PSAT Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
If your child has a diagnosed physical, mental, sensory, or learning disability, he or she may be eligible for PSAT testing accommodations. Provided below is basic information about PSAT accommodations and how to apply for them.
PSAT Accommodations: Options & Timeline
The College Board offers a wide variety of accommodations, including 50% extended time, 100% extended time, small-group testing, extra or extended breaks, readers, sign language interpreters, etc. A student must have a documented disability in order to be eligible for testing accommodations. For specific information about documentation requirements, visit the College Board website.
The application and review process for PSAT accommodations can take time, typically about seven weeks, so it is best to start the process early. The College Board recommends that students apply for PSAT accommodations the spring before the test administration. Since most students take the PSAT for the first time in October of their junior year, they should apply for PSAT accommodations during the spring of their sophomore year. However, if a student will take the PSAT as a sophomore, they should apply for accommodations during the spring of ninth grade. In most cases, once a student is approved for accommodations, those accommodations remain in effect for any College Board test a student takes (PSAT, SAT, and AP Exams). For specific application deadlines, visit the College Board website.
PSAT Accommodations: Application Process
Students can apply for accommodations with or without the assistance of their school.
If a student applies for accommodations with the assistance of their school, then the school official will submit the request for accommodations through the College Board's Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) online system. Contact your child's school for specific instructions on how to initiate the application process.
If a student applies for accommodations without the assistance of their school, they must complete and submit a Student Eligibility Form. Before completing the form, you and your child should first read the instructions for completing the Student Eligibility Form. The Student Eligibility Form can be found on the College Board website.
PSAT Accommodations: Decision Time
If a student is approved for accommodations, they will receive an Eligibility Approval Letter, which specifies the approved accommodations, with an SSD number. The student should keep this letter for future reference. Students approved for PSAT accommodations should contact their school to make sure the school will be able to provide the appropriate accommodations on PSAT test day. School officials do receive a list of all students at their school who have been approved for accommodations, but it's a good idea to confirm the accommodations, just to be on the safe side.
If a student is denied accommodations, there are a few steps they can take, including providing more information and/or additional documentation. For details about the available options, visit the College Board website.
Related Topics
For general information about the PSAT Test, visit our PSAT Test page.
For information about upcoming PSAT test dates, visit our PSAT Test Dates page.
Wondering how PSAT scores are calculated? Visit our PSAT Scores page to find out.
Visit our National Merit Scholarship Qualifications page to find out if your child's scores qualify them for a National Merit Scholarship.
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Who is eligible for PSAT testing accommodations?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Students with a diagnosed physical, mental, sensory, or learning disability may be eligible for PSAT testing accommodations. A documented disability is required to qualify." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What types of PSAT accommodations are available?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The College Board offers accommodations such as 50% or 100% extended time, small-group testing, extra or extended breaks, readers, and sign language interpreters, among others." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I apply for PSAT accommodations?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "You can apply for PSAT accommodations with the assistance of your school, which will submit the request through the College Board's SSD online system, or independently by completing and submitting a Student Eligibility Form found on the College Board website." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "When should I apply for PSAT accommodations?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It is recommended to apply for PSAT accommodations the spring before the test administration. Most students should apply during the spring of their sophomore year, or the spring of ninth grade if taking the PSAT as a sophomore." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does the PSAT accommodations approval process take?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The application and review process for PSAT accommodations typically takes about seven weeks." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens after PSAT accommodations are approved?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If approved, the student will receive an Eligibility Approval Letter with an SSD number. The student should keep this letter and confirm with their school that the appropriate accommodations will be provided on test day." }},{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What can I do if my PSAT accommodations request is denied?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If denied, you can provide more information or additional documentation. For details about the available options, visit the College Board website." }}]
}
</script>
About the authors
