We specialize in comprehensive psychological evaluations to support students and professionals seeking exam accommodations. We provide comprehensive assessments for individuals with ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, anxiety disorders, and other conditions that may impact test performance. The goal is to ensure they receive the necessary documentation for SAT, ACT, AP LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and Bar exam accommodations. Our evaluations meet the specific requirements of educational institutions and testing organizations, ensuring a smooth and effective accommodations request process. Please note that we cannot guarantee that you will qualify for accommodations, but if you do, we will make every effort to help you get them. Later in this post are examples of testing for Bar and AP Exam accommodations.
Exam Accommodations Overview 
Who Qualifies for Exam Accommodations?
Students with documented disabilities that impact their ability to take tests under standard conditions may qualify. This includes:
- ADHD (Inattentive, Hyperactive, Combined Type)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Learning Disabilities (e.g., Dyslexia, Dyscalculia)
- Anxiety Disorders (if they significantly affect test-taking)
Common Exam Accommodations
- Extended Time (e.g., 1.5x or 2x time)
- Distraction-Reduced or Private Testing Environment
- Use of Assistive Technology (speech-to-text, screen readers)
- Breaks
- Alternative Testing Formats (oral exams, typed instead of handwritten responses)
- Permission to Use Fidgets, Earplugs, or Noise-Canceling Headphones
Process to Get Exam Accommodations
Step 1: Obtain Documentation of Your Disability
You will need a psychological evaluation or medical documentation proving your condition affects your academic performance. This can come from:
- A licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or neuropsychologist. This is what we provide.
- A primary care doctor or specialist (for medical conditions affecting test-taking). This letter alone may not be enough.
Step 2: Submit Documentation to the Correct Administrators
- Each test has an office where requests for exam accommodations are sent.
- They may have a specific request form to complete.
- Note the deadlines and suggested timelines they publish.
Step 3: Receive an Accommodation Letter
- If approved, you’ll get an official letter listing your accommodations.
How Learning Disorders, Mental Health Issues, and ADHD Affect Performance
Exams can be particularly challenging for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and mental health conditions. These conditions can impact focus, memory, processing speed, and emotional regulation, making traditional testing environments difficult. Here’s how each can affect performance and what can help:
ADHD Accommodations
Effect:
- Executive Dysfunction: Trouble with planning, organization, and time management.
- Working Memory Issues: Difficulty retaining and recalling information under pressure.
- Impulsivity: Rushing through questions without reading instructions carefully.
- Focus Problems: Easily distracted, leading to missed or incomplete answers.
- Time Perception Issues: Underestimating how long tasks take, leading to unfinished tests.
Solution:
- Extended time (1.5x or 2x) to allow for slower processing and checking work.
- Distraction-reduced testing environment (quiet room, noise-canceling headphones).
- Use of assistive technology (text-to-speech, speech-to-text).
- Breaks during the exam to reset focus.
Learning Disorders and Exam Accommodations
Dyslexia (Reading-Based Learning Disability)
Effect:
- Slow reading speed, difficulty understanding complex questions.
- Trouble decoding words under time pressure.
- There is a higher likelihood of misreading or skipping important details.
Solutions:
- Extra time for reading-intensive tests.
- Oral test options or text-to-speech software.
- Simplified or untimed directions to reduce confusion.
Dysgraphia (Writing-Based Learning Disability)
Effect:
- Difficulty organizing thoughts into written responses.
- Poor handwriting or slow writing speed.
- Physical discomfort from prolonged writing.
Solutions:
- Use of a laptop instead of handwriting.
- Speech-to-text software for written responses.
- Extra time for written portions.
Dyscalculia (Math-Based Learning Disability)
Effect:
- Difficulty with number processing and calculations.
- Struggles with word problems and multi-step equations.
- Memory issues with formulas and math rules.
Solutions:
- Use of a calculator (if allowed).
- Extra time on math problems.
- Step-by-step breakdowns of problems provided by instructors.
Exam Stress and Mental Health Accommodations
Anxiety Disorders
Effect:
- Test anxiety can cause panic attacks, mental blocks, or racing thoughts.
- Overwhelming self-doubt may lead to second-guessing and slow progress.
- Physical symptoms (sweating, nausea, dizziness) make concentrating hard.
Solutions & Coping Strategies:
- Extra time to reduce pressure.
- Breaks during the test to manage anxiety.
- Access to a private, low-stimulation testing environment.
- Breathing exercises or grounding techniques before/during.
Depression
Effect:
- Fatigue and low energy make it hard to focus or recall information.
- Low motivation can lead to lack of preparation.
- Brain fog and slow processing speed can cause difficulty in completing tests.
Solutions & Coping Strategies:
- Testing in a quiet, low-pressure environment.
- Counseling services to address emotional challenges.
Final Thoughts
Neurodivergent students and those with mental health conditions can succeed with the right strategies and accommodations.
Case Example: Psychological Testing for Bar Exam Accommodations
Sarah, a 26-year-old law school graduate, has ADHD (Combined Type) and struggles with time management, working memory, and maintaining focus under pressure. Throughout law school, she received accommodations, including extended time and a distraction-reduced testing environment.
As she prepares, she realizes the standard testing conditions (timed, high-stakes, lengthy) will significantly impact her performance. To qualify for bar exam accommodations, she needs updated psychological testing to confirm her ADHD diagnosis and demonstrate its impact on exam performance.
Step 1: Seeking Updated Psychological Testing
Since Sarah’s last ADHD evaluation was from high school, the Bar Association requires current documentation (within 3-5 years) to apply for bar exam accommodations. She schedules a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation with us.
Testing Process:
- Clinical Interview for Bar Exam Accommodations:
- Discusses history of ADHD symptoms (since childhood).
- Reviews previous accommodations in school and law school.
- Describes specific exam-related challenges (slow reading, difficulty sustaining attention, executive dysfunction).
- Standardized ADHD & Cognitive Testing:
- WAIS-IV (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale): Measures cognitive abilities, including working memory and processing speed.
- Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement: Assesses reading, writing, and math skills under timed conditions.
- TOVA Test of Variables of Attention or Conners’ Continuous Performance Test: Evaluates sustained attention and impulsivity.
- Executive Functioning Assessments (e.g., BRIEF-A, D-KEFS): Measures planning, organization, and cognitive flexibility.
- Emotional & Psychological Assessment:
- Screening for anxiety, depression, or other conditions that may interact with ADHD.
- Self-reports and observer reports from family or past educators.
Step 2: Psychological Report & Diagnosis
We compile the results into a formal evaluation report, which includes:
- Diagnosis confirmation of ADHD (with evidence of how it affects exam performance).
- Cognitive testing data shows slow processing speed and working memory deficits.
- Recommendations for accommodations, based on how ADHD impairs her ability to complete the bar under standard conditions, would put her at a disadvantage compared to her peers.
Step 3: Submitting Bar Exam Accommodations Request
Sarah submits her application for bar exam accommodations, including:
- Psychological testing report from us.
- Personal statement explaining how ADHD impacts her test-taking.
- Law school LSAT accommodation records as supporting evidence.
- Letter from past professors or employers.
Requested Bar Exam Accommodations:
- 50% extra time (due to slow reading speed and executive dysfunction).
- Distraction-reduced testing room (to minimize focus struggles).
- Use of a computer for written portions (due to difficulty organizing thoughts on paper).
- Breaks between sections to help with cognitive fatigue.
Outcome & Lessons
After a review process, Sarah’s bar exam accommodations are approved. She takes the bar with extended time and a private room, allowing her to demonstrate her legal knowledge without ADHD-related barriers.
Key Takeaways:
- Updated documentation is crucial to getting bar exam accommodations (psychological testing within 3-5 years).
- Comprehensive testing should highlight functional impairments affecting exam performance.
- Past testing or college accommodations can support the case, but new testing is often required.
- Each state may have different requirements for bar exam accommodations—checking guidelines early is important.
Case Example: AP Exam Accommodations
Emma, a 17-year-old high school junior, has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and test anxiety. She excels in school but experiences severe anxiety during timed tests, leading to panic attacks, trouble concentrating, and mental blocks.
She is taking AP U.S. History and AP Calculus and wants to request AP exam accommodations through the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).
Step 1: Gathering Documentation
Since AP exam accommodations require formal documentation, Emma works with her school’s SSD Coordinator and us to submit a request.
Documentation Submitted:
- Psychological Evaluation Report:
- Our full psychological battery confirms her generalized anxiety disorder and test anxiety.
- It includes results from standardized anxiety assessments (e.g., Beck Anxiety Inventory, GAD-7).
- We describe how anxiety impairs her test performance (panic attacks, inability to focus, difficulty processing questions under stress) and how this affects her ability to have an equal opportunity to perform well as compared to her peers.
- We describe specific AP exam accommodations that would help
- Medical Letter from Therapist/Psychiatrist:
- Confirms ongoing treatment for anxiety.
- School Records & Prior Accommodations:
- Documentation of her 504 Plan (which provides extra time on school tests).
- Teacher’s statements support her need for AP exam accommodations.
Step 2: Requesting AP Exam Accommodations from the College Board
Emma’s SSD Coordinator submits a request through the College Board SSD Online system.
Requested AP Exam Accommodations:
- 50% extra time to allow for anxiety regulation and cognitive processing.
- Breaks as needed (stop-the-clock breaks to manage panic symptoms).
- Small-group testing environment (to reduce performance anxiety).
- Permission to use noise-canceling headphones or white noise to minimize distractions.
Step 3: College Board Decision
- The College Board reviews her request (typically 6–8 weeks).
- Her request is approved since she has a 504 Plan and a history of accommodations.
Step 4: AP Exam Accommodations That Day
On test day, Emma:
- Takes her AP exams in a small, quiet room with only a few other students.
- Has 50% extra time, allowing her to pace herself and manage anxiety.
- Uses breaks when she feels overwhelmed, helping her regain focus.
- Completes her AP exams with reduced anxiety and improved performance.
Outcome & Key Takeaways
- Early planning is key—AP exam accommodations requests must be submitted months beforehand.
- Strong documentation (from a psychologist or psychiatrist) is required.
- Approval of AP exam accommodations is more likely if a student already has an IEP or 504 Plan.
- The SSD Coordinator helps submit requests—students don’t have to apply alone.
Managing Exam Stress and Mental Health
Major tests can be overwhelming, especially if you have ADHD, autism, or anxiety. Time pressure, information overload, and high expectations can affect mental well-being. Rewgardless of accommodations, here’s how to manage stress and protect your mental health.
Understanding Exam Stress and Mental Health
This stress can show up in different ways:
- Physical: Headaches, nausea, muscle tension, fatigue
- Emotional: Anxiety, frustration, irritability, self-doubt
- Cognitive: Racing thoughts, trouble focusing, forgetfulness
- Behavioral: Procrastination, avoidance, burnout
For neurodivergent students, stress can be intensified by sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction, or difficulty regulating emotions.
Strategies to Reduce Stress
Study Smarter, Not Harder
- Use structured study plans: Break work into small, manageable tasks with specific goals.
- Pomodoro technique (25-minute focus + 5-minute break): Helps with ADHD-related focus struggles.
- Active recall & spaced repetition: Instead of re-reading, use flashcards or teach the material aloud.
- Use assistive tools: Speech-to-text, audiobooks, or apps like Quizlet & Notion can help with organization.
Regulate Anxiety & Overwhelm
- Grounding techniques: 5-4-3-2-1 (name five things you see, four things you hear, etc.).
- Deep breathing: Try box breathing (inhale 4 sec, hold 4 sec, exhale 4 sec, hold 4 sec).
- Progressive muscle relaxation: Tense and release different muscle groups to reduce tension.
Prioritize Sleep & Self-Care
- No all-nighters! Sleep strengthens memory—aim for 7–9 hours.
- Avoid cramming the night before: Do a light review and relax.
- Stay hydrated & eat brain-boosting foods: Protein, complex carbs, and Omega-3s help focus.
Move Your Body
- Short walks or stretching between study sessions boost energy and focus.
- Exercise (even mild movement like yoga or dancing) releases endorphins and reduces stress.
Coping with Anxiety
Exam stress and mental health in the room:
- Read instructions carefully before jumping in.
- Start with easier questions to build confidence.
- Use positive self-talk: Replace “I’m going to fail” with “I’ve prepared, and I’ll do my best.”
- Take deep breaths when overwhelmed to reset your nervous system.
When to Seek Support for Exam Stress and Mental Health
If exam stress leads to panic attacks, excessive worry, or impacts daily life, reach out for help:
- College counseling centers often offer free or low-cost therapy.
- A clinical psychologist or therapist can provide expert help and a toolkit of therapeutic techniques.
- We can help with academic accommodations.
- Mental health apps like Headspace, Calm, or Finch can support relaxation.
Conclusion (Why Choose Us & Next Steps)
We aim to empower every student and professional to perform at their best by providing high-quality psychological assessments and expert guidance throughout the accommodation process. We offer personalized support, timely evaluations, and clear documentation to help you secure the necessary exam accommodations you qualify for. Contact us today or schedule a consultation to learn how we can assist you in achieving academic and professional success.
