2E issue: accommodations on numats PSAT 8/9

[4KookieKids]

Attentiveness and EF struggles run rampant here (writing difficulties, adhd, etc). Is it weird to consider requesting accommodations on something like the talent search tests at numats? Is it just like requestiong accommodations for any other standardized test?

I guess part of me feels like it’s silly to have extra time for an out of level test. Feels almost like cheating to get ahead. Thoughts?

[EKS]

Not weird, and certainly not cheating.  The only reason it would be cheating is if the accommodations were being granted *because* the student was young.  If your child has a diagnosed disability, you're leveling the playing field.  Now, it is important to also consider what the scores are going to be used for.  If it is to place the child in a situation where they will not be able to keep up because of the disability, then that is a problem--but it's a separate problem.

I've been told by various evaluators who know about getting accommodations with the College Board/ACT people that if your student scores in the average range on one of their exams given under standard conditions, they will refuse accommodations later on even if the student is capable of far more.

So, if it were me, I wouldn't have my child take any test from the CB/ACT without accommodations until I was certain that they didn't need them.

[4KookieKids]

35 minutes ago, EKS said:

Not weird, and certainly not cheating.  The only reason it would be cheating is if the accommodations were being granted *because* the student was young.  If your child has a diagnosed disability, you're leveling the playing field.  Now, it is important to also consider what the scores are going to be used for.  If it is to place the child in a situation where they will not be able to keep up because of the disability, then that is a problem--but it's a separate problem.

I've been told by various evaluators who know about getting accommodations with the College Board/ACT people that if your student scores in the average range on one of their exams given under standard conditions, they will refuse accommodations later on even if the student is capable of far more.

So, if it were me, I wouldn't have my child take any test from the CB/ACT without accommodations until I was certain that they didn't need them.

 

This is all helpful. Thank you.

Theres no purpose, actually, except informational, I guess... He is just interested in taking is test. Lol.

This information above it not getting accommodations later seems really odd to me but I guess makes sense if folks would just want to improve their scores by trying to get some sort of extra accommodations they didn’t actually need or game the system in some similar way...

Edited September 28, 2018 by 4KookieKids