How to Get MCAT Accommodations: Everything You Need to Know
/Learn what conditions qualify and how to request accommodations in order to maximize your MCAT score
----
Introduction
Preparing for medical school is a major challenge that requires a lot of hard work—from earning strong academic stats to gaining meaningful clinical experiences to studying for the intimidating MCAT exam. This last task, taking the MCAT, causes premeds to stress every year. And if you have a condition that impacts your ability to perform on standardized tests, you might be particularly worried about how to prove your potential to medical schools through the MCAT.
Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) must offer MCAT accommodations to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and fit for medical school. And, even beyond the requirements of the law, the AAMC’s mission when it comes to MCAT accommodations is to “provide a valid exam while maintaining a level playing field for all test takers.”
While it’s important to know that MCAT accommodations are available to individuals who qualify, applying for and receiving the right accommodations isn’t a simple process. After all your hard work as a premed to become a strong medical school candidate, don’t let confusion over the MCAT accommodations application process get in the way of your medical school dreams.
Continue reading to discover what conditions qualify for MCAT accommodations and how to request MCAT accommodations step-by-step.
----
What conditions qualify for MCAT accommodations?
To help you understand what types of conditions might allow you to receive MCAT accommodations, we should first take a look at the specifics of the MCAT testing environment. After all, maybe the standard testing format—which is designed to limit distractions and maximize focus—is by itself sufficient to accommodate the impact of your condition.
Here are the standard features of the MCAT testing environment:
Testing rooms with limited movement and noise
Individual cubicles for test-takers to prevent surrounding visual distractions
Provided earplugs and/or headsets to reduce ambient noise
Separate and secure storage for food, drink, and medication, which test-takers can access during their scheduled breaks
Computer monitors with adjustable brightness levels
Adjustable chairs
Desks that are wheelchair-accessible
Individual paper booklets for test-takers’ scratch work
These features are available to all individuals who take the exam and would not require you to submit an application for MCAT accommodations. In addition, you are permitted to bring specific items into the testing room with you after they’ve been visually inspected by test center staff. Some of the most common items include:
Inhaler
EpiPen
Insulin pump
Pills
Eyeglasses
Pillow or cushion
Wheelchair
The AAMC provides a complete list of items that don’t require prior approval for you to bring with you into the MCAT exam. For some students with disabilities, these approved items and the standard testing format are enough to allow them equal access to the MCAT exam.
However, in the case that your condition is not addressed by these resources, you might qualify for MCAT accommodations. Some examples of conditions that commonly qualify test-takers for accommodations are:
ADHD
Learning disabilities
Psychiatric condition
Sensory impairment
Physical impairment
Temporary medical conditions that necessitate an adjustment to testing conditions (a broken limb or nursing mother, for instance)
Of course, the condition you have might not be on this list, in which case you would still be welcome to request MCAT accommodations. The AAMC reviews every application they receive individually and thoroughly to ensure they provide equal access to all test-takers.
The most frequently requested and provided MCAT accommodations include:
Extended test time
Extended or additional breaks
A separate testing environment
Allowing food or drink into the testing room
Pregnancy or nursing-related accommodations
Additional accommodations can be offered to students who have different needs, but due to the nature and demands of the exam, these are the most appropriate MCAT accommodations for many test-takers.
In some cases, students receive certain accommodations at their colleges but aren’t granted the same accommodations on the MCAT because their functional limitations won’t impact their performance on the exam. For instance, you might typically receive accommodations for auditory processing or writing impairments, but that wouldn’t come into play on the MCAT, which is a multiple-choice exam administered on the computer. No listening or essay-writing is required, so accommodations wouldn’t be necessary for those impairments.
(Related reading: How Long is the MCAT? A Complete Time Breakdown)
----
How do I request MCAT accommodations?
Now that we’ve clarified what conditions qualify for MCAT accommodations, we can take a close look at the application process. The best place to start is by understanding how the AAMC reviews students’ applications for MCAT accommodations.
To submit a completed application for accommodations, test-takers must acquire evaluations, statements, transcripts, and medical records. It’s not a simple or quick process. But after students submit the required evidence to support their needs for MCAT accommodations, their applications receive holistic and comprehensive reviews.
All the materials in your application for MCAT accommodations will be given individual and careful consideration. By following the careful step-by-step process we’re about to share, you’ll improve your chances of submitting a sufficient application and receiving the accommodations you deserve.
1. Know the deadlines so you can request MCAT accommodations on time
After creating and following a specific MCAT study schedule, the last thing you want is to push back your exam date because you didn’t submit your application for MCAT accommodations early enough. Knowing the review timeline and starting the application process early will help you keep your preferred MCAT test date and avoid the stress of rescheduling.
It can take up to 60 days for the AAMC to review your completed request for MCAT accommodations. If your accommodations are denied, you can still submit an appeal or reconsideration request—usually sending additional documentation to strengthen your case. However, applications for appeal and reconsideration may take another 30 days to review.
To increase your application’s chances of approval, be careful to follow these important requirements closely:
All documents and letters must be in English
All application materials must be submitted together
Application materials must be submitted through the online system or via mail
Adding even more time demands to the review process, your MCAT accommodations must be approved at least 15 days prior to your scheduled test date—also known as the Silver Zone deadline. To ensure your application has every opportunity to be reviewed and repealed (if necessary), you should submit your application no less than 120 days before your preferred test date.
If your application for MCAT accommodations doesn’t get approved by the Silver Zone deadline of your scheduled test date, you can either take the exam under standard conditions or reschedule—however, fees may apply.
(Related reading: When Should You Take the MCAT? The Ideal Timeline)
2. Start your MCAT Accommodations Online account and application
When you’re ready to start your application, you can use your AAMC ID to create an account on the MCAT Accommodations Online (MAO) system. First, you’ll complete the Profile and History sections, which ask for your contact information and previous experience with standardized tests.
The following Condition section will require a good amount of time and preparation to complete. After selecting the nature of your impairment, you’re asked to answer the following series of questions, each with a 1,500 character maximum:
Describe your history of receiving accommodations (in elementary school, high school, college, and on 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 exam.
Describe when, how, and by whom your condition has been documented in the past.
Following these questions, you must indicate which MCAT accommodations you believe you need. The included options—which are not meant to be an exhaustive list—fall under the categories of Personal Items, Break Time, Vision Aids, and Extended Time. You’re then asked to give a rationale for why you believe the accommodations you selected are necessary. In this space, you can also state your request for additional MCAT accommodations outside of the given categories.
3. Write a personal statement expressing your need for MCAT accommodations
After answering the above list of questions that address specific aspects of your condition, you’re asked to write and submit a complete personal statement as part of your application for MCAT accommodations. Your statement should describe “your current functional limitations, history of accommodations, and what you feel is necessary to ‘level the playing field’ on the MCAT exam.”
This is your opportunity to elaborate further on the information you included in your answers for the Condition section. You want to be specific when describing the difficulties you would have taking the MCAT under standard conditions. Think of your experience taking other standardized exams, like the SAT or ACT. Share in your statement what didn’t go well on those tests and how the accommodations you’re requesting would address those concerns.
Be careful not to restate what experts say in your medical records or official evaluations. It’s their role to explain your condition using scientific or diagnostic terms, not yours. Instead, share your story in a more personal way. Describe how your impairment has affected your education and give examples of how past accommodations have helped you perform at your ability level.
4. Submit a current evaluation of your disability or diagnosis
As part of your application for MCAT accommodations, you must submit a comprehensive evaluation or written report completed by a qualified evaluator who describes your condition.
Who qualifies to be your evaluator and what their report must include varies according to your specific condition or disability. The AAMC shares detailed instructions to help students choose the right evaluators for the following common diagnoses:
In general, your evaluation must contain evidence of your diagnosis and an explanation of your functional limitations that affect your ability to access the MCAT in its standard format. In addition, your evaluator should recommend specific MCAT accommodations and give justification for why they’re necessary according to your condition.
We’ll share an example to help you understand the role of your evaluator. Let’s say you’re applying for an accommodation of extended testing time because your condition causes you to need more time to process the MCAT content. You should ask your evaluator to explain how your ability to take the MCAT is impacted by your processing limitations, describe how receiving extended testing time would address your limitations, and suggest the amount of extended time you should be offered.
An evaluation of this quality and depth, in combination with your other application materials that document your condition, will make a strong case for you to receive the necessary MCAT accommodations.
5. Present supporting academic and medical documentation of your condition
The AAMC asks applicants for MCAT accommodations to provide several types of documents to verify their disability or diagnosis. A common reason why initial applications can be rejected is if students have failed to submit sufficient documentation of their condition. Err on the side of caution by being especially thorough in this important step.
Here is a list of documents you are either required or recommended to submit with your application, depending on your specific condition:
Academic transcripts—high school, college, and post-bacc
Standardized test score reports from similar tests you’ve taken, such as the SAT, ACT, or GRE
Verification of previous accommodations you’ve received in high school, in college, and in standardized testing environments
Supporting academic records such as tutoring evaluations, teacher comments about your academic difficulties, and clinical notes from your primary care physicians referencing any academic issues
Previous evaluations you’ve received in addition to the current required evaluation
You can see how gathering this documentation together may take some time, which is another reason why we recommend that students start their application for MCAT accommodations early.
6. Wait for a decision on your application for MCAT accommodations
After you’ve submitted a complete application, the AAMC will review your documentation and your request for MCAT accommodations. Once again, this may take up to 60 days. If your MCAT accommodations are approved, you’ll receive a letter with instructions on how to schedule your MCAT exam with your requested accommodations in place.
If your application for MCAT accommodations is denied, you will have the opportunity to request a reconsideration or submit an appeal. Otherwise, you will still have the option to take the MCAT in its standard format.
----
Will medical schools know that I received accommodations?
It’s unfortunate and frustrating that a stigma surrounding disabilities still exists today, even though more and more students with disabilities are represented in higher education. Because of this lingering stigma, many med school candidates worry about medical schools knowing they received MCAT accommodations. They fear their applications will be reviewed differently.
To address any concerns you might have about applying for MCAT accommodations, rest assured that the AAMC doesn’t designate which MCAT scores were achieved with accommodations versus those earned in the standard format. In the eyes of medical schools, your MCAT score will appear identical to any other applicants’.
Your decision on whether or not to disclose your disability or condition in your medical school applications is completely up to you. You should request MCAT accommodations with confidence, knowing medical schools will not know anything about you that you don’t wish to reveal to them on your own.
Final thoughts
While applying for MCAT accommodations is a lengthy and detailed process, it doesn’t need to intimidate or discourage you. Providing equal access to individuals of all ability levels is a goal of the AAMC, so MCAT accommodations are readily available for those test-takers who qualify. Follow the above step-by-step guidelines to submit a thorough and complete application that accurately represents your need for MCAT accommodations.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
