Common Testing Accommodations
Common Accommodations
Extended Time
Students with disabilities may require additional time for taking tests and completing work in class. A student’s extended time accommodation is based on the documentation submitted to DS. Unless efficiency or speed is the essential skill that is being assessed, students with this accommodation should be provided additional time for timed tests, quizzes, and in-class writing assignments and labs. The extended time accommodation does not apply to take-home exams. Extended time ensures that a student’s performance is reflective of their mastery of the material rather than the speed at which a student performs.
Lower Distraction Environment
Students with disabilities may be approved for and request a separate “reduced distraction” testing space. This space may be a conference room, unused classroom, instructor’s office or DS Testing Center. This accommodation is a quiet space where students have few distractions and are thus better able to maintain focus.
Screen Readers for Exams
Some students with disabilities may require having exam questions read to them rather than reading the information on the screen. DS employs a variety of computer software programs that utilize text-to-speech capability and can “read” the exam aloud to a student. Disability Services discourages the use of other individuals for the purpose of reading text.
Use of a Calculator for Exams
This accommodation allows students to use a calculator as long as the calculator is unable to perform the functions that are being tested. This accommodation typically allows for the use of four-function calculator so that students who understand the concepts will not be penalized for errors in basic calculations. Instructors will approve the type of calculator to be used by the student.
Use of a Computer for Testing
Some students with disabilities will be approved for a computer to complete exams. Using a computer allows these students the opportunity to avoid physical fatigue and/or to provide legible, better-organized answers to essays. Students may use a computer in the DS testing center or a personal computer that is pre-approved by the instructor. Computers in the DS testing center allow for word processing and assistive technology programs without Internet access unless otherwise indicated..
Write on Test
Some students have difficulty completing a scantron sheet due to their disability. In these instances, the student will have “Write on Test” as an accommodation, meaning they can mark their answers directly on the test.