Over the last ten years, the number of high school students receiving extra time on university exams has surged more than threefold. This trend has sparked frustration among parents, who feel that some families are “scamming” the system by paying as much as $10,000 to secure accommodations through questionable medical diagnoses.
According to the College Board, around 6.7% of students taking the SAT in 2025 received extra time, a significant increase from just 2% in 2016.
The ACT mirrored this rise, with 7% of students utilizing accommodations in 2025, compared to 4.1% in 2013, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
These accommodations are generally provided for students with verified learning disabilities, like ADD. However, some parents at various schools argue that the proportion of students getting extra time far exceeds those with genuine diagnoses, even surpassing the figures released by the College Board.
“Honestly, it feels like 80 percent of students are getting extra time when they don’t truly need it,” one frustrated parent shared at a college admissions fair in New Jersey, according to the Journal.
Admissions consultant Laurie Kopp-Weingarten noted that this accommodation was supposed to create a fair environment. “But now, it seems like the scale is tipping towards those who have the financial means to exploit it,” she added.
The prevalence of these accommodations seems to have a correlation with wealth. Areas like New Jersey and Long Island report higher numbers of students receiving extra time for exams, as noted in the magazine.
Some affluent parents have reportedly paid neuropsychologists around $10,000 to obtain a diagnosis that enables their children to qualify for extra time on tests.
Others are turning to gastroenterologists for diagnoses related to digestive issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome, to qualify for extended breaks during exams.
For ACT test takers, even conditions like depression or anxiety guarantee them double time or unlimited rest, allowing some to complete the exam over four days.
Atlanta psychologist Scott Hamilton expressed his concerns about the misuse of accommodations: “It’s clear that the system is being abused, and my field is partly responsible. It’s not a deliberate effort, but we often want to accommodate.” He recounted a particularly surreal experience where a family became upset with him for not diagnosing their child with a disorder when they were doing quite well.
“What kind of society is this where I tell them their child is functioning fine, and they respond with anger?” Hamilton questioned.
He asserted, “Not being able to finish the SAT is not a disability.”
To obtain extra time, a history of accommodations is usually required. An ACT representative mentioned that a doctor’s note alone doesn’t suffice for qualification.
That said, some parents are merely asking educators to grant their children extra time during school tests and writing letters to provide justification.
Adarsh Vijay Mudgir, a parent from Long Island, noted seeing at least 60 classmates of her daughter receiving extra time. “This feels like cheating,” she commented. “It puts our kids at a disadvantage.”
On the other hand, parents of students who genuinely need these accommodations argue their necessity, despite potential abuses in the system. Marni Levine, a college counselor from New Jersey, recalled the skepticism she faced regarding her daughter’s extra time, before those same parents began inquiring about her doctor.
“If you have a fairly typical child, chase that win,” Levine advised, remarking, “An extra 30 minutes on an exam won’t guarantee your child a spot at Harvard.”
