How to Request Testing Accommodations for the SAT or ACT

Start With Your School

Both College Board and ACT recommend requesting testing accommodations through your school rather than applying on your own. Your school counselor or a designated SSD coordinator submits the request on your behalf and already has experience with the documentation each testing organization expects.

If your school does not have an SSD coordinator or you are homeschooled, both organizations let you apply directly, though the process takes longer without a school walking you through it. Start early no matter which path you take.

Requesting SAT Accommodations

College Board handles SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and AP Exam accommodations through one system called Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). You must request accommodations and receive SSD approval before you use them on any of these exams. Approval does not happen automatically even if you have documented needs at school.

Processing takes up to 7 weeks , and if your documentation is incomplete or the request needs resubmission, the review adds another 7 weeks on top of that. Deadlines are tied to specific SAT test dates. For the June 6, 2026 SAT, the request was due by April 17, 2026, and for the August 22, 2026 SAT, the request is due by July 7, 2026. Check the current SAT registration calendar for the deadline tied to your specific test date, since each date has its own cutoff.

Requesting ACT Accommodations

ACT's process runs through five steps. First, register for the ACT and link your high school account to MyACT, answering yes when asked whether you need accommodations. Second, your approval request routes to your school official, who forwards it along with a completed Consent to Release Information form. Third, your school official receives the approval or denial decision. Fourth, if approved for special testing, you work with your school to schedule within the designated testing window. Fifth, upload your photo and confirm your approved accommodations appear correctly on your admission ticket before test day.

Documentation requirements depend on your situation. Students with disabilities follow the ACT Policy for Requesting Accommodations , while English learners follow a separate documentation policy. ACT states that requests missing required documentation, or that do not meet its criteria, are not approved, so completeness matters as much as timing.

Deadlines Are Getting Tighter

Starting with the June 2026 ACT test, special testing windows compress from two weeks down to 9 days, and accommodations deadlines now align with regular registration deadlines rather than a separate later cutoff. For the June 13, 2026 test as an example, the accommodations deadline is May 8, 2026, and the special testing window runs June 13 through 21, 2026. Submit your request as soon as you register rather than waiting, since review timelines depend on how many other requests ACT processes at the same time.

Accommodations in High School Do Not Transfer Automatically

Having a 504 Plan or IEP in high school does not automatically grant you accommodations on the SAT or ACT. Both College Board and ACT review your documentation independently and decide which accommodations, if any, apply to their specific test format. A student who receives extended time on every high school test still needs separate approval before that same accommodation applies on test day.

Start the request process as soon as you know you plan to take the SAT or ACT, rather than assuming your school-based accommodations carry over.

If Your Request Is Denied

Both organizations allow you to appeal or submit additional documentation if your initial request is denied. Review the specific reason given for the denial, since it usually points to what documentation was missing or insufficient. Work with your school counselor or the evaluator who wrote your original documentation to address the specific gap before resubmitting, rather than resubmitting the same paperwork unchanged.

Accommodations Cover Every Future Test Date

Once College Board or ACT approves your request, the approval applies to future test dates for that organization, not just the one you registered for when you applied. You do not need to reapply each time you retake the SAT or ACT, though you should confirm your approved accommodations still appear correctly on your admission ticket before every test date.

What Documentation to Gather

• A recent psychoeducational or medical evaluation, typically within the last 3 to 5 years, from a qualified professional.

• Your school's documented history of accommodations, such as a 504 Plan or IEP, if you have one.

• A written description from the evaluator connecting your diagnosis to the specific accommodation you request, such as extended time.

• Any accommodations you already receive for in-school testing, since both organizations look for consistency between school and test day accommodations.

Step-by-Step Checklist

1. Talk to your school counselor about applying through your school's SSD coordinator or ACT accommodations liaison.

2. Gather your documentation early in the school year, not the week before a test date.

3. Register for your test and answer accommodations questions accurately during registration.

4. Submit your request at least 7 weeks before your intended SAT date, or as soon as ACT registration opens.

5. Check your approval status and confirm accommodations appear correctly on your admission ticket before test day.