Denied Testing Accommodations? A Board‑Specific Action Plan (2026 update)
- Jun 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 18
Can you appeal a denied testing accommodations request? Yes. AAMC, LSAC, ETS, and the College Board each provide a path for reconsideration or appeal, and the denial letter lists the specific gaps to address. The steps below are board-specific and time-sensitive.
Step 1 · Decode the Denial Letter
All boards list the precise gaps that triggered the “no.” Typical reasons:
Documentation is older than the board’s currency window (LSAC & ETS = 5 yrs; AAMC = 3 yrs).
Evaluation lacks objective data (cognitive scores, symptom scales).
Functional impact isn’t tied to testing conditions (e.g., timed reading).
For College Board, the school submission sometimes omits the “consistency of use” section.
Step 2 · Check the Board’s Clock
Exam | Fastest response option | Deadline to act |
LSAT | Appeal (upload intent form) | Within 2 business days of decision; full appeal docs due in 5 calendar days |
MCAT | Reconsideration (add new info) | Submit within 30 days; AAMC review time ≈ 30 days |
GRE / GMAT | Re‑submit missing docs (ETS “Reconsideration”) | No fixed clock, but act within 2 weeks so ETS can re‑review before your chosen test date |
SAT / AP | Re‑request with added evidence | No formal clock, but College Board advises replying immediately to keep same exam window |
Step 3 · Fill the Gaps Quickly
Update the evaluation
Add current symptom scales (e.g., CAARS, BDI‑II) and objective timed tests if missing.
Ensure evaluator links scores to functional impact on timed, multiple‑choice testing.
Request a clarifying letter from your evaluator that directly addresses every bullet in the denial.
Add collateral evidence: professor letters, grade‑trend charts, therapy notes—whatever the board flagged as absent.
Step 4 · Choose Reconsideration vs. Formal Appeal
Reconsideration (AAMC, ETS): use when you have new data (fresh testing, updated meds).
Formal appeal (LSAC): use when you believe the board mis‑applied its own rules; must cite policy sections.
SAT/AP: College Board simply treats any resubmission with new docs as a new request; include a cover letter referencing the original case ID.
Step 5 · Cover Letter Framework
“On [date] I received notice that my request was denied due to X and Y.
Attached you’ll find updated neuropsychological scores (WAIS‑IV Processing Speed, T=35) that directly address X, and a professor statement documenting timed‑reading difficulty that addresses Y.”
Keep it under 300 words; bullet key attachments.
Step 6 · Track the New Timeline
Board | Re‑review window | When to call |
AAMC | 30 days | If no status change by day 31 |
LSAC | 10 days from full appeal | If no decision by day 11 |
ETS | 2–3 weeks typical | Follow up at 14 days |
College Board | 1–3 weeks | Follow up after 10 days |
Occasionally, the evaluation process reveals broader patterns of anxiety, overcommitment, or burnout that extend beyond testing. Therapy can help reduce some of those reactions.
One-page personal statements that explain the real-world impact on timed exams tend to move faster through review, which aligns with AAMC and ETS guidance. Pair that statement with updated scores to strengthen the request.
Learn more about accommodations evaluations, for the MCAT and the LSAT. You may also want to know why extended time is harder to prove for high-achieving students.
Free guide: What actually gets testing accommodations approved — what reviewers look for, why strong candidates get denied, and what works. Written by a neuropsychologist who writes these evaluations. Get the guide.
Written by Jason Olin, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist.
Dr. Olin provides psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for high-stakes testing and licensing decisions, including FAA-related evaluations. He sees clients onsite in Newport Beach, California, and by telehealth across 43 PSYPACT states and New York.
Updated June 2026; sources: AAMC, LSAC, ETS, College Board policy pages.
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