Standardized admissions tests offer accommodations for individuals with disabilities to ensure they can take the test on an equal footing with others. Provided under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), GRE, MCAT, GMAT, and LSAT accommodations are designed to assist test-takers with physical, cognitive, or psychological disabilities. Our services can help you apply for these interventions since you need to prove that you have the disability and that it will prevent you from showing what you are capable of on these exams. Given that the process differs a bit for each, we cover GMAT accommodations, MCAT accommodations, GRE accommodations, and those for the LSAT separately in this post. The most common request is an extended time on the GRE and others, but additional possibilities exist.
Questions about GRE, MCAT, GMAT, and LSAT accommodations?
If you have any questions about getting exam accommodations or how testing can help, please don’t hesitate to contact us or schedule a consultation anytime. We also have a specific post regarding ADHD accommodations for school and work.
Standard GRE, MCAT, GMAT, and LSAT accommodations
- Extended time: Extra time for test sections, usually 50% or 100% more (we provide an example below of how we help someone get extended time on the GRE).
- Additional breaks: Extended or extra breaks between sections of the exam.
- Assistive technology: Use of screen readers, magnification software, or other assistive devices.
- Alternative formats: The test may be offered in large print, Braille, or other accessible formats.
- Separate testing room: To minimize distractions for those who need a quiet environment.
- Scribe or reader: Assistance from a person to read questions or record answers.
- Permission to bring medication or medical devices: For test-takers who need to manage medical conditions during the test.
Types of Disabilities Covered:
GRE, MCAT, GMAT, and LSAT accommodations can be requested for a wide range of conditions, including:
- Learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, ADHD): These are the primary reasons why people come to us for testing to show that the diagnosis is present and how it manifests would affect their ability to achieve their potential on the exams. We provide specific learning disorder assessments that can be quite valuable in this area.
- Physical disabilities (e.g., mobility impairments, chronic pain): We are less likely to be involved in the initial parts of these assessments, but we might be asked to show the psychological effect on exam-taking.
- Sensory disabilities (e.g., blindness, hearing impairments): Again, we would not be the correct choice to establish that these disabilities exist, but in some cases, we might help show their effects.
- Developmental challenges (e.g. Autism): Our psychological testing for autism in adults often points to these accommodations.
- Psychological disabilities (e.g., anxiety, depression): These are also primary reasons why people seek our services for GRE, MCAT, GMAT and LSAT accommodations, both to establish that the client has a disability and then to show how it affects them in an exam environment.
- Medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, epilepsy): Again, we would be involved in these evaluations if there is a psychological effect on test-taking.
The presence of a disability is not the only requirement, however. For GRE, MCAT, GMAT, and LSAT accommodations, you need to prove that the disability significantly interferes with your ability to perform on the exam. Psychological testing is used to show that a person has a disability and that it interferes.
Tips for MCAT, GMAT, GRE, and LSAT Accommodations 
- Submit early: Apply for accommodations as early as possible.
- Communicate clearly: Ensure your documentation explains how your disability affects your ability to take the exam and why the requested accommodations are necessary. We do provide this information in our psychological reports.
- Testing center arrangements: Once your accommodations are approved, you’ll need to schedule your exam at a test center that can provide the required accommodations. For example, if you are applying for extended time on the GRE, you need a center with rooms for extra time.
If your accommodations are denied or are not what you requested, ETS allows you to appeal the decision by providing additional documentation or clarification. If this has happened to you and you did not previously have testing, it may be a good time to call us or another provider.
LSAT Accommodations Overview
Law School Admissions Test accommodations require the following process:
How to Apply for LSAT Accommodations:
- Register for the LSAT: Sign up through your Law School Admission Council (LSAC) account.
- Submit a request for LSAT accommodations: This is typically done through your LSAC account.
- Provide documentation: You’ll need to submit supporting documentation of your disability from a qualified professional, such as our psychological testing report, which we format as a letter for this purpose. This might also include medical records, letters from your providers, or educational assessments you’ve previously had.
- Review and approval process: LSAC will review your request, which can take several weeks. If approved, you’ll receive information about your LSAT accommodations.
LSAT Accommodations Deadlines
Submit your request for LSAT accommodation well before test date to allow time for review and any possible appeals. The official deadline is available in the material you receive, but ideally you will submit your request at least a month before that.
GMAT Accommodations Overview
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) accommodations are for individuals with documented disabilities to provide equal access to the exam in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). GMAT accommodations are meant to ensure that the test accurately reflects a candidate’s abilities rather than the impact of their disability.
How to Apply for GMAT Accommodations
- Register for the test: First, create an account on the official GMAT website (mba.com) and register for the exam.
- Submit a request for GMAT accommodations:
- Log into your mba.com account and follow the instructions to apply for GMAT accommodations.
- You’ll be asked to fill out a GMAT Test Accommodation Request Form, which includes providing detailed information about your condition.
- Provide documentation: Along with the GMAT accommodations request form, submit documentation of your disability. This would include our psychological testing report in which we include:
- The nature and severity of your disability.
- A history of your disability and past accommodations (if applicable).
- Justify the need for specific GMAT accommodations.
- Review and approval process: The GMAT accommodations review process can take 1 to 3 weeks. If approved, instructions for scheduling your accommodated exam will be provided.
Deadlines
Be sure to submit your GMAT accommodations request early. You need to allow time for both the accommodation review process and the scheduling of your exam. Waiting until close to your intended test date may delay getting the GMAT accommodations you need. This suggests contacting us at least 60 days before your exam.
GRE Accommodations Overview
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.
MCAT Accommodations Overview
The Medical College Admissions Test accommodations (MCAT accommodations) process ensures that individuals with documented disabilities or medical conditions receive the necessary support to take the exam under conditions that allow them to demonstrate their abilities. MCAT accommodations comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are managed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
How to Apply for MCAT Accommodations:
- Step 1: Create an AAMC account and register for the MCAT.
- Step 2: Submit an accommodation request using the MCAT Accommodations Request System through your AAMC account.
- Step 3: Provide appropriate documentation, including:
- Our psychological report will explain the disability, any history of accommodations, and justification for each of the requested MCAT accommodations.
- Step 4: AAMC will review the request, which can take up to 60 days.
- Timeline:
- Submit the MCAT accommodations request well in advance of the intended test date. The approval process can take up to 60 days, and appeals or further documentation requests may extend this timeframe. This suggests you should call us about 120 days before the exam date.
- Appeals Process:
- If MCAT accommodations are denied or insufficient, candidates can appeal the decision. Sometimes, people call us to get formal psychological testing they did not use in their initial request.
- The appeal process also takes time, so early submission is critical.
- Post-Approval:
- Once approved, you’ll get instructions for scheduling so that your MCAT accommodations can be provided.
- Test-takers can choose from a variety of test dates, but MCAT accommodations may require scheduling at specific testing centers equipped to provide them.
- MCAT accommodations are intended to remove barriers for candidates with disabilities, allowing them to demonstrate their true potential without being limited by their condition.
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.
Summary and Our Work
We provide various tests for accommodations on graduate admissions exams. We hope this post provided the information you need and that the example of getting extended time on the GRE helped you see what the process might be like. Our testing can also lead to graduate school college accommodations once you get in. We also do this testing as part of more general psychological testing for teens.
If you have any questions about getting LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, or GRE accommodations for the exam you will be taking or want to know whether a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation might help, please contact us or schedule a consultation anytime.
