Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Accommodations are typically approved when three conditions are met: a professional diagnosis is in place, the condition clearly affects test performance, and the student already uses accommodations in school.

Step 2: Gather Documentation

Pull together your student’s IEP or 504 plan, the most recent psychoeducational evaluation, and supporting letters from teachers or providers. Incomplete files are one of the most common reasons requests are delayed.

Step 3: Check Evaluation Dates

Testing agencies expect current documentation. If your student’s evaluation is more than a few years old, plan for an updated assessment well before the request deadline.

Step 4: Partner With the School

The school’s accommodations coordinator manages submissions. Because this person’s schedule is full, give them plenty of lead time and stay in regular communication.

Step 5: Select Test Dates

Know which exams your student will take and map deadlines backward. Planning several months ahead reduces the chance of missing key cutoffs.

Step 6: Submit the Request

Requests go through the College Board system for SAT, PSAT, and AP exams, and through the ACT system for ACT test dates. The school submits, but parents must make sure everything is in order.

Step 7: Meet the Deadlines

For the SAT, requests are due seven to eight weeks before test day. For the ACT, requests must be in by the registration deadline, about four to five weeks before the test. Submitting later almost always creates problems.

Step 8: Wait for Review

Decisions are not instant. College Board reviews can take several weeks, while ACT reviews usually take about two. If anything is missing, the clock resets, so time buffers are essential.

Step 9: Respond Quickly if Asked

Testing agencies may request more documentation. A slow response from families can push approval past the test date. Build in extra weeks to allow for this possibility.

Step 10: Confirm and Apply

Once approved, double-check that accommodations are connected to your student’s test date. College Board approvals usually last through high school. ACT approvals must be updated for each new test registration.

Why Early Planning Matters

Families who wait until junior year often find themselves up against tight deadlines, scrambling for updated evaluations, or stuck with an incomplete file. Starting early—ideally in freshman or sophomore year—creates space to refresh documentation, partner with the school, and appeal if needed.

A Parent’s Checklist

• Begin the process early in high school.
  
• Confirm eligibility through diagnosis, documented need, and school use.
  
• Keep evaluations current.
  
• Communicate with your school’s coordinator well ahead of deadlines.
  
• Submit requests months in advance.
  
• Verify that approvals are tied to each test date.
  
  

Testing accommodations can make a meaningful difference, but only if the groundwork is laid on time. Early planning is the single most important factor in ensuring your student is supported on test day.