Testing Accommodations

We ask faculty to please allow some flexibility with the start time of tests, especially if you plan on scheduling the test on campus at the UTD Testing Center (SP2 11.175). The facility is only available during specific hours, and students often have back-to-back classes. Students should never miss class to receive their extended test time accommodation.

We ask faculty to assist us and our students by allowing them to start the test earlier or later when necessary, even the day before or the day after the test is scheduled on the syllabus.

If you change the start time, please keep in mind the student will have extended time (most likely 1.5x or 2x standard time). Please only enter times that would allow the test to begin and end during posted business hours if using the UTD Testing Center (SP2 11.175).

Since fall 2021, faculty coordinate arrangements for most test takers who need accommodations in classes. However, it is essential for students to have an active role in the process to ensure professors coordinate the appropriate accommodation by taking proactive steps at the beginning of the semester:

1. Request an accommodation letter each semester for all the classes in which you need testing accommodations.
2. Skip this step if you do have “Eligible to test at the ARC” on your letter of accommodation. If you do not have “Eligible to test at the ARC” on your letter of accommodation, ask your professor where they want to proctor your test from these options:
   1. Testing room and proctor provided by professor.
   2. Testing at the UTD Testing Center (SP2 11.175).
   3. Online testing.
3. Complete a reservation form at utd.link/arctest 5 days in advance (2 weeks for finals) for each test, exam or quiz you want to take with your testing accommodations.

ALWAYS remember to complete a reservation form 5 days in advance (2 weeks for finals) for each test you want to take with accommodations at utd.link/arctest.

When completing the reservation form, there are some important things to remember:

1. The reservation form cannot be used to schedule exams at the AccessAbility Resource Center.
2. The reservation form is only to be used by students who need testing accommodations but are not eligible to test in the ARC Testing Center because they do not have testing at the ARC as an approved accommodation or they did not schedule their exam within the ARC parameters.

Please carefully review the following steps before making your first testing reservation. Failure to follow the procedures may result in a delay or denial of your accommodations.

1. Before scheduling an exam, you must provide an official letter of accommodation to every professor each semester before using the reservation form.
2. Exam reservations must be made five days in advance (2 weeks for finals) — no exceptions.
3. You must enter all information accurately and completely. It is the student’s responsibility to submit the reservation form for each exam/test/quiz; it is not the responsibility of your professors or instructors.
4. Please do not submit the reservation form if you do not have all the required details. Do not ask the ARC to ask professors for your test information, e.g., the total time allowed in the classroom for the test. You must contact them.
5. Once you have submitted the request, your reservation must be coordinated with the professor — not the ARC. All questions and details about the specifics of this testing reservation must be arranged through your instructor. The ARC is simply providing this form (utd.link/arctest) as a tool to facilitate the communication process. Please do not contact the ARC with questions about reservations without attempting to resolve the matter with your professor first.
6. If you have back-to-back classes or other conflicts with your extra time accommodation, do not miss class. Before completing the reservation form, ask your professor to allow you to take the test earlier or later than it is scheduled on the syllabus, even a day before or after.
7. Once you have submitted the form, your reservation cannot be changed unless your professor moves the date of the exam for the entire class. If this happens, or you need to correct an error, please email your professor, not the ARC.
8. Reservations cannot be finalized until your professor reviews and approves everything you enter. Please note that the instructors/professors for whom you provide an email address will see what you enter on the reservation form.
9. Remember to register for your test 72 hours before the exam if your exam is on campus at the UTD Testing Center at Synergy Park (SP2 11.175).
10. It’s very important to remember if you use UTD Testing Center at Synergy Park (SP2 11.175), you have to complete two forms, the ARC reservation form at utd.link/arctest and utd.link/testreg.

To preserve social distancing and promote universal design in learning as well as the UTD theme of living our values, faculty are encouraged to provide accommodated exams online if that is the student’s preference. However, the ARC cannot require this in most cases.

If the online test option is not allowed, professors will need to provide the testing location or schedule it at the UTD Testing Center (SP2 11.175).

Faculty often have questions about how to provide testing accommodations with their own proctor in a space they designate (versus online or at the UTD Testing Center). 

Students should receive their accommodations in the least restrictive manner possible. They should be able to take the test near their professors, so they can ask questions just like their classmates or receive any last-minute updates before tests. They also would not have to navigate to other buildings or deal with extra steps required by other scheduling options. 

Most students only need more time on tests and a distraction-reduced testing environment, which faculty can directly provide in many cases. To accomplish this, professors may arrange for students to test in their offices, conference rooms or other areas in their academic buildings.

There are a few steps to follow to ensure the accommodation process goes smoothly:

1. A student submits a request to take your test/exam/quiz. The form verifies they are eligible for accommodation, but faculty should still ask them for their accommodation letter each semester from the ARC.
2. The form routes an email to the appropriate faculty member, which contains a secure link for you to view and approve the request.
3. Once you have approved the request, you will need to arrange proctoring and reserve a room as close to the class location and time as possible.
4. Faculty provide an adequate, accessible testing space and furnishings. You should also ensure students have a secure, distraction-reduced testing environment (i.e., not a hallway or stairwell). See our FAQ page for more details on creating a distraction-reduced environment.
5. You should provide the same level of support as students testing in the classroom. Students should be allowed to ask questions, if permitted, and given any last-minute details or corrections to test questions.
6. Ask the student to confirm the accommodations you have arranged are in place before starting your test.

Faculty and students can elect to have accommodated tests proctored at the UTD Testing Center (SP2 11.175).

1. Students submit a request, which verifies they are eligible for testing accommodations. However, instructors should still require them to provide the official letter from the ARC before processing.
2. The online form generates an email with a secure link to faculty for their approval to take an exam at the UTD Testing Center.
3. If you have not done so already, you will need to set up a Register Blast account and submit your request to have your test proctored at the Testing Center at least five days before the exam date.
4. You will need to provide your test to the UTD Testing Center at least 48 hours prior to the start date.
5. You should provide the same level of support as students testing in the classroom. Students should be allowed to ask questions, if permitted, and given any last-minute details or corrections to test questions.
6. The UTD Testing Center will provide an adequate, accessible testing space and furnishings.
7. Please remind students they will need to reserve their seat at the UTD Testing Center at least 72 hours before the exam.

If you have the accommodation of “distraction-reduced testing,” this can be arranged in the UTD Testing Center (SP2 11.175) if requested in advance.

When you reserve your seat, you can note that you will need one or all of the following distraction-reduced aids:

1. Ear plugs available at UTD Testing Center or at the ARC, free of charge.
2. A privacy partition — a foldout screen that is excellent at blocking out visual distractions and reduces some noise.
3. If you need off peak-time testing, please email UTD Testing Center a week or so before the test to ask when the least busy days/times are before requesting the reservation.

Do not hesitate to contact the UTD Testing Center or email the ARC if you have any problems securing these distraction reducing aids.

More than 90% of students surveyed during the distance learning who took tests online with accommodations indicated a strong preference for this option. Students commented that it was helpful for them to be able to use the adaptive technology on their own computers, take exams when they were feeling at their best, and arrange their own distraction-reduced testing environment. Allowing this option truly embraces universal design in learning and is the most equitable option available.

To arrange an accommodated test online, please follow these steps:

1. A student initiates a request to take a test/quiz/exam with you. The form automatically verifies that the student is eligible for accommodations and registered with the ARC; however, faculty should still require that students send you their official letter of accommodation each semester before processing their request.
2. Faculty members review the details submitted by the student and decide if they approve the request as is or input changes. For online tests, if you have not done so already, you will need to set up your exam to be taken in eLearning. Visit the eLearning Help Desk if you need assistance.
3. Be sure you provide the extended time accommodation in the time allotted for the test, if applicable.
4. You may use virtual proctors (e.g., Honorlock) unless it is specified not to do so on the Letter of Accommodation.
5. If the student requests, allow a practice exam.
6. Especially if the student is blind or has low vision, be sure your online content is accessible. Visit the UT System’s Introduction to Accessible Content for more information on how to make your content accessible.
7. You should provide the same level of support as students testing in the classroom. Students should be allowed to ask questions, if permitted, and given any last-minute details or corrections to test questions.

The ARC maintains a small capacity to proctor exams in our office (AD 2.224), but these spaces are reserved for students with the most-significant accommodation needs.

1. To test at the ARC in the Administration Building, first make sure “Eligible to test at the ARC” is listed on your official letter of accommodation.
2. If it is, make a reservation five days before your test.
3. This procedure only applies to students who have “Eligible to test at the ARC” on their official letter of accommodation. Please use the above steps for testing with your professor, at the UTD Testing Center (SP2 11.175), or online if this is not listed on your official letter of accommodation.
4. Testing reservations must be submitted as early in the academic semester as possible for students currently registered with the ARC and five days before the test date. Failure to schedule exams in a timely fashion may result in a delay.
5. All testing reservations must begin and end during ARC testing hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays). Test takers must start exams earlier in the day or on another day if their exam time could exceed our business hours. Faculty will need to provide test locations, allow online tests, or use the UTD Testing Center if they require eligible students to test outside the ARC operating hours.
6. Exams must be scheduled with ARC at least five days prior to the test date. Any exam not scheduled in advance may result in the need to reschedule with your instructor.
7. Final exams should be scheduled two weeks in advance.
8. Exams should be scheduled at the same time the class is scheduled to take the exam. Any variation in time will require your professor’s approval.
9. On the day of the exam, please come prepared and ready to begin at the scheduled time. If you arrive late, your time will not be adjusted. If you arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduled time, you must go to the classroom to take the exam or request permission (which is not guaranteed) from your professor to reschedule with the ARC five days later.
10. If you miss your scheduled test time for any reason, you may reschedule, but you must provide at least five days’ notice of the new date and time.
11. If you do not show for the exam, the exam will be returned to the instructor.
12. You may not adjust the time or date of a testing reservation except in an emergency or if the professor changes the date/time of the exam for the entire class. The instructor must give either verbal or written confirmation of a change in date or time to an ARC staff member.
13. You are responsible for notifying ARC if test dates are changed or canceled by your professor. You also must notify ARC if you withdraw from a course.
14. If you miss two scheduled testing reservations without notifying ARC, you must meet with the assistant director before you will be allowed to schedule any further exams.
15. No bathroom breaks are permitted unless you have been testing for more than three hours or it is part of a previously approved accommodation.
16. No hats, hoods or sunglasses may be worn in the testing rooms.
17. Besides a pencil/answer sheet, only testing materials confirmed by the professor will be allowed. Scratch paper will be provided by ARC.

Faculty, please note the ARC must have the student’s exam at least 48 hours before the reservation, by uploading to the secure link we will send for each test. Our office may need to convert your test to Braille or other formats. It is vital that we have time to do this if the student is scheduled in the ARC testing center.