Howdy, I was wondering if anyone has experience with taking the ACT with extended time? If so, how does it work, how can I apply for it, and does it really help? I'm just trying to play it safe with my testing strategy. Thanks!
Hello! If you have a diagnosed disability or health-related condition that would affect your ability to take the ACT in a standard testing environment, you can certainly apply for accommodations such as extended time.
To apply for extended time, you would need to register for the ACT online, then select the option to request accommodations. Once you do that, your school will need to submit an accommodations request on your behalf. This process typically involves your school counselor or another administrator. They'll likely need some documentation such as evidence of your disability and proof that you require similar accommodations in school.
If approved, you'll be given an updated testing schedule. Bear in mind that the ACT with extended time will still be administered over one day, but each section will have time-and-a-half allotted. For example, the English test, which is usually 45 minutes for standard timing, would be extended to 67.5 minutes.
About the question if it does help - it really depends on your individual needs. If you often find that you're rushing to finish tests or you make errors because you don't have enough time to review, extended time can be a gamechanger. You may be able to work more methodically and confidently, finishing the test without the usual time pressure.
Remember that even with the extended testing time, the test is still challenging so continue studying and prepping as you normally would!
Good luck with your testing strategy!
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