Extended Time Testing: PSAT, SAT & ACT

The purpose of this message is to inform you of the processes involved for registering for, taking, and obtaining extended time on the ACT and/or the PSAT and SAT.  All parents should read this letter carefully.  If your daughter qualifies for extended time on these tests, or if you are considering having your daughter evaluated so that she may receive extended time on these tests, then I encourage you to keep this letter in a safe place for future reference.

As a reminder, all McGehee students take the PSAT in the fall of their sophomore year and in the fall of their junior year. The junior year PSAT is the qualifying test for National Merit. McGehee School registers all sophomores and juniors for the PSAT, and the test is given on our campus.  The date of the PSAT is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18th on our campus. Freshmen will also take an unofficial, practice version of the PSAT on this date.

All students are encouraged to begin taking the SAT and ACT the spring of their junior year.  McGehee School is not a testing site for the regular administration of these tests; therefore, it is the student's responsibility to register for these tests and to choose a local testing site at which to take either test. Information about registration is easily obtained at www.collegeboard.com and www.act.org.

Upon completion of the junior year PSAT, the Office of College Counseling strongly encourages each student to take both the ACT and SAT at least once.

Now, a word about extended time as it applies to standardized testing.  Your daughter should only consider applying for extended time if she has a documented learning difference, or if strong suspicion of a learning difference exists.

For students who do wish to apply for extended time on standardized tests, please understand that separate companies own the ACT and the PSAT/SAT; thus, there are two separate application processes for extended time, one for each test. Thus, qualifying for extended time on the PSAT and SAT does not automatically grant you extended time on the ACT. Qualifying for extended time for either test takes 4 to 6 weeks.

The first step (for either the ACT or the P/SAT) is to have your daughter evaluated. If your daughter has already been officially evaluated, her evaluation must not be older than three years (for the ACT), five years (for the SAT). If your daughter's evaluation is older than required, unfortunately it must be updated, which means she must be re-evaluated. The evaluation must include a cognitive ability test and an academic achievement test in order to be considered for extended time. Furthermore, accommodations suggested in an evaluation must be in place at the school for a four month period before applying for extended time for both the P/SAT and ACT; thus, if your daughter needs an evaluation, we highly recommend it be conducted soon. 

The SAT/PSAT

• To apply for extended time on the P/SAT, pick up a SSD form (which is a student eligibility form) from Karen Chenuau's office. You must fill out pages 1 and 2 and return it to Mrs. Chenuau, who then sends it to the College Board with your daughter's evaluation information. Once the College Board (the company that owns the SAT) receives this information from us, they will send you, not McGehee, a copy of an accommodation eligibility letter, stating that your daughter has been approved for 25%, 50% or 100% extended time. YOU MUST KEEP THIS LETTER. This accommodation eligibility letter automatically holds for each time she takes the SAT (although, you must still register in the standard way for each testing date);
• If, for whatever reason, you do not still have a copy of this letter, you can call (609) 771-7137 to request another copy. Again, it will be sent to you. Please file it in a safe place;
• With this letter your daughter is now approved for extended time;
• Given her extended time status, to register for any SAT test date(s) she must fill out a paper registration form and clip to it her accommodation eligibility letter and send both documents to the SAT registration address, or she may register on-line, supplying her SSD number; she need not send in her evaluation;
• If your daughter is approved for 25% or 50% extended time, she will choose a national test site from the SAT booklet for a local test center location;
• If your daughter is approved for 100% extended time, do not fill in the test center code because she will test on the McGehee campus at a date determined by the College Board and Mrs. Chenuau. 
   

The ACT

• ACT only approves a student for extended time for one academic year; therefore, a student must re-apply for extended time each school year;
• To apply or to re-apply, students should pick up a "Request for ACT Assessment Special Testing" form from Mrs. Harlan's office each year she intends to register for the ACT (i.e., both her junior and senior year);
• Students and parents need only complete sections A, K, and L of the form before returning it to Mrs. Harlan;
• This form is the only hoop to jump through in registering for the ACT;
• It has been my observation that the ACT grants extended time much less frequently than the College Board (SAT). 
   

Our Learning Specialist, Karen Chenuau, is prepared to help you with this process. If you have any questions, please contact her at 561.1224 ext. 4904 . Please realize that it is your responsibility to hold onto all of your daughter's documentation, that is, her evaluation and, should she be granted extended time from the SAT, her accommodation eligibility form.

We look forward to helping your daughter achieve her best on these tests. Thank you in advance for your participation in this process.