SAT Exams: Is Extra Time For Some Students 'Cheating'? US Is Divided

Last Updated:May 19, 2026, 09:41 IST

According to the ACT, the percentage of students receiving special testing arrangements increased from 4.1% in 2013 to 7% last year.

SAT Exams: The debate over extra time given to some students in SAT and ACT exams — important entrance tests used for college admissions in countries like the US, Canada, and the UK — is creating divisions among parents, students, and teachers in the US, with many questioning whether the system is being misused by wealthy families to gain an unfair advantage in college admissions.

For years, students with diagnosed learning disabilities, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and medical conditions have been given additional time or other accommodations to finish college-entrance exams. But as the number of students receiving such benefits continues to rise, critics argue that some families are exploiting loopholes to secure better scores, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, a resident of Long Island, expressed shock when he learned that at least 60 peers at his daughter’s high school received extra time to complete the ACT during their junior year.

Mudgil, a dermatologist, claimed that many of those cases were not genuine. “It’s cheating," he told the news outlet, arguing that students without accommodations are placed at a disadvantage in an already competitive admissions process.

The issue has become particularly contentious in affluent communities, where some parents are reportedly spending as much as $10,000 on private evaluations from neuropsychologists to gastroenterologists or seeking medical diagnoses that support accommodation requests.

Some parents have said that families are also finding teachers who already allow their children extra time during school tests and asking them to write letters saying the student has anxiety or another condition that needs special treatment.

Mudgil discussed the issue in two episodes of his podcast, which usually focuses on skincare, fitness, and motivational stories. He said society is raising children who may struggle to handle pressure in the future.

“We’re grooming a generation that is just not going to be capable of performing under pressure, and that’s a scary thought," he said in his podcast, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Special accommodations in exams can differ based on a student’s condition. They may include 50% extra time, double time, separate rooms for fewer distractions, or unlimited breaks. In some severe anxiety cases, students are allowed to complete the ACT over four days instead of one. Common reasons for getting extra time include ADHD, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Data from testing agencies show the sharp rise in accommodations. According to the ACT, the percentage of students receiving special testing arrangements increased from 4.1% in 2013 to 7% last year. The College Board, which administers the SAT, reported a rise from 2% to 6.7% over the past decade.

Parents who support accommodations, however, claim that the criticism unfairly targets students with genuine issues. Marni Levine, a college counselor from New Jersey whose daughter was diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder, told the news outlet that families often face suspicion and judgment despite legitimate medical needs.

“You don’t want this for your kid," Levine said, adding that extra time alone does not guarantee admission into elite universities.

“If you’ve got an awesomely average kid, take the win," Levine said. “Having an extra half-hour on the test is not going to get your kid into Harvard."

ACT spokesman Juan Elizondo said getting extra time isn’t as simple as paying a neuropsychologist for an evaluation, which can cost between $2,000 and upwards of $10,000 and often isn’t covered by insurance.

Experts remain divided. Some psychologists acknowledge that accommodations can be abused, especially when evaluations are sought shortly before college entrance exams. Others warn that dismissing accommodations as “cheating" undermines students who genuinely require support to perform fairly.

Scott Hamilton, an Atlanta-based clinical psychologist, described a “surreal" experience with a family after he evaluated their high-school junior and didn’t find evidence that an accommodation on the SAT was

needed.

“In what universe do we live in when I said their kid functions really well and they were mad at me?" said Hamilton. “Not finishing the SAT is not a disability."

“I agree wholeheartedly that accommodations are being abused, and my profession has contributed to this," he said. “I don’t think it’s a willful conspiracy, but we lean toward wanting to help."

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