Accommodations - Overview

GED Testing Accommodations for Documented Disabilities

GED Testing Service believes that:

"Not all individuals can be fairly tested under standard administrations of regular print editions of the GED Tests. In such cases, special administrations may be arranged at the request of the candidate and with the approval of the Chief Examiner and the State GED Testing Administrator…”

1. The State GED Administrator and/or Chief Examiner are available to provide GED test-takers with guidance in understanding the documentation process needed for accommodations.

2. The range of test taking accommodations is determined by the test-taker’s documented disability. Each of the following disabilities severely limits a GED test-taker’s ability to perform essential skills required to pass the GED Tests.

• Intellectual Disabilities: specific to candidates whose highest VIQ, PIQ, or FSIQ score is below 80
• Physical or Chronic Health Disabilities: such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or blindness
• Emotional and Mental Health Disabilities: such as schizophrenia, major depression or Tourette Syndrome
• Specific Learning Disabilities: including perceptual, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, or developmental aphasia
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (ADHD)Disorders

3. All requests for accommodations are considered on an individual basis.

Allowable Accommodations That Can Be Approved at GED Testing Center

All accommodation aids provided by the test-taker will be examined by the Testing Center Chief Examiner.

Wearing of brimmed hats to minimize effects of fluorescent lighting.	Adaptive devices – pencil grip, muscle, skeletal aids such as wrist braces etc. that Test-taker provides	Large print test forms with normal testing time limits
Earplugs or hearing protectors	Glasses with tinted lenses, goggles, magnifying glass	Allergy/dust mask or other chemical sensitivity mask
Gloves	Straight-edge without markings	Taking one test per day
Colored transparency overlays	Post-it notes to mark spatial direction	Priority seating to avoid distractions
Organizers/learning strategies written from memory on Testing Center provided scratch paper	Other similar aids that are compensatory, and which do not give an advantage to an test-taker

Allowable Accommodations Requiring State Administration Approval

English Audiocassette edition (with print reference copy)	Large print edition with extended time	Braille version English-language Braille, U.S. and French Canadian– use of brailler	Use of scribe	Use of Iterpreter for hearing impaired test-taker
Printed test instructions	Extended time	Use of calculator, talking calculator for Part 2 of the Math Test	Frequent supervised breaks	Private room

Unallowable Accommodations

Test reader	Dictionary	Tests read out loud
Spell checker	Weigh scales	Ruler

Process for Approving a Disability Accommodation(s)

Verification of documented disabilities must occur before the test-taker can request special accommodation(s) for GED testing.

All requests for accommodations are considered on an individual basis.

Since extended testing hours and/or special materials are often needed the first point of contact for the test-taker with a disability or advocate is the GED Testing Center.

GED examiners must verify that a qualified professional has evaluated and determined that a disability exists and warrants accommodation(s).

1. Accommodations Forms defining specific accommodation(s) can be downloaded by the test-taker or advocate or obtained by going to a GED Testing Center.

2. Complete documentation including:

• a. Accommodation Form completed by a licensed diagnostician; and
• b. A letter on the diagnostician’s letterhead must accompany the Accommodation Form explaining:
  • how the disability interferes with current functional limitations specific to learning and testing that might affect the test-taker’s ability to take the GED Tests under standard conditions; as well as
  • what reasonable accommodation(s) are requested to assist the test-taker in meeting with success. Note: a teacher classroom report of distractibility is or other presenting factors are not sufficient evidence of a disorder.
• c. Diagnoses are valid for the following time periods:

Disability/Disorder	Time Period Allowable
Emotional/Mental Health Disabilities	6 Months
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders	3 Years
Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities	5 Years
Physical/Chronic Health Disabilities	Current Status

Other documentation will be considered if that is all the Test-taker can provide without undue burden or expense.

3. The completed Accommodation Form and letter are to be returned or sent to:

• a. The GED Testing Center where the test-taker is planning on testing; or to the
• b. State GED Testing Administrator for processing.

4. The GED Testing Center and the test-taker will be notified within two weeks of receipt of the required documents of approved/disapproved testing accommodations. 

Licensed Diagnostician Defined

While both medical and emotional disabilities may be verified through consultation with the test-taker’s medical doctor specific learning disabilities and attention deficits must be diagnosed and verified by professionals licensed to complete education assessments.

1. Public school personnel are responsible to assess, verify and document specific learning disabilities and emotional disabilities for test-takers under the age of 22. The “school system” is responsible to cover the costs associated with the assessment. Based on the outcomes of the evaluation the school district is also responsible for developing an IEP that could include tutoring to prepare a GED testing candidate to take the GED Tests.
2. For persons over 22, the public school system is not responsible to assess, verify and document specific learning disabilities and emotional disabilities. However, with medical doctor documentation a GED testing candidate may consider Vocational Rehabilitation for assessment. Rehabilitation may cover costs associated with assessments if the candidate meets certain conditions.
3. Psychologists and school psychologists may assess specific learning disabilities.
4. Psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists and some other medical doctors are allowed to diagnose Attention-Deficit and Hyperactive Disorders.
5. Social workers evaluations will need to be reviewed by the State GED Testing Administrator to determine if they have the licensure necessary to complete diagnostic assessments. Typically LCSW have the necessary training to meet the standards to determine specific learning disabilities. Social workers (LSW, MSW, SSW, and BSW) are not eligible to conduct the required assessments to determine disorders.

Accommodation Assessment Resources

1. Division of Rehabilitation Services
2. BYU in Provo – (801) 422-7759 the receptionist will arrange for an intake interview. Assessments are completed by student therapists monitored by licensed faculty. The process takes 4-6 weeks.
3. Private diagnosticians