Collegeboard denying accommodations on SAT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The point of standardized tests is that they are standardized. Other than accommodations for actual physical limitations, they should be exactly the same for everyone. Any accommodation is an unfair advantage, usually gamed by rich parents who can’t bear to think that their baby isn’t in the 99th percentile. I knew a lot of kids in college who’d gotten in with accommodations, and they couldn’t do the work. They ended up in gut majors… but I suppose it was never about the learning, it was about the badge. Most were popular though—and rich. And now they are all sitting pretty in cush jobs with generational wealth.

LOL on standardized. Your DC clearly hasn't shown up to take a test that is not being administered because the center ended up not having enough proctors that day. Or that it took THREE hours to register students on arrival, so the test doesn't begin till 11 AM.

There is NOTHING standard about these exams. NOTHING.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

Everyone has an ADHD accommodation these days.

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The point of standardized tests is that they are standardized. Other than accommodations for actual physical limitations, they should be exactly the same for everyone. Any accommodation is an unfair advantage, usually gamed by rich parents who can’t bear to think that their baby isn’t in the 99th percentile. I knew a lot of kids in college who’d gotten in with accommodations, and they couldn’t do the work. They ended up in gut majors… but I suppose it was never about the learning, it was about the badge. Most were popular though—and rich. And now they are all sitting pretty in cush jobs with generational wealth.

You seem like a very miserable person. If your child does not have any challenges - be grateful and not snarky about those who do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

Serious question: at one point do kids stop relying on these crutches? Do you think an employer will give him extra time to complete tasks? It doesn’t work that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

Everyone has an ADHD accommodation these days.

No.

I had more than a few classmates get diagnosed in law school. Extra time on exams with strict curves that are designed to be hard to finish is a hell of an advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

Serious question: at one point do kids stop relying on these crutches? Do you think an employer will give him extra time to complete tasks? It doesn’t work that way.

Extra time doesn’t mean that the student gets extra time to do their assignments, papers, reading. It means that when they are given a situation under pressure that they need to do the test in 30, they get 45. Employers aren’t giving their employees pop quizzes or asking them to regurgitate info. And many kids grow out of ADHD by the time they are in college. If your kid doesn’t need extra time just be thankful and keep your trap shut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

Serious question: at one point do kids stop relying on these crutches? Do you think an employer will give him extra time to complete tasks? It doesn’t work that way.

When is the last time your employer sat you at a desk and had you answer general knowledge questions for four hours straight? Employment doesn't work that way.

Standardized tests are a bizarre institution. I've never understood people who consider the end-all be-all of evaluating students. Usually its people whose particular skill sets lead to scores that suggest they're more capable than they are. I say that as someone who always got great scores on them. But I don't cling to that as an achievement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

Everyone and their mother are getting extended time for their kids. It is out of control, so yes they are getting stricter.

[Anonymous]

I teach law school and the number of kids who get extra time on tests is ridiculous. Good luck to these kids once they are out in the world practicing law. Judges don't give extra time...nor do clients....or partners. We are not setting these kids up for success...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

Everyone has an ADHD accommodation these days.

If everyone gets extra time then nobody has extra time.

Except my f@@@ing honest kid.

I would have my ADHD inattentive kid trade places with any f@@@ing honest kid if it meant DC was spared the complicationd. You clearly do not know the struggles a kid with ADHD faces, which can extend far, far, far beyond the academic realm. Gratitude starts at home.

Plus 1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach law school and the number of kids who get extra time on tests is ridiculous. Good luck to these kids once they are out in the world practicing law. Judges don't give extra time...nor do clients....or partners. We are not setting these kids up for success...

There is a flip side to this.

Many students with ADHD do need extra time on tests due to slow processing speeds and getting sidetracked easily.

However, many people with ADHD are off the charts in terms of creative problem solving, lateral thinking, big picture thinking and connecting dots other miss. They also often have what’s called hyper focus in areas they are interested in.

I have ADHD and received mostly distinctions at university as I routinely worked through the night to produce excellent work. I suspect many lawyers with ADHD are a gift to their firms given the right supports and environment as they would often come up with ingenious legal strategies, make case connections other don’t and work extremely hard to produce good work.

Plus once they become more familiar with basic legal procedures some things can go on autopilot.

I think you are missing other important qualities and gifts by dismissing the future value of law students who need extra time on tests.

[Anonymous]

My ADHD daughter needs every minute of her extra time for tests and that helps her be average. She doesn’t get extra time on homework and everything takes her a long time which is hard on her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was denied an extended time accommodation on the SAT, but got less important ones like small group testing. This was shocking to us because he's had an ADHD diagnosis since 1st grade and uses extended time regularly (slow reader), so there's a clear history. He got extended time and other expected accommodations for the ACT. Our school told us that the Collegeboard is getting much stricter with the extended time accommodations, specifically. Maybe in light of the Varsity Blues scandal? Is that what other people are finding or hearing? Or is it possible the school messed up his application and is just covering?

I would appeal.

Our DD had similar history and got it but I remember sending tons of info to back up the justification for it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach law school and the number of kids who get extra time on tests is ridiculous. Good luck to these kids once they are out in the world practicing law. Judges don't give extra time...nor do clients....or partners. We are not setting these kids up for success...

There is a flip side to this.

Many students with ADHD do need extra time on tests due to slow processing speeds and getting sidetracked easily.

However, many people with ADHD are off the charts in terms of creative problem solving, lateral thinking, big picture thinking and connecting dots other miss. They also often have what’s called hyper focus in areas they are interested in.

I have ADHD and received mostly distinctions at university as I routinely worked through the night to produce excellent work. I suspect many lawyers with ADHD are a gift to their firms given the right supports and environment as they would often come up with ingenious legal strategies, make case connections other don’t and work extremely hard to produce good work.

Plus once they become more familiar with basic legal procedures some things can go on autopilot.

I think you are missing other important qualities and gifts by dismissing the future value of law students who need extra time on tests.

I hope the law professor and others who dismiss the genuine needs of those with ADHD and other learning differences for extra time on tests read this and have ears to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point of standardized tests is that they are standardized. Other than accommodations for actual physical limitations, they should be exactly the same for everyone. Any accommodation is an unfair advantage, usually gamed by rich parents who can’t bear to think that their baby isn’t in the 99th percentile. I knew a lot of kids in college who’d gotten in with accommodations, and they couldn’t do the work. They ended up in gut majors… but I suppose it was never about the learning, it was about the badge. Most were popular though—and rich. And now they are all sitting pretty in cush jobs with generational wealth.

You seem like a very miserable person. If your child does not have any challenges - be grateful and not snarky about those who do

DP Eh, I largely agree with the PP. there is an absurd amount of abuse and gaming of the system. Life is hard and little Johnnie may not get a 1600 but the playing field should be level.