ACT Special Education & Accommodations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student's IEP includes extended time for tests at school, but the student has never previously applied for ACT accommodations. How far in advance of the test date should the accommodation request typically be submitted?
- At least 1 week before the test date
- At least 2 weeks before the test date
- At least 5–7 weeks before the test date (Correct answer)
- At least 6 months before the test date
Correct answer: At least 5–7 weeks before the test date
ACT recommends submitting accommodation requests approximately 5–7 weeks before the test date to allow sufficient time for review and approval.
Question 2: During an ACT testing session, a student with an approved 'separate testing room' accommodation is placed in a room with 8 other students receiving various accommodations. Is this arrangement compliant?
- No, a separate room must contain only the one student with this accommodation
- Yes, a separate room simply means a room apart from the standard testing room and may include other students (Correct answer)
- No, separate room accommodations require a one-on-one proctor-to-student ratio
- Yes, but only if all students in the room share identical accommodations
Correct answer: Yes, a separate room simply means a room apart from the standard testing room and may include other students
A 'separate testing room' means a space distinct from the main testing room; it may include multiple students with various accommodations as long as proper supervision is maintained.
Question 3: A student is approved for the ACT with a 'preferential seating' accommodation. As the test coordinator, what is your primary obligation?
- Seat the student in the front row of the standard testing room
- Place the student in a location that minimizes their specific barriers, such as near an exit or away from distractions (Correct answer)
- Allow the student to choose any seat in any available testing room
- Assign the student to a separate room automatically
Correct answer: Place the student in a location that minimizes their specific barriers, such as near an exit or away from distractions
Preferential seating means placing the student in a location that addresses their specific disability-related needs, such as minimizing distractions or improving accessibility.
Question 4: Which scenario correctly describes when a student DOES NOT need new ACT accommodation documentation?
- When the student's condition has changed since the last evaluation
- When the student previously received approval and is retesting within the approval period (Correct answer)
- When the student is switching from one disability category to a different one
- When the student turns 18 and must submit documentation independently
Correct answer: When the student previously received approval and is retesting within the approval period
ACT accommodation approvals remain valid for a defined period; students retesting within that period do not need to resubmit documentation.
Question 5: A student with anxiety disorder requests the ACT accommodation of 'stop-the-clock breaks.' What does this accommodation specifically allow?
- The student may take breaks only between test sections like all other students
- The student's test timer pauses during approved breaks, so break time does not count against testing time (Correct answer)
- The student may take unlimited unscheduled breaks without any time adjustment
- The student receives a reduced number of test sections
Correct answer: The student's test timer pauses during approved breaks, so break time does not count against testing time
Stop-the-clock breaks allow the timer to pause during breaks, ensuring the student receives the full allotted testing time without break time reducing it.
Question 6: Under ACT policy, which professional is NOT typically qualified to document a learning disability for accommodation purposes?
- Licensed psychologist
- Neuropsychologist
- Licensed clinical social worker acting as a primary evaluator (Correct answer)
- Educational diagnostician with appropriate licensure
Correct answer: Licensed clinical social worker acting as a primary evaluator
A licensed clinical social worker is not typically qualified to conduct or certify psychoeducational evaluations for learning disabilities; that requires a psychologist or diagnostician.
Question 7: A student with a physical disability that affects writing speed is approved for extended time. The test coordinator must ensure that the extended-time room has which of the following?
- Special ergonomic furniture provided by ACT headquarters
- A proctor who is a certified special education teacher
- An accurate and visible timing method that the proctor uses to track the adjusted time (Correct answer)
- A scribe available in case the student requests one mid-test
Correct answer: An accurate and visible timing method that the proctor uses to track the adjusted time
The proctor must use a reliable timing method to accurately enforce the approved extended time; without precise timekeeping, the accommodation cannot be properly administered.
ACT Special Education & Accommodations 3
A student's IEP includes extended time for tests at school, but the student has never previously applied for ACT accommodations.
How far in advance of the test date should the accommodation request typically be submitted?