options?
For the College Board, families can submit a paper request directly. For the ACT, submit a report or letter from a qualified, licensed professional. For the ISEE, accepted documentation includes a psycho-educational evaluation, a school accommodation plan, or a physician’s letter.
Do we need to reapply for every test?
For College Board tests, usually not: approval generally carries across the SAT, PSAT, and AP Exams, though you should list the accommodations needed for each test. ISEE accommodations must be renewed every 15 months. For the ACT and SSAT, confirm with the testing organization.
How early should we start?
As early as possible. College Board approval can take two to seven weeks, ACT requests take 5–10 business days once the school submits them, and SSAT/ISEE decisions can take up to two weeks through E3n.
Questions about accommodations or test prep?
We’re happy to help you plan! Email us at [email protected] or call us at 203.352.3500.
