The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for most medical schools in the United States and Canada. The test was developed and is administered by the Association of American and Medical Colleges (AAMC).
The goal of the test is to help admission offices assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine. It’s a difficult test for most students but for students with a learning disability or mental health condition, it can feel like an impossible hurdle. It also causes students a lot of anxiety and stress because a good MCAT score can make a difference when applying to competitive medical schools.
Similar to any other standardized test, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals are entitled to reasonable academic accommodations if they have a mental or physical disability.
The MCAT has a helpful website that outlines its policy for accommodations for test-takers with disabilities. Most of the students that we work with have mentioned that the website is confusing and they aren’t sure what they need to do or what is required of them in order to get academic accommodations on the MCAT.
The goal of this article is to provide a summary of the MCAT’s policy regarding academic accommodations and the steps that applicants have to take in order to get MCAT accommodations.
How does the ADA apply to MCAT accommodations?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals are entitled to reasonable academic accommodations if they have a mental or physical disability. We have a detailed article on how the ADA applies to standardized tests.
According to the ADA, an individual with a disability is an individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. “Substantially limits” doesn’t mean that an individual is unable to perform an activity. The individual can still perform an activity but their performance needs to be compared to other individuals in the general population that don’t have that disability.
Reasonable accommodations are modifications to tasks or the environment so that an individual with a disability has an equal opportunity to fairly compete and participate in an academic program or job. Reasonable accommodations are changes that allow an individual with a disability to play on a level playing field with their peers and perform at their true potential.
What disabilities are covered under the ADA for MCAT accommodations?
The ADA covers a wide variety of mental and physical disabilities for MCAT accommodations. The most common conditions include:
- Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Dyslexia
- Psychological Conditions (e.g., Depression, Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), etc.…)
- Physical Disabilities
- Sensory impairments (i.e., vision or hearing impairment)
- Physical impairments (e.g., Crohn’s disease, pain due to a physical condition or injury, etc.)
- Acquired head injuries
What documentation do I need to submit for accommodations on the MCAT?
In order to request accommodations, you’ll first have to create a profile on the MCAT Accommodations portal.
Once you register in the portal, follow the prompts and answer their required questions. Under the “History” section you can indicate any standardized tests that you’ve applied and received accommodations for in the past.
In the “Condition” section you’ll have to address the following points:
- Describe your history of receiving accommodation (elementary school, high school, college, previous standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT).
- Other than accommodations, describe what strategies, devices, or medications you ordinarily use to manage your condition.
- Describe how the above-described strategies are insufficient to manage your condition for taking the MCAT.
- Describe when, how, and by whom your condition has been documented in the past.
You can then select the types of accommodations you would like to apply for on the MCAT. The accommodations listed include:
- Stop the clock breaks
- Extended section breaks
- Extended time (25%, 50%, or 100% extra time)
- Requests to bring in personal items (e.g., non-pill form medication, diabetic supplies, height-adjustable workstation)
- Vision aids (e.g., scribe or reader)
You’ll have to provide a rationale for why you believe each of the accommodations selected is necessary. This section will require a lot of time and preparation to complete so it’s important that you take your time and get started on it as early as possible.
After you complete the “Condition” section, you will have to upload a personal statement. The personal statement is important because it helps the AAMC understand your unique experiences and your current functional limitations.
This will help them understand why you need accommodations to help “level the playing field” on the MCAT. The AAMC has a helpful guide on what to include or not include in your personal statement.
You will be also given the opportunity to upload the following documents to help support your request:
- A current evaluation that verifies your diagnosis and functional impairments caused by your condition.
- Prior evaluations that you had completed as a child, teenager, or adult that document your history of impairment and functional limitations.
- Transcripts from your high school, undergraduate, or post-graduate education that help support your request.
- Standardized test scores on prior exams such as the SATs, ACT, GRE, etc.… that help support your request.
- Documentation of past accommodations (e.g., IEP, 504 plans, or past accommodations on other standardized tests).
- Supporting academic documents that support your history of functional limitations and need for accommodations (e.g., report cards, teachers’ comments, clinical notes from past providers, school progress reports, tutoring evaluations).
The AAMC has a helpful guide that goes over the various documents they recommended you include depending on the accommodations that you are requesting. The table below lists the documents that they require or recommend depending on your request:
- Required: This document is necessary to review and complete your request. An omission is likely to result in an incomplete application and delay their determination.
- Strongly Recommended: This document is typically necessary to complete your request. An omission may result in an incomplete application and delay their determination.
- If Applicable: In some cases, this document may not be necessary if the onset of your impairment occurred after this document was created. They suggest that you submit the document to ensure your application is complete and that you remain on schedule for your review cycle.
*Submission of these documents is only required in cases where you have received academic accommodations on tests that you’ve taken in the past.
When should I submit my request for academic accommodations for the MCAT?
It’s important to submit your request for accommodations as early as possible. I generally tell students to submit their request and all their supporting documentation at least 60 days before their test date.
This will give the AAMC enough time to review your request and get back to you with their decision. If they deny your initials request, it’ll also give you enough time to submit an appeal or reconsideration.
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received and can’t be expedited. You may apply after the recommended submission date; however, you must be approved for accommodations at least 15 days prior to your exam to allow time for them to prepare and implement any approved accommodations.
The AAMC has a calendar listing the review cycles and important due dates. I’d highly recommend you review it and mark the dates on your calendar so you don’t miss any deadlines.
What kind of academic accommodations are available on the MCAT?
Under the ADA, you’re entitled to reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are changes that allow an individual with a disability to play on a level playing field with their peers and perform at their true potential.
Standardized tests are designed to accurately assess an individual’s aptitude or achievement level on whatever skill the test is trying to measure. An individual can’t be given an accommodation that will impact the test’s ability to accurately measure their achievement or aptitude.
Pursuant to 28. C.F.R. § 36.309(b)(1)(i), the purpose of testing accommodations is to ensure, in a reasonable manner, that the “examination results accurately reflect the individual’s aptitude or achievement level or whatever other factor the examination purports to measure, rather than reflecting the individual’s impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills (except where those skills are the factors the examination purports to measure).
The types of accommodations that are available vary depending on the disability.
For ADHD the most common testing accommodations are:
- Extended time (25%, 50%, or 100% extra time)
- Private testing room
For psychiatric conditions (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Panic Disorder, PTSD, etc.…), the most common testing accommodations are:
- Extended time (25%, 50%, or 100% extra time)
- Private testing room
- Stop/ Start breaks (as needed)
- Additional breaks between sections
For learning disabilities (e.g., Dyslexia and Dysgraphia), the most common testing accommodations are:
- Extended time (25%, 50%, or 100% extra time)
- The use of an electronic screen reader or a human reader
- Paper-and-Pencil format with large print
- Speech recognition software
Why do I need a comprehensive evaluation to get accommodations on the MCAT?
A critical part of your request for accommodations is the professional evaluation and report. A comprehensive evaluation is required because the AAMC wants to protect the validity of the MCAT by offering accommodations only when they are supported by appropriate evidence.
A diagnosis alone is not sufficient to be granted academic accommodations. The goal of the evaluation is to assess and document functional impairments in order to provide the rationale for why you need certain accommodations.
The AAMC requires that evaluations be performed by a qualified professional in the area of the disability or impairment in question. In the case of learning disabilities, ADHD, and psychiatric disorders, an individual is deemed qualified if they’ve had extensive graduate-level training in the area of assessment in question (e.g., learning disabilities, ADHD, psychiatric/psychological disorders, etc.….). In most cases, this is going to be a doctoral-level psychologist or neuropsychologist.
For physical and sensory disabilities and diabetes, the evaluation would have to be completed by the appropriate medical professional, which would be your primary care physician.
The AAMC has different evaluation requirements depending on the disability. You can review the articles below to learn more about the evaluation procedures for each type of disability:
- Evaluation Requirements Learning Disabilities, ADHD, & Psychiatric Disabilities
- Evaluation Requirements Physical Disabilities
- Evaluation Requirements Sensory Disabilities
- Evaluation Requirements Diabetes
- Evaluation Requirements Acquired Brain Injury*
For learning disabilities or ADHD, the evaluation should have been completed no more than three years prior to the anticipated MCAT test date.
For psychiatric disabilities, the evaluation should have been administered no more than six months prior to the anticipated MCAT date. Documentation that is between six and 24 months old will be accepted if it is accompanied by a letter that provides an update on the diagnosis, the current level of functioning, changes since the previous evaluation, current treatment, and continued rationale for the requested accommodations.
For an acquired brain injury (e.g., a TBI), a comprehensive assessment should be submitted that occurred within six months of the accommodations request.
You can read each of the listed documents to learn more about the specific testing requirements for each type of disability. In general, all evaluations will include the following:
- A clinical interview to gather information regarding:
- A description of the condition(s)
- Relevant developmental and psychosocial history
- Relevant school and academic history, including performance on prior standardized exams
- Relevant family history
- Relevant medical history
- Relevant employment history
- Results of any previous psychological, psychoeducational, or neuropsychological testing
- Behavioral observations that document the impact of the disability as it presents itself during the evaluation. Potential issues might include an examinee’s level of motivation and cooperation during the diagnostic testing, anxiety level, attention, and oral language or social communication problems.
- Administration of neuropsychological/psychoeducational testing to assess the following areas:
- Intellectual functioning
- Executive functioning
- Memory
- Sensory and motor abilities
- Spatial reasoning
- Processing speed
- Emotional/ behavioral functioning
- Academic functioning (e.g., measures of reading, written language, and mathematics)
- A report that includes detailed, individualized analysis that integrates findings from the previous testing, historical information, current test results, and clinical impression. The report will also include recommendations that are catered to your unique needs and provide the rationale for each accommodation.
Conclusion
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for most medical schools in the United States and Canada. It can feel like an impossible hurdle for applicants with mental or physical disabilities.
Similar to any other standardized test, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals are entitled to reasonable academic accommodations if they have a mental or physical disability.
The MCAT has a helpful website that outlines its policy for accommodations for test-takers with disabilities. This includes detailed information regarding the documentation requirements depending on the type of disability you have and the accommodations that you’re requesting.
If you want academic accommodations on the MCAT, you must have an evaluation completed by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist using objective tests that assess the functional impairments caused by your disability. Reasonable accommodations will allow you to play on a level playing field with other applicants and perform at your true potential.
Our practice specializes in completing comprehensive evaluations for ADHD and learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and acquired brain injuries for academic accommodations.
