The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) provides accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities or health-related needs to ensure fair access to the test. The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, follows the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide appropriate GRE accommodations for test-takers.
How to Apply for GRE Accommodations:
- Create an ETS account: First, register for the GRE through your ETS account.
- Submit a request for GRE accommodations:
- Fill out a Testing Accommodations Request Form, which is available on the ETS website.
- When completing the form, specify the GRE accommodations you need.
- Provide documentation: You’ll need to submit documentation of your disability or health condition from a qualified professional. This would include our psychological testing report, which will include:
- A diagnosis and description of the disability or condition.
- Information about how the disability impacts your ability to take the test.
- Recommendations for GRE accommodations based on your condition.
- Submit your request for GRE accommodations.
- Upload the completed form and documentation through your ETS account or send it via email, mail, or fax to ETS Disability Services.
- Review and decision process: ETS will review your request and the accompanying documentation. This process typically takes up to 6 weeks. This means you should contact us at least 90 days before your exam.
Example: Extended Time on the GRE
A 25-year-old woman named Sarah, with a history of anxiety, contacted us so she could apply for extended time on the GRE. She feels that her test-taking anxiety requires specific strategies that create the need for extra time and that she needs breaks to finish the exam effectively. We provide three standardized tests: The Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Personality Assessment Inventory, and the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function. We also talk to her and her therapist.
Our testing reveals that Sarah’s anxiety does reach the level of a disability and that it would significantly affect her ability to take the exam on equal footing as her peers. We provide her with a report that outlines this and suggests extended time on the GRE, including the ability to take breaks. She contacted us well before her exam date to get her extended time on the GRE approved and sign up for a location that provides them with plenty of time.
Getting extended time on the GRE and other accommodations is fair, straightforward, and intensive. To be fair to everyone, these changes are only meant for those who need them.
GRE Accommodations Testing: Case Example for Extended Time on the GRE and More
Alex is a college senior with diagnosed ADHD and high-functioning autism. She struggles with focusing for extended periods, processing information quickly, and managing sensory sensitivities in testing environments.
ADHD Testing for Extended Time on the GRE Comprehensive Interview
– Review of developmental, academic, and medical history. Behavior Rating Scales
– Self-reports and/or reports from parents/teachers using standardized scales like:
- Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS)
- Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale (BAARS-4)
Cognitive Testing (for attention and executive functioning deficits):
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV or V): Measures working memory, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility.
- Continuous Performance Tests (CPTs) (e.g., TOVA or Conners CPT): Measures sustained attention and impulsivity.
Autism Testing for GRE Accommodations
- Autism Spectrum Rating Scales (ASRS): Measures symptoms and behaviors across various domains.
- Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2): Evaluates social communication challenges.
Academic Testing
- Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-4) or Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV): Evaluates reading, writing, and math skills.
Processing Speed and Executive Functioning Tests
- Trail Making Test (TMT) Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)
Outcome
Psychoeducational evaluation report with the following requested exam accommodations:
- Extended Time on the GRE: 50% extra time to allow for processing delays.
- Separate Testing Room: To minimize distractions from other test-takers.
- Extra Breaks: To help with sensory regulation and avoid burnout.
- Paper-Based Test: Instead of a computer-based version to reduce screen fatigue.
- Permission to Use Noise-Canceling Headphones: To block out distracting noises.
ETS decision regarding GRE accommodations: After submitting our report and other information about her previous accommodations history, Alex was approved for extended time, a separate room, headphones, and extra breaks. However, the request for a paper-based test was denied since the GRE is primarily digital. We refer Alex to a clinical psychologist specializing in therapy for ADHD to help her work on strategies for taking a screen-based test.
