Academic Accommodations: Alternative Testing | Student Health and Wellness

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Alternative testing accommodations allow students with disabilities to fairly represent their knowledge and skills while mitigating the impact of their disability. Alternative testing accommodations can be applied to any quiz, exam, or final. Possible accommodations include, but are not limited to; extended time on exams, minimized distractions in testing environment, Use of scribe/readers, use of assistive technology.Students who wish to have alternative testing as an accommodation should follow our Process for Applying for services.

Of note: test anxiety, in and by itself, does not rise to the level of disability or impact access in taking exams. Test anxiety is NOT covered under the ADA/DSM-5.

Learn more information on our Exam Proctoring Center website.

Alternate Testing Accommodation Exampl

Alternative Testing Accommodation	Examples of Why Accommodation is Necessary
Reduced Distraction Environment/Private Room Use of a private room or a, reduced distraction room with a few other students	Distractions significantly interfere with sustained attention and focus. Clinical levels of generalized anxiety are debilitating. Student uses accommodations that would distract others (e.g., speech-recognition software, use of a scribe).
Extended Time Amount of time authorized is determined on an individual basis considering the nature and severity of the impairment as verified in the student’s documentation and the accommodations used in the interactive process.	Symptoms of disability or side effects of medications result in lowered stamina or cognitive slowing Student with a learning disability in reading, writing, or math.
Breaks Breaks provided during an assessment to address disability related concerns. Breaks should not exceed the adjusted time allotment.	Students who have diabetes may need breaks during an exam for ingestion of food or water. Student has traumatic brain injury requiring short breaks to refocus. Student has a physical disorder requiring movement to relieve muscle strain and tension.
Use of Computer and/or Computing Devices	Student has restricted use of hands or student with a learning disability may use a computer with speech-recognition software to write and/or read exams. Certain medical conditions may need to be continuously monitored - and be alerted by - an application that is installed on the individual’s smartphone.