Do You Qualify for Testing Accommodations?

Understanding Eligibility, Documentation, and Common Misconceptions

At Ginsburg Advanced, we’ve spent over a decade guiding students and professionals through the accommodations process—from high school exams to graduate admissions, law school assessments, and professional licensure. We specialize in LSAT® accommodations, law school accommodations, and support for exams administered by ETS®, including the GRE® and Praxis®, as well as the MPRE® and bar exam.

We don’t just advise—we prepare every aspect of your accommodations paperwork, including eligibility determinations, documentation strategy, and coordination with qualified professionals. If you’re wondering whether you qualify, this guide will clarify what matters most.

🧠 Diagnosis Alone Isn’t Enough: You Need a Current Functional Limitation

One of the most common misconceptions about accommodations is that having a diagnosis automatically qualifies you. It doesn’t.

To be eligible for accommodations, you must demonstrate that your condition causes a current functional limitation—a measurable impact on your ability to access or complete the exam under standard conditions.

Here’s what that means:

• You don’t need a long history of the condition. For example, if you recently broke your arm, you may need a scribe to write your answers. You wouldn’t have documentation from childhood—but your current limitation is real and valid.

• You don’t need constant re-diagnosis for ongoing disabilities. If you were diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability years ago, documentation that’s 3–5 years old may still be sufficient—especially if it clearly shows how your condition impacts test-taking.

What Testing Agencies Require

Most testing agencies—including LSAC® (for the LSAT®), NCBE® (for the MPRE® and bar exam), and ETS® (for the GRE® and Praxis®)—require:

1. Qualified Professional Approval: A licensed clinician with expertise in the diagnosed condition who will support to it request

2. Documented Diagnosis: A formal evaluation using accepted criteria (e.g., DSM-5)

3. Current Functional Limitation: Evidence that the condition affects your ability to take the test under standard conditions

At Ginsburg, we help students gather, interpret, and present this documentation in a way that meets each agency’s standards.

What Disorders Qualify?

Accommodations are available for a wide range of conditions—but eligibility depends on how those conditions affect your test-taking. Here’s a breakdown:

✅ Neurological & Learning Disorders

• ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Symptoms: Distractibility, impulsivity, difficulty sustaining attention

• Test Impact: May skip instructions, lose focus, or require extended time

• Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and other Learning Disabilities

• Symptoms: Difficulty processing written or numerical information

• Test Impact: May need assistive tech, alternate formats, or extra time

✅ Mental Health Disorders

A growing number of students are receiving accommodations for mental health conditions, especially as awareness increases.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Symptoms: Excessive worry, restlessness, physical symptoms (e.g., nausea, racing heart)

• Test Impact: May freeze under pressure, overthink answers, or require breaks

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Symptoms: Intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, avoidance of triggering environments

• Test Impact: Difficulty concentrating, may need separate testing rooms

• Depression, OCD, Panic Disorder, and others

• Symptoms: Fatigue, intrusive thoughts, emotional dysregulation

• Test Impact: May require extended time, breaks, or alternate testing environments

👁️ Visual & Physical Disabilities: Why Format Matters

Ginsburg Advanced was founded out of lived experience. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury, I experienced symptoms of post-concussion syndrome and long-term vision issues due to a blowout of my orbital socket. These challenges made digital testing nearly impossible.

For students with visual processing disorders, convergence insufficiency, photophobia, or physical impairments, accommodations must go beyond time extensions. They may include:

• Paper-delivered testing instead of screen-based formats

• Answer sheets with large print or simplified layouts

• Permission to circle answers directly in the test booklet

• Reduced testing duration or scheduled breaks to mitigate fatigue

• Assistive technology or ergonomic setups for physical strain

These accommodations aren’t just helpful—they’re essential for equitable access.

💬 Why Ginsburg Advanced?

We are accommodations experts. We:

• Prepare every aspect of your accommodations paperwork

• Guide your clinician on what documentation is required

• Strategically map your symptoms to functional limitations

• Tailor your application to each testing agency’s standards

• Advocate for your right to equitable access with clarity and compassion

Whether you’re preparing for the LSAT®, applying to law school, or facing the MPRE®, bar exam, GRE®, or Praxis®, we’re here to make sure your needs are understood—and met.

📅 Ready to Talk?

If you think you may be eligible for accommodations, don’t wait. Schedule an accommodations appointment with our expert team today. We’ll help you understand your options, prepare your paperwork, and advocate for the support you deserve.