Both the SAT and ACT offer disabled students the option of receiving extra time. According to the College Board, students qualify for extended time “only if their disability causes them to work more slowly than other students.” In order to apply, the student needs to provide proper documentation verifying they have a diagnosed disability.

The ACT, starting in fall of 2017, will also be offering English Learner Support. This is for students who are currently learning English and may not be able to demonstrate their knowledge properly.

I have taken both the ACT and SAT with extra time, and both are very different. The SAT extra time is what one would expect: each section has an extension added to the normal time. The ACT, however, is different. Instead of timed sections and designated break times, there is a five hour time limit. Break times are included in the five hours, so one must manage their time wisely.

Between the two, I prefer the ACT. I can take as much time as I need to in order to complete a section. Usually the math section can take me up to two hours to complete. The rest does not take me nearly as long. With the SAT, there are still times I find myself scrambling to finish because each section is timed.

A student cannot revise their answers once they have completed a section; this is true for both tests. However, I can understand why people would prefer the SAT extra time method. With the SAT, a student is guaranteed to at least start each section, whereas with the ACT, a student could not be paying attention to the time and not finish an entire section.

If you are wondering about extra time, contact your counselor and ask about how to apply.