Academic Support Center

An exam accommodation refers to any approved accommodation which relates to the way a student takes his/her exam. This includes but is not limited to extended time on exams, a reduced distraction testing location, use of scribe/readers, and use of assistive technology during an exam. The testing center defines an exam as any quiz, test, or final for a course.

All students wishing to utilize exam accommodations need to have worked with C.A.R. and received a letter of Accommodations.

For each course the student would like to utilize their exam accommodations, they must contact their professor privately to:

• Submit their Letter of Accommodations.
• Discuss all exam accommodations for the entire semester.
• Leave the meeting with an understanding of whether the professor will administer the exams or Testing Services will administer the exams.

Exam Accommodations

Once a student has submitted their Letter of Accommodation . . .

• The professor adjusts their online exams to provide accommodations such as extended time, or submits their in-person exams to Testing Services following the guidelines outlined in the Faculty Services section here.
• If the testing is at our center, the Student submits their Letter of Accommodation to the Academic Support Center (emailing academicsupport@mccc.edu) and then submits an exam request to the center no later than three business days prior to the exam, and our office can assist in setting up the exam accommodation. For those students submitting an exam request form, we email confirmation to both the student and faculty approximately three business days prior to the exam with information about what accommodations are needed.

EXTENDED TIME ON EXAMS

The most commonly used online learning platforms allow faculty to extend the time of their exam for students who have accommodations. If you have an online exam, it must be administered via Honorlock unless there is accommodation.

For example, an 80-minute exam, a student with 50% extended time should be given 120 minutes while a student with 100% extended time would get 160 minutes. Providing extra time on an exam may cause the exam to run over your typical class period and create a conflict for the student with another class. The student will notify faculty if a time conflict will occur, and will work with them to make appropriate arrangements.

BREAKS DURING EXAMS WITHOUT TIME PENALTY

If a student has this accommodation on their Letter of Accommodation the student is permitted an extension to their exam time to account for breaks. Students are allowed to walk, stretch, use the restroom, stand up, etc., outside of the exam room. For online exams, students may move off camera. The student will be given 10 minutes of break time per hour of testing time (see table below). During a break, if testing in person, students are not permitted to leave the room with their cellphone, or any belongings not specified on their LOA. For students taking exams online, they are not permitted to access technology while on a break.

Please note that this time should be applied in addition to any other accommodation. So for example, if the class has 80 minutes for an exam, and a student is approved for breaks and 50% extended time, then they should get 120 minutes for the extended time and 20 minutes for the breaks for a total of 140 minutes.

Exam Time

USE OF A CALCULATOR

If a student needs to use a calculator for their exams, faculty are asked to consider setting up their exam in a way that does not prevent a calculator on their work surface.

A note about time conflicts for students:  If receiving extended time on an exam will cause a time conflict with another class, you must notify your professor as soon as possible so they can work with you on making appropriate arrangements.

If you need to reschedule an exam with the Academic Support Center, for example if your in-class exam has been postponed, please contact the office at academicsupport@mccc.edu using your Mercer Email account for verification.

Time Conflicts

Providing extra time on an exam may cause the exam to run over a student's typical class period and create a conflict for the student with another class. The student will notify faculty if a time conflict will occur, and will work with them to make appropriate arrangements. The Academic Support Center can provide a notification letter of an exam being taken to the student following the exam being taken.

Rescheduling

If a student has submitted an exam request and the exam has been rescheduled or canceled by the professor please notify the office by contacting academicsupport@mccc.edu