The College Board typically takes 7 business days to review standard accommodation requests when submitted by schools. However, complex cases or requests that require additional documentation may take 2-3 weeks longer. Independent submissions (not through schools) generally take longer to process.

This is why we strongly recommend starting the process at least 2-3 months before your intended test date. Rush processing is not available for accommodation requests, so early submission is crucial for a stress-free experience.

No, absolutely not. This is one of the most common myths about SAT accommodations. Your official SAT score report sent to colleges looks identical regardless of whether you received extended time or any other accommodation.

The College Board discontinued the practice of “flagging” accommodated scores in 2003. Colleges have no way of knowing from your score report whether you received accommodations, ensuring complete fairness in the admissions process.

If your initial request is denied, you have several options. First, carefully review the denial letter to understand exactly why your request was not approved. Common reasons include insufficient documentation, outdated evaluations, or lack of evidence showing the need for accommodations.

You can submit an appeal with additional documentation, work with a qualified professional to obtain more comprehensive evaluations, or resubmit your request with stronger supporting materials. Many initially denied students are approved on their second attempt with improved documentation.

No! Once you’re approved for accommodations, your SSD eligibility remains valid throughout your high school career. You’ll receive an SSD number that you simply enter when registering for each SAT, and your approved accommodations will automatically be applied.

This means you can take the SAT multiple times with the same accommodations without going through the approval process again. Your accommodations also transfer to other College Board tests like AP exams.

Yes, the same accommodations available for the paper-and-pencil SAT are available for the digital SAT. Extended time, frequent breaks, and other approved accommodations are fully supported in the digital testing environment.

The digital format actually offers some additional benefits for students with certain disabilities, such as built-in tools for highlighting and note-taking, adjustable font sizes, and the ability to use assistive technology more seamlessly.

Test anxiety alone typically does not qualify for extended time accommodations. However, if your test anxiety is part of a broader anxiety disorder that has been professionally diagnosed and documented, you may qualify for accommodations.

The key is having comprehensive documentation from a qualified mental health professional that shows how your anxiety disorder substantially impacts your ability to take timed tests compared to your peers.

Every school that administers College Board tests should have someone designated to handle accommodation requests, even if they don’t have a dedicated SSD coordinator. This might be a guidance counselor, special education coordinator, or administrator.

If your school truly cannot help, you can submit an independent request directly to the College Board, though this process requires more detailed documentation and typically takes longer to process.

There is no additional fee to request accommodations from the College Board. The accommodation request process is completely free, whether submitted through your school or independently.

However, you may incur costs for obtaining the necessary documentation, such as psychoeducational evaluations or medical reports, if you don’t already have current documentation. Many insurance plans cover diagnostic evaluations, and some schools provide evaluations at no cost to families.