Recharge & Refocus: Testing Break Accommodations for Students with ADHD
Standardized tests (like the SAT and PSAT) can last several hours, and even scheduled breaks may not be enough for students with ADHD. If symptoms like inattention, restlessness, or mental fatigue interfere with sustained testing, extra or extended breaks may be the right solution to help maintain focus and performance.
Who’s Eligible and Why ADHD Matters
The College Board allows students with documented ADHD to request break accommodations when standard breaks are insufficient, especially when difficulties focusing impair performance consistently over time. While ADHD isn’t classified as a learning disability, the ADA recognizes it as a legitimate disability impacting major life activities such as test-taking
Types of Break Accommodations
Extra Breaks – Standard‑length breaks (usually 5 minutes) added between sections.
Extended Breaks – Longer breaks, typically twice the standard duration.
Breaks as Needed – Flexible breaks initiated by the student (via a “Pause” button), usually for medical or severe ADHD-related exhaustion, time stops while paused
Students with ADHD often request extended breaks or breaks as needed to manage restlessness, mental fatigue, or the need to move and reset focus.
What Documentation to Include
Your request should align with College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) documentation guidelines for ADHD:
A clear, ADHD diagnosis from a licensed professional based on DSM criteria
Current evaluations
A summary of symptoms and functional limitations, including how ADHD affects test focus and stamina
Teacher observations via the Teacher Survey Form describing how ADHD affects timed tests in school.
A rationale explaining why standard breaks aren’t sufficient and how additional breaks address those challenges
How Breaks Are Administered
Once approved by College Board:
Extra or extended breaks are automatically built into the testing flow, students don’t need to trigger them manually.
For breaks as needed, a “Pause” button appears so students can take breaks when needed. Time is not counted during those pauses
Planning Tips: The Timeline & Process
Start early, ideally several months before the test date, to allow time for evaluations and SSD processing.
Collect up-to-date evaluations and teacher feedback and consult your school’s SSD Coordinator to ensure materials are complete and submitted properly.
Confirm submission deadlines, late applications are less likely to be approved in time for test day
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does extra time automatically include extra breaks?
Not always. Breaks are a separate accommodation, though extended time on SAT Suite tests does come with extra breaks automatically.
Is standard extended time enough for ADHD?
Some students may need breaks in addition to extended time, especially if attention drifts or fatigue sets in despite extra time.
Does taking breaks reflect on college applications?
No, colleges aren’t informed if accommodations were used, your score reports remain unaffected.
Final Thoughts
For many students with ADHD, extra or extended break accommodations aren’t about getting an advantage, they're about ensuring fairness. With breaks that align with real needs, students can manage symptoms like mental fatigue and refocus during long exams, ultimately allowing them to better reflect their true knowledge and ability.
Tampa Pediatric Psychology provides comprehensive ADHD evaluations, complete with a detailed written report that meets the documentation requirements for accommodation applications. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation or learn more about how we can support your family through the accommodations process.
Check out this article for more information on testing accommodations: https://accommodations.collegeboard.org/request-accommodations/provide-documentation/frequently-requested