For post-secondary students struggling with academics, or those with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions that may interfere with performance on exams, psychoeducational assessments are critical for securing exam accommodations for entrance exams like the LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE. These assessments help identify the student’s level of ability and subsequently determine the specific accommodations required to ensure equitable testing.
Edcommodate offers post-secondary psychoeducational assessments and actionable plans for exam accommodations for individuals across Ontario.
What Are Psychoeducational Assessments?
A psychoeducational assessment is an evaluation conducted by a qualified professional licensed in clinical psychology and/or with expertise in special education. These individuals identify conditions affecting a student’s ability to perform well on exams, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), among others. The results of these assessments provide the required documentation for test accommodations.
Breaking Barriers: The Purpose of Exam Accommodations
The purpose of exam accommodations is to ensure that students with learning disabilities have the same opportunity to succeed as their peers by removing barriers that prevent high performance and providing access to resources that allow them to perform to the best of their abilities.
Common Exam Accommodations
Accommodations are highly personalized and can take several forms. They may involve:
- Extra Time: Additional testing time to complete the exam.
- Private Room: A quiet environment free of distractions.
- Break Time: Scheduled breaks during the exam period.
- Assistive Technology: Access to assistive tools or medical devices, like screen readers or voice-to-text software.
Requesting Academic Accommodations: Steps to Getting Support
To request exam accommodations, you will need to:
- Contact your testing organization or campus services for the required documentation and criteria that must be met for accommodations.
- Schedule your assessment with a qualified mental health professional. The results will outline the specific accommodations you require. Due to possible wait times, this should be done at the beginning of the term or well before the exam deadline. However, Edcommodate directly addresses the challenges associated with accessing assessments and offers a streamlined process that eliminates waitlists.
- Submit your assessment results along with any additional information to the testing organization or your institution’s centre for accessibility.
- After you’ve been approved for exam accommodations, confirm your exam location and any changes to the exam start time.
Additional Considerations for Testing Accommodations
- Late requests may not be fully accommodated. For most exams, you should ensure your request for accommodations is submitted several business days ahead of the scheduled exam date.
- Make sure all required supporting documentation and personal information are submitted alongside your assessment results. If the full requirements are not met, your accommodations will not be provided.
- Extra time, modified exam formats, and assistive technology are often available for online assessments and exams. Be sure to check your exam location and confirm any requested accommodations when booking your exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request accommodations if I haven’t had a psychoeducational assessment?
- Assessments are generally required to receive disability-related accommodations. If you haven’t completed an assessment yet, contact student services or your testing organization for guidance.
What if I miss the accommodation request deadline?
- While late requests may not be fully accommodated, you can contact your exam centre or the testing organization to discuss potential solutions, such as a deferred exam.
How do I know which accommodations I need?
- A psychoeducational assessment will provide detailed information about the accommodations that are appropriate based on your results and/or diagnoses.
Booking Your Assessment with Edcommodate
We are dedicated to helping post-secondary students and those preparing for entrance exams access accommodations with prompt and compassionate diagnostic psychoeducational assessments. Through our partnership with Integrative Psychiatry Canada, we also offer accommodation consultations to make sure students are receiving the right academic support.
We take your success seriously. Contact us to inquire about an assessment today.