In response to requests that I made last year, my son’s private school has agreed to allow him to have extended time for standardized testing this year, in 6th grade, in view of certain reading and processing issues that impede
him from completing the tests in the time normally allotted. This is the first time this school has ever allowed for extended time testing. I know little about
the mechanics of extended testing and I am wondering if there is some amount of additional time that is normally allowed for extended time testing or if it is more a matter of how much additional time the child indicates he/she needs to finish when they are in the actual test.
I expect now that we are nearing the start of these tests, the school may ask me how much additional time I think should be allowed. Another parent who has a child that will also be taking the tests on an extended time basis
said her child might require many additional hours for each of the tests, but she didn’t want him sitting in the tests indefinitely. My son would not likely require that much time, but I don’t really know how much additional time he will need. He didn’t get through much more than ½ of some of the tests last year, but part of that may be that he became increasingly discouraged and
gave up too early as the week wore on because so many of the other children were finishing early and making noise and he knew he wouldn’t have enough time to finish. Without the same time pressure and without his peers all around him, he will hopefully get thru more of the tests. Also, we have done months of PACE sessions since last year so I am hoping his processing speed may be quicker now.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
You might also see if he can take the tests in the resource room or some other room with less distractions. One other accommodation my son has is that the test directions are read to him and clarified as well as questions if he needs it. The exception being the reading and writing tests. Also he writes on the test booklet instead of trying to track those little circles and fill them in. The teacher fills in the bubbles later.