Testing Accommodations

If you have approved testing accommodations and would like to use them for an exam, follow these steps:

1. Confirm Your Accommodations - Testing accommodations are approved through Disability Support Services (DSS). Academic Testing Services administers approved accommodations but does not determine or modify a student's accommodations.
2. Communicate With Your Instructor - Let your instructor know when you plan to use Academic Testing Services for an exam. Academic Testing Services follows the testing directions provided by your instructor. Your instructor determines:
   • Exam availability dates
   • When you may begin the exam
   • Length of the standard exam
   • Materials permitted during testing
   • Exam instructions
   • Passwords or access information, when applicable
3. Schedule Through RegisterBlast - Visit GRCC.edu/Testing and select the link to schedule an appointment. Available start times are generally offered in 15-minute increments. Your accommodations are visible during scheduling when you are logged into your RegisterBlast account. When scheduling:
   1. Log in to your RegisterBlast account.
   2. Select the appropriate testing category.
   3. Select the exam length identified by your instructor.
   4. Select an available date and start time.
   5. Review your approved accommodations.
   6. Complete your reservation.
4. RegisterBlast Calculates Your Extended Time - You should select the standard exam length, not the accommodated exam length. RegisterBlast automatically applies approved extended-time accommodations.
   • Example: If your instructor says the class receives 60 minutes and you have 1.5x extended time, select the 60-minute exam option. RegisterBlast will reserve 90 minutes for your appointment.
5. Schedule Early - Most appointments close for scheduling 24 hours before the appointment. Accommodations requiring specialized resources, such as a reader or scribe, generally require at least three school days notice. Scheduling early is especially important during midterms and final exams.
6. Arrive for Your Appointment - All Main Campus students check in at:
   • Academic Testing Services, Student Center (SCC), Room 325
   • Bring appropriate identification and arrive early enough to complete the check-in process.
   • Before your exam begins, the proctor will review the applicable testing instructions.
7. During Your Exam - Academic Testing Services will provide the accommodations approved for you and administer the exam according to your instructor's directions.
   • If you have a question or encounter a problem during the exam, notify the proctor.
   • Do not contact your instructor using your phone or another personal device during an active testing session unless directed to do so by Testing Services.

Academic Testing Services (ATS) works with faculty and Disability Support Services (DSS) to provide approved testing accommodations in a secure and consistent testing environment.

DSS determines and maintains students approved accommodations. ATS administers exams according to those accommodations and the testing instructions provided by faculty.

What Faculty Need to Provide

Faculty should send exam materials and detailed testing instructions to: Testing@GRCC.edu

Please provide all information necessary for Testing Services to administer the exam consistently with your classroom requirements.

Information should include, as applicable:

• Course and instructor name
• Instructor contact information
• Student name(s), when applicable
• Exam name
• Date or testing window
• Standard exam length
• Earliest permitted start time
• Latest permitted completion time
• Allowed materials
• Calculator restrictions
• Notes or formula sheets
• Scratch-paper requirements
• Computer or Canvas requirements
• Exam password
• Bathroom/break restrictions
• Other special instructions

Canvas Exams

Faculty do not need to send a copy of an exam administered entirely through Canvas unless an alternative format or other special arrangement is required.
Please ensure the student's Canvas exam availability corresponds with the testing time authorized for the student.

Extended Testing Time

RegisterBlast automatically calculates extended testing time based on the standard exam length selected by the student.

For example:

Faculty should therefore communicate the standard exam length to students.

Exam Scheduling Windows

Faculty determine when an exam may be administered. If students must test at approximately the same time as the class, please clearly communicate the
permitted testing window to both the student and Academic Testing Services. Testing staff verify the student's appointment against the instructions supplied by the instructor. If there is a discrepancy, Testing Services may need to contact the instructor before beginning the exam.

Permitted Materials

Academic Testing Services only permits materials authorized by the instructor or provided through an approved accommodation. Please clearly identify whether students may use items such as:

• Notes
• Textbooks
• Formula sheets
• Calculators
• Scratch paper
• Computers
• Online resources
• Headphones or other equipment

Testing staff prepare testing instructions for scheduled exams and review those instructions during the student check-in process.

Specialized Accommodations

Some accommodations require additional staffing, technology or room preparation. Examples include:

• Reader 
• Scribe
• Assistive technology
• Alternative-format materials

Students requiring specialized resources may be required to schedule farther in advance.

Final Exams

Finals week is one of the highest-volume periods for Academic Testing Services. Faculty are encouraged to submit final-exam information as early as possible, and students should be encouraged to schedule their accommodated final exams well in advance.

Questions or Special Circumstances

If an exam requires an unusual testing arrangement or you are uncertain whether Testing Services can accommodate a particular testing requirement, please contact us before the exam.

Academic Testing Services
Student Center (SCC), Room 325
Testing@GRCC.edu
GRCC.edu/Testing

No. Having approved testing accommodations does not necessarily mean every exam must be taken in the Testing Center. Students should communicate with their instructor regarding how their accommodations will be provided.

All accommodated testing appointments are scheduled through RegisterBlast, available from GRCC.edu/Testing.

Accommodations are associated with the student's RegisterBlast profile and are displayed during the scheduling process when the student is logged in. If approved accommodations are missing, contact Academic Testing Services.

Select the standard exam length provided by your instructor. RegisterBlast automatically calculates additional time based on approved accommodations.

Most appointments require at least 24 hours advance scheduling. Accommodations requiring specialized resources generally require at least three school days.

Potentially, if appointments remain available and the scheduling deadline has not passed. Scheduling early provides the greatest choice of times and testing spaces.

Yes. Academic Testing Services administers exams within the testing dates and times established by the instructor while providing the student's approved accommodations.

Only when authorized by your instructor or permitted through an approved accommodation.

Testing Services will determine whether the exam can still be administered within the instructor's authorized testing window. Being late does not automatically extend an instructor-established deadline.

Cancel or reschedule through RegisterBlast when possible. If the instructor's testing window has closed, you may need instructor approval before another appointment can be scheduled.

This one should reflect whatever notification workflow ATS ultimately establishes in RegisterBlast. I would avoid publishing a permanent answer until the new instructor-notification configuration is finalized.

Disability Support Services determines and maintains approved accommodations. Academic Testing Services administers exams using those approved accommodations.

Main Campus accommodated testing is provided through Academic Testing Services in Student Center (SCC), Room 325.