If your child gets extended time at school through an IEP or 504 plan, they can request the same support on the ISEE. The Educational Records Bureau (ERB) grants accommodations — including extended time — but the process has one rule that trips up a lot of families: you apply for accommodations before you register for a test date, not after.
Get that order wrong and you may be looking at rescheduling fees or a scramble to move your test. So here's the whole process, start to finish, in the order you should actually do it.
Who Qualifies for ISEE Accommodations
Accommodations exist for students with a documented disability that affects how they take a test. Think processing speed, ADHD, dyslexia, a physical or medical condition, or a diagnosed learning difference.
ERB looks for three things to line up:
- A documented disability — a diagnosis from a qualified professional
- Current paperwork — a psycho-educational evaluation from within the last three years, or a current-year IEP, 504, or school accommodation plan
- Confirmation from your child's school that they already use the accommodation in class
That last point matters more than parents expect. ERB isn't looking to grant extended time to a student who's never had it before. The accommodation you request should match what your child already receives day to day. If they get 1.5x time on classroom tests, that's the case you're making — not a bigger ask than what school provides.
The Two Extended-Time Options
Extended time comes in two levels: 1.5x (fifty percent more time) and 2x (double time). Of the two, 1.5x is the more commonly requested and granted.
Here's what that looks like in practice. Standard timing on the Lower Level Reading Comprehension section is 25 minutes. With accommodations:
| Section (Lower Level Reading) | Standard | 1.5x | 2x |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 25 min | 37.5 min | 50 min |
The multiplier applies across the timed sections, not just one. On a test that already runs close to three hours at standard pace, double time is a long day for any child — which is part of why 1.5x is the more frequent grant. Ask for the level your child genuinely uses, not the maximum.
Extended time isn't the only accommodation ERB offers. Depending on the documentation, students may qualify for supports like a reader or audio version of the test, large print, a scribe, marking answers directly in the test booklet, or access to needed medical supplies. Extended time is simply the most requested.
What Documentation You'll Need
You'll submit two kinds of paperwork: proof of the disability and confirmation from the school. Your supporting documentation should include one or more of the following:
- A psycho-educational evaluation dated within the last three years
- A current IEP or 504 Plan
- An Independent School Accommodation Plan from the current year
- A letter from a physician if the accommodation is for a medical or physical condition
On top of that, ERB requires a current school statement — a form completed by a school administrator or specialist describing the accommodations your child already uses. This is the piece families most often forget to line up early, because it depends on someone at the school having time to fill it out. Request it well before you need it.
How to Apply, Step by Step
The whole request runs through your ERB parent account. Here's the sequence:
- Log into your parent account (or create one), add your student, and open their dashboard.
- Go to "Accommodations" and select "New Request."
- Download the current school statement form and get it completed by your child's school.
- Upload your supporting documentation — the evaluation, IEP/504, or physician letter — along with the school statement, and submit for review.
- Wait for ERB's decision before you register for a test date.
- Once approved, register for a test offering that includes your approved accommodations.
That fifth step is the one to circle. ERB is explicit: to avoid rescheduling fees, don't register for a test until after you've received your accommodations decision. Registering first and hoping approval catches up is how families end up paying to move a date.
Timeline: Start Earlier Than You Think
Once ERB has your complete request — both the documentation and the school statement — review takes roughly a week. The word "complete" is doing the heavy lifting there. If the school statement is missing or a document is out of date, the clock doesn't start.
Because the school-side paperwork can take time to gather (especially over summer or around holidays), give yourself a cushion. Aim to have everything submitted several weeks before you'd want to register. If your child is testing in the fall, summer is the right time to request records and file the request while school staff are still reachable.
One more useful detail: an approved accommodation is valid for 15 months from the date of approval. So if your child may test more than once in an admissions cycle, a single approval usually covers both attempts.
For help mapping accommodations onto your broader test-date planning, see our guide on when your child should take the ISEE.
Will Accommodations Show Up on the Score Report?
Parents worry that requesting extended time will "flag" a score and count against their child in admissions. Standard, ERB-approved accommodations are meant to level the field, not mark a student as different. If you have questions about how a specific accommodation is reported, ask ERB directly — policies can change, and it's worth getting the current answer straight from the source rather than a forum.
What's clear is this: a child who needs extended time and takes the test without it isn't showing schools their real ability. The accommodation is there so the score reflects what your child knows, not how fast they process under a clock.
Preparing With Extended Time in Mind
Once accommodations are approved, build them into how your child practices. A student who preps under standard timing and then tests with 1.5x will feel the mismatch — pacing that felt frantic in prep suddenly has breathing room, which sounds good but can actually throw off rhythm.
- Practice full sections at your child's approved time so the pacing feels normal
- Use the extra minutes for what they're meant for — rechecking work, not stalling
- Run at least one full-length practice test under accommodated conditions before test day
A diagnostic test is a smart first step even before accommodations come through. It tells you which sections need the most work, so the extra time on test day goes where it actually helps. For the bigger picture on structuring prep, our guide on how to prepare for the ISEE walks through building a plan around your child's needs.
The Short Version
- Accommodations require a documented disability, current paperwork, and proof the school already provides the support
- Extended time comes as 1.5x or 2x — 1.5x is the common grant
- Submit documentation plus a school statement through your ERB parent account
- Apply before you register — approval first, test date second
- Review takes about a week once your request is complete; approval lasts 15 months
Because timelines and requirements can shift, confirm the current process on ERB's official accommodations page before you file. Then read up on what the day itself looks like in our guide to ISEE test day — knowing the routine ahead of time is one more way to help an anxious test-taker walk in calm.