Extra time appropriate only if the student has a documented disability

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Reader comment on:
Student Backlash Brews Against Untimed Tests
in response to reader comment: high perceptages

Submitted by Gretchen, Aug 22, 2007 10:56

25% seems a rather high percentage, and makes me wonder if the people asking "who gets extra time" are actually checking for accomodation sheets.

However, those who have a documented disablity for which extra time on tests is part of their IEP or 504, extra time on the SAT is appropriate. Those students who are complaining about their admission to colleges due to additional time don't have a clue what a learning disability, for example, is about. If they did, they would realize that extra time just allows these students to show what they are truely capable of doing.

As a person with documented learning disabilities and a higher iq, I can say that some of my high school grades came from the 2 subjects where I was in a special education classroom for the subject. English was one of them. Even in special ed English, I achieved grades from C to B. Only in my senior year did I take a regular ed English class, and then I chose two of the easier choices (science fiction lit and creative writting). Without help from my high school and accommodatations from my college, my gifts could not have come out. Now I am studying for my masters degree. Things take me longer than my more typical peers, but my gifts (I am twice exceptional) shine throough in my finished products (papers, exams, etc).

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
The dyslexic kids who get into Ivy League Schools usually don't get in because they are getting more time for... [MORE]	kim Houser	Oct 3, 2007 23:06
I am working with an MD who is dyslexic, Garth Vaz @ www.gvazmd.com, to advocate for untimed tests. Dr. Vaz... [MORE]	Leslie N	Feb 8, 2008 10:50
My son was an LD student and also was a D-F student until beginning his junior year of high school... [MORE]	Bill	Sep 3, 2007 22:27
Sir, It is people like you who make comments like this that really sets the fairness scale of children and adults... [MORE]	Christine Graffer	Jan 3, 2008 12:04
Wow Christine!! You took the words right out of my mouth. I have the exact same situation where my oldest... [MORE]	Pamela	Feb 27, 2008 09:51
There should be no time limit on any test unless time and pressure are part of what is being evaluated;... [MORE]	Ken O'Connor	Aug 24, 2007 23:15
Sure, at first blush it doesn't seem fair... But, I'm sure if the author thought about it, she wouldn't wan't... [MORE]	Maria	Aug 20, 2007 07:10
things are going to be harere this year. I have received a few of these articles this summer through professional... [MORE]	syd	Aug 17, 2007 21:49
The percentages at many of these New York private schools are approaching 25%. Miss Paxton pointed out that half the... [MORE]	Karen	Aug 18, 2007 00:18
25% seems a rather high percentage, and makes me wonder if the people asking "who gets extra time" are actually...	Gretchen	Aug 22, 2007 10:56
Miss Paxton obviously is not aware that learning disabilities are not an indicator of lower intelligence. Just because one student... [MORE]	Christine	Aug 17, 2007 19:19
The article doesn't mention intelligence in relation to learning disabilities, but what is the factor in rating intelligence if it... [MORE]	Jill Richardson	Aug 18, 2007 00:35
When a student with a learning disability is given the accommodation of extra time for test taking, this is simply... [MORE]	NANCY SIMONETTI	Oct 3, 2007 16:40
This student shows a total lack of understanding regarding disabilities. The reason why students with disabilities can finally compete for... [MORE]	Betsy Smith	Aug 17, 2007 19:09
I know the student, and she is going to an Ivy League school (haven gotten there entirely on her own... [MORE]	close friend	Aug 18, 2007 13:03
As a High School special education teacher I was shocked to read this article. For several years, I have had... [MORE]	Beth	Aug 17, 2007 17:20
A a specialist in learning disorders, I too am greatly disappointed by the ignorant comments in this article. By... [MORE]	jan kerr	Aug 20, 2007 22:24
I am sorry that Miss Paxton feels that the situation is unfair, but I presume she is uninformed. As someone... [MORE]	Doreen Engel	Aug 17, 2007 10:02
Research has shown multiple times that the use of extra time is not valuable to the student who does not... [MORE]	mary b.	Aug 17, 2007 04:10
Gentlemen: Accomodations for the SAT and ACT are given for verified learning disabilities for which the student has already received accomodations... [MORE]	Pat O'Brien	Aug 17, 2007 02:59
Barbara questioned the idea of overdiagnosing. I'm sure that in some cases this is true. Since you asked the question... [MORE]	Linda	Aug 17, 2007 01:27
Linda's statement that "It's the attitude. If it isn't a problem for me why should it be a problem for... [MORE]	Barbara Wilson	Aug 16, 2007 21:26
Because LDs have a genetic component, as does ADHD and certain other exceptionalities, they can run in families. In my family,... [MORE]	Gretchen	Aug 22, 2007 11:13
The first remark that really is most inaccurate is said almost at the beginning of this article...in that if a... [MORE]	julie	Aug 16, 2007 20:49
extra time should be eliminated. students with extra time and learning disabilities at Ivy League schools should be expelled, and... [MORE]	angry father	Aug 16, 2007 22:25
The presence of a learning disability in a student does not mean that the student is not a "smart person."... [MORE]	Lee	Aug 17, 2007 17:08
It is too bad that you don't understand that to have a specific learning disability a student must have at... [MORE]	LeeAnn	Aug 18, 2007 10:14
LeeAnn, do you honestly think that every student with extra time has a legitimate learning disability? The 3-4% record is... [MORE]	Barbara Wilson	Aug 18, 2007 13:16
One must, as others have commented, have at least an average IQ to be LD. There are people who are LD... [MORE]	Gretchen	Aug 22, 2007 11:27
As a dyslexia therapist in a public school and the parent of three children with ADHD and Dyslexia, one also... [MORE]	Linda Neal	Aug 16, 2007 14:48
Ms Neal, that's quite an assumption you are making. Miss Paxton might have a learning disability and choose not to... [MORE]	Jill Richardson	Aug 16, 2007 21:09
I totally agree with Linda Neal in that everyone should have untimed tests. If the research shows that there is... [MORE]	Carreme	Aug 17, 2007 11:08
Please try to understand that the problem that dyslexic people have is how they process information. Having extra time just... [MORE]	Christine Graffer	Jan 3, 2008 12:23
I wish when I took the SAT test I had to opertoonty to have a comdtion I tooking in the... [MORE]	Kurt	Aug 16, 2007 11:03