Extra Time on Tests

There are a number of physical and cognitive difficulties that can prevent a student from satisfactorily displaying their knowledge of course material within a limited time period. These include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Sight and mobility impairments

  • Visual processing speed

  • Information retrieval speed

  • Reading decoding, comprehension, and speed

  • Attention and focus

  • Organization skills

  • Sequencing skills

 

The Specialist determines how much extra time is necessary in order to remove the barriers imposed by time limits. To do this, we must take several factors into consideration, including the following:

  • The specific functional limitations of the student

  • The severity of these limitations

  • The format of the test or exam

  • The length of the test or exam

  • The course subject

  • The necessary accommodations

 

Here’s an example: Sally Student has difficulty with verbal comprehension; i.e. she does not correctly interpret printed material when she reads it, but she does understand it when the material is read aloud to her. An appropriate accommodation for this student may be to record the test being read aloud. Sally is going to take more time to complete the test than a student who can read the test himself. Additionally, a multiple choice test, with extensive answer choices, is going to take the student longer to listen to than, say, an essay test with brief writing prompts.

A 1992 study by the College Board revealed that the largest number of test-takers with learning disabilities required more than time and one-half, but less than double time to reach the same rate of completion as non-LD test-takers on the SATs. A 1994 study completed by Arline Halper, Ed.D. at UCLA showed that the greater the length of the exam, the less extra time was needed. Therefore, the standard at UCLA is to provide 75% to 100% more time to complete time-limited midterm exams, while students taking three-hour final exams will generally receive 50% more time.

Glendale College follows these general guidelines established by UCLA. Most often, double time is given.