What is the difference between unlimited and extended time as a test accommodation?
Sometimes a professor will tell the student he can have “all the time you need” to complete an exam. The DR staff realizes that the professor is thinking “maybe another 30 to 45 minutes”, but often the student is thinking “2 or more additional hours”. The potential difficulties created by unlimited time include: • No incentive to maintain a steady pace • “Stalling-out” on a question and not able to move on • Over-analysis of questions leading to confusion • Second guessing • Inappropriately long essays • Eventually testing center staff need to go home. Many students with disabilities do require additional exam time, but within limits. The most common accommodations allow 50% additional time; however, up to 200% may be appropriate depending on the student’s disability limitations. DR specialists will specify the optimun amount of time for each student in his/her Letter of Accommodation.
