Many different forms of assistance with reading and seeing are available to students with disabilities if their requests have been approved by the College Board.
College Board Approval Required
Use of accommodations without College Board approval results in cancellation of test scores. Learn how to submit a request.
Details on Reading and Seeing Accommodations
These are some examples of reading and seeing accommodations:
- Large-print test book
- Braille with raised line drawings, contracted
- Raised line drawings (also called Braille graphs and figures)
- Pre-recorded audio (MP3 via streaming)
- Human Reader
- Magnification device
- Assistive Technology Compatible test form
Requests must specify which accommodation is needed. The College Board generally assumes that a student will use only one reading/seeing accommodation during a test. Students who request more than one (for instance, pre-recorded audio and a large-print test format) should include an explanation of why multiple accommodations are needed.
Eligibility for Reading and Seeing Accommodations
In most cases, the accommodations listed above are requested for students who have disabilities that impair their ability to read or see. These include the following:
- Blindness
- Other visual impairment
- Severe reading disability
If a student is able to read, but reads slowly, extended time may be more appropriate than a reading/seeing accommodation.
Some students who request reading/seeing accommodations will need additional accommodations, such as extended time, or they will need a scribe or another way to record responses.
Learn how to document requests for reading and seeing accommodations.
Audio test formats
In addition to braille, large print, and human readers, two audio test formats are available for students with disabilities that impact reading or seeing for most College Board tests:
- Pre-recorded audio (MP3 via streaming): Audio version of test, delivered through an internet streaming application. Allows student with reading or visual impairments to listen to the test. Get practice tests by downloading (Available for SAT and PSAT) SAT MP3 files or PSAT 10 MP3 files.
- Assistive technology-compatible test format: Digital test form, delivered on a flash drive, for use with screen readers and other assistive technology. (Available for SAT, PSAT and most AP exams), Practice with assistive technology: Get SAT practice tests in optimized Microsoft Word documents or PSAT 10 practice tests in optimized Microsoft Word documents.