How Long is SAT for Abnormal Applicants

SAT Extended Time Breaks: How Long Is SAT for Abnormal Applicants?

Test timings are a very crucial aspect of a SAT test. And I can clearly understand the stress around it. Every year there are a lot of Indian/NRI students with a disability appear SAT with regular students. They face some kind of challenges while appearing SATs. Hence, College Board's Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) have provided an option of extending the test time for students with disabilities.

If you're a disabled Indian/NRI student, or any of your friend is disabled and is appearing for SAT,  you can opt for this particular accommodation. Let us briefly review who qualifies for additional time and what are the types of benefit a disabled student can get.

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Eligibility for Extension in SAT Test Time:

To be eligible for extended time on the SAT, students must meet the disability definition laid out by College Board. Types of disabilities include Visual, Physical, Medical, Learning Disorders and Motor Impairments.

Students with disability will usually have an established Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan with their school. To request for extension of time will have to be placed by a qualified school coordinator via an official request to College Board along with all necessary documentation. School coordinator has to make sure that the request for extension is sent out early, reason being the approval takes seven weeks from the date of request.

Extensions can be asked for different sections of the SAT test. Coordinator has to specify in which section it is required. Extension is required reading, mathematical calculation, written expression, or listening/speaking section. For example, if extension is asked for reading, then it applies to all sections as they all require reading of some form.

Options for Extended Time on the SAT:

There are three options available for Extended Time:

Option #1: Time and a Half-

This is the most common option selected by coordinators. It lengthens SAT by 50%. Post the Time and Half extension, SAT time totals to 4 hours and 30 minutes without essay and 5 hours and 45 minutes with essay.

Option #2: Double Time or 100% Additional Time-

This option doubles the total test time. In this scenario, SAT time totals to 6 hours without essay and  7 hours and 40 minutes with essay. When double time extension is opted, SAT test is administered at student’s school over a course of two days.

Option #3: 150% Additional Time-

With this option SAT test time totals up to 7 hours and 30 minutes without essay and 9 hours and 35 minutes with essay. This option is opted very rarely and the test is conducted over a time span of two days at their school. Under this circumstance, a school coordinator will sit with student, generally one on one, unless there are other students with similar accommodations.

Key Takeaways:

# Approval of Extension takes about seven weeks for College Board. Hence, gather your documentation and make your requests early.

# 50% additional time is the most common option selected.

# Request for extended breaks are to be requested separately.

# While requesting extension, be very specific. Take your disability condition under consideration and select the most appropriate section of the test for extension. Since the SAT is such an important test, you want to make sure you or your student is getting the accommodations she needs to see her best results.

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