Facilitating Testing Accommodations

On This Page

• Testing Accommodation Responsibilities
• Faculty-Arranged Testing Accommodations
• Using Purdue Testing Services
• Who to Contact
• Frequently Asked Questions

Testing Accommodation Responsibilities

The DRC determines reasonable accommodations through the disability accommodation process and communicates approved accommodations through the student's Course Accommodation Letter.

Once a student releases a CAL, the instructor is responsible for ensuring that the approved testing accommodations are implemented for applicable assessments.

Testing accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• extended testing time;
• a distraction-reduced or private testing environment;
• breaks during exams;
• assistive technology;
• alternative exam formats; and
• other disability-related testing adjustments identified on the student's CAL.

The specific accommodations approved for an individual student are listed on that student's CAL.

Faculty-Arranged Testing Accommodations

Faculty and academic departments may provide approved testing accommodations directly rather than using Purdue Testing Services.

When arranging accommodations directly, instructors are responsible for ensuring that the testing environment and administration provide the accommodations identified on the student's CAL.

Extended Time

When a student is approved for extended time, the additional time is based on the amount of time provided to the class for the assessment.

For example, if the class receives 60 minutes for an exam:

• 150% extended time = 90 minutes; and
• 200% extended time = 120 minutes.

Extended time generally applies to timed, graded assessments completed in a single testing session, including exams and quizzes.

Testing Environment

If a student's CAL includes an accommodation related to the testing environment, faculty should provide a setting consistent with the accommodation identified on the CAL.

For example, a distraction-reduced testing environment should provide substantially fewer distractions than the student's typical classroom testing environment. It does not necessarily require the student to test alone unless a private testing environment is specifically listed as an accommodation.

Using Purdue Testing Services

Purdue Testing Services is a separate University office from the Disability Resource Center. PTS administers accommodated course exams at the request of instructors and manages its own testing-center operations, scheduling processes, deadlines, capacity, exam submission requirements, and day-of-testing procedures.

Faculty who choose to use PTS should follow the current instructor procedures published by Purdue Testing Services.

Who to Contact

Contact the Disability Resource Center When:

• you have a question about what an accommodation listed on a student's CAL means;
• you have questions about how an approved accommodation may apply to a particular assessment;
• you believe an accommodation may fundamentally alter an essential course requirement; or
• you need to connect with the student's assigned Access Consultant.

Contact Purdue Testing Services When:

• you have questions about scheduling an exam through PTS;
• you have questions about PTS deadlines or procedures;
• you need assistance with RegisterBlast or a Testing Instruction Form;
• you have questions about submitting an exam to PTS;
• you have questions about PTS capacity or testing locations; or
• you have questions about an exam being administered by PTS.

Purdue Testing Services can be contacted at testingservices@purdue.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions