Accommodated Testing

SDS TESTING OPERATIONS:

SDS proctors in-person quizzes, tests, and exams for SDS registered students taking face-to-face courses at UMBC main campus.

Students schedule their testing appointments in SDS’s Accommodate student portal.

Students with Title IX/OEI supportive measures testing accommodations who are not registered with SDS may be proctored in SDS, but advance notification and arrangements are required. Contact a staff member.

Students: Please book your test appointments well in advance!

• You can book your exams and quizzes for the entire semester at once in Accommodate. It is better to cancel one that is not needed than to wait until the last minute.
• CHANGED Fall 2023: SDS requires 4 days (96 hours) scheduling notice to ensure we have test proctors and testing seats available, and to allow time to get the test delivered to SDS from instructors.
• Given high test proctoring demand and classes being held earlier or later in the day than SDS’s open hours, SDS may not have availability for all students seeking SDS proctoring to take their tests at the same time as their class. Please contact an SDS staff member and your instructor to discuss if alternative time arrangements/solutions are needed.
• MASKING UPDATE: Face mask restrictions have been lifted at UMBC, however, mask-wearing is encouraged for continued health and safety.  Masks are available in our office on request.

TESTING QUESTIONS?

SDS staff are available 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday to assist you via phone and email.

Please let us know promptly (at disAbility@umbc.edu) if you have any trouble utilizing your testing accommodations for your classes.

In email or phone messages, please include specific information so we can assist you, i.e. the name of your course, instructor, test date and time.

SDS Accommodated Testing Hours

Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, and Tuesday and Wednesdays until 6 pm during the semester, when scheduled in advance.

For UMBC students at Shady Grove campus, you do not test at SDS main campus. Please scroll down for USG accommodated testing info and website link.

For UMBC ONLINE-ONLY Courses:

Instructors will set up extended-time testing accommodations in their remote testing platforms (e.g. Blackboard). Students may also be asked to use the Respondus Lockdown browser when testing remotely.

Students should notify instructors of their testing accommodation needs at least 4 days prior to each test date. If in-person proctoring is needed for an online test, please contact SDS staff to discuss arrangements.

 

Placement Testing Accommodations:

Incoming new or current students who would like to request accommodations on a placement test due to a documented disability must first register with SDS with accommodate.

Testing accommodations will be coordinated with an SDS Disability Specialist and communicated to the Academic Success Center (ASC) who administers UMBC’s placement tests.

Please register with SDS at least 2 weeks prior to your Placement Testing window date in order to complete your SD intake appointment prior to testing.

Note: Placement exams cannot be scheduled through the online SDS Accommodate portal.

Test Booking and Administration:

Scheduling quizzes and exams at UMBC (Main campus):

For new or transfer students,  in order to receive testing accommodations, students must register with SDS, engage in an intake appointment, and be approved for accommodations.

Every semester a student is enrolled and would like to utilize accommodated testing, they must submit a Semester Request so that their instructors are notified of their approved testing accommodations via an SDS accommodation letter.

SDS encourages scheduling all quizzes and exams as soon as they are known; the course syllabus often has all dates listed for the entire semester.

Each time a student schedules an exam with SDS, they should also notify their instructor.

Please note: UMBC SDS test scheduling requests must be submitted with at least four days advance notice (96 hours) online through the student portal Accommodate!

Four day advance scheduling ensures testing space/seat availability and allows time for SDS to receive the quizzes/tests from the instructors and ensure they are in accessible formats.

If your exam is on:             Please schedule your exam by the prior:

Monday                                Thursday at 4:00 pm

Tuesday                                Friday at 4:00 pm

Wednesday                           Saturday at 4:00 pm

Thursday                               Sunday at 4:00 pm

Friday                                    Monday at 4:00 pm

SDS Test Administration POLICIES (Main Campus):

• Only SDS students who have been approved for testing accommodations and have a current “Semester Request” on file can schedule tests at SDS.
• Examinees are responsible for scheduling testing appointments with 4 days advance notice and notifying instructors of test dates.
• Your SDS proctored exams must be scheduled during the same time as the class, or as stated in an approval email from the instructor or posted course schedule.
• In cases where class schedules or final exams conflict with taking the test at the same time as the class (often due to extended time overlap), examinees must request written email permission from the instructor for an agreed upon/proposed alternate time and date.
• If you have evening exams, please discuss them with your instructor since SDS proctoring hours may not be available at the same time as the test.
• Books, coats, backpacks, phones, smartwatches, and other personal items must be stored in the SDS main office or the M/P 2nd floor lockers.
• Mobile phones or other internet-capable or Bluetooth devices are NOT allowed in the test rooms. They must be turned off prior to entering the testing room and stored in the SDS office or lockers. Calculators are permitted ONLY if approved by SDS or the instructor.
• Arrive on time (early). Arrivals after 15 minutes late for regular quizzes/exams and 30 minutes late for finals may be considered “no-show” and may only reschedule with permission from your instructor. Instructors may have additional timing requirements.
• All food, candy or gum, and tobacco are prohibited in the testing room. Covered drinks may be allowed. Students with food/drink accommodation needs will be seated away from computer stations.
• Allowable materials in the testing room are those authorized by the instructor or disability specialist. Hats, scarves, jackets, wallets, pen cases, or other personal items are prohibited from your testing area.
• The testing room must be quiet at all times; please be mindful of your peers as this is a reduced-distraction testing environment.
• All testing materials including the test packet, note sheets, formula sheets, tables, scratch-offs, and scratch paper must be turned in to SDS staff upon test completion.
• Testing must be completed by the posted closing hours for testing for each day. If you arrive late for your appointment and SDS closes, you may lose testing time.
• If an SDS test proctor has reason to believe that a student is cheating during testing, the proctor will take the test and all materials. The incident will be documented and the instructor notified immediately.

Find test scheduling instructions here.