ETS provides accommodations for test takers with documented disabilities or health conditions. Extended time is the most commonly requested, but the full range of available accommodations is broader than most applicants realize. The process requires documentation, takes time, and must be completed before you register for a test date.
Do not register first and apply for accommodations later. That creates a scheduling problem you may not be able to resolve.
Available Accommodations
ETS evaluates and approves accommodations on an individual basis. The accommodations that may be available depending on your documentation include:
Extended time. ETS offers 50% extended time (time and a half) or 100% extended time (double time). Which one you receive depends on your documentation and the recommendation of the evaluating professional. You do not choose; ETS grants based on what is supported by your records.
Extended break time. Additional break duration between sections for test takers who need rest periods. This is separate from extra breaks.
Extra breaks. Additional pause points during the test beyond what the standard format provides.
Screen magnification. Enlarged text and graphics for test takers with visual impairments. Available at test centers and, depending on your documentation, potentially at home.
Paper-based test. A paper version of the GRE for test takers who cannot use a computer due to a documented disability.
Sign language interpreter. Available for test takers who are deaf or hard of hearing, for oral instructions only (not the test content itself).
Reader. A human reader to read test content aloud. This requires in-person administration at a test center.
Scribe. A human scribe to record your responses. Also requires in-person administration.
Other accommodations. ETS evaluates requests on a case-by-case basis. If you have a documented need not covered by the list above, you can still apply and describe what you need.
The Application Process
Step 1: Gather Documentation
ETS requires documentation from a qualified professional. What counts as qualified depends on the type of disability:
- Learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia, etc.): documentation from a licensed psychologist, educational psychologist, or neuropsychologist, typically including a comprehensive psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation
- ADHD: documentation from a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician, with testing and clinical findings
- Physical or chronic health conditions: documentation from the treating physician or specialist
- Visual impairments: documentation from an ophthalmologist or optometrist
- Hearing impairments: documentation from an audiologist or physician
- Mental health conditions: documentation from a licensed mental health professional or physician
ETS has specific requirements for what the documentation must include. In general, it needs to describe the diagnosis, the severity, how the condition affects your functioning, and a professional recommendation for accommodations. Old evaluations (more than three to five years) may not be accepted, particularly for learning disabilities and ADHD. Check the ETS documentation guidelines before assuming your existing records qualify.
Step 2: Create and Submit Your Request
Log in to your ETS account and locate the disability accommodations section. You will create an accommodation request and upload your documentation. ETS also accepts mailed documentation, but the online process is faster.
Be specific about what you are requesting and why. If your evaluating professional recommended a specific accommodation (e.g., 100% extended time, not just extended time), include that recommendation explicitly.
Step 3: Wait for Review
ETS states that processing takes up to six weeks. Plan your timeline accordingly.
If approved, your accommodations are attached to your ETS profile. When you register for a test, you select your approved accommodations during the registration process.
If ETS requests additional documentation or asks for clarification, respond promptly. Delays in responding extend the processing timeline.
If your request is denied, ETS provides a reason and an appeals process. Appeals take additional time.
Step 4: Register for Your Test Date
Only after your accommodations are approved should you register for a specific test date. At that point, you will see your accommodations listed as options during checkout. Select them and confirm.
Testing with approved accommodations works the same way at both test centers and at-home. Some accommodations (reader, scribe, paper-based test) are only available at test centers.
Timeline to Plan Around
Working backward from an application deadline:
- Programs with deadlines in January to March of your senior year often want scores by December.
- If your test is in November, you need scores confirmed by late November.
- Register in September or October.
- Accommodations approval must come before that registration, so submit by August at the latest.
- Documentation gathering can take time if you need a new evaluation or updated records from a professional.
- Starting the accommodations process in May or June gives you adequate runway.
If you are aiming for even earlier application deadlines, move everything earlier. Two to three months before your intended registration date is the working rule. Six weeks is ETS's stated processing time. The additional buffer covers documentation gathering, potential follow-up requests, and scheduling flexibility.
Practical Notes
Once accommodations are approved, they remain on your ETS profile for subsequent test administrations. You do not need to reapply each time you test, as long as the documentation is still valid and your condition has not changed in a way that requires updated records.
If your accommodations include extended time, your test day will be significantly longer than the standard ~2 hours. For 50% extended time, plan for a session of roughly 3 hours. For 100% extended time, plan for approximately 4 hours. Build your test day logistics around that duration.
Accommodation approvals are specific to the GRE General Test. If you later take GRE Subject Tests, the accommodations process is separate.
Starting Your Prep
Accommodations affect your timing strategy and test experience but not the underlying content you need to prepare. Once your accommodations are in place and your test date is set, structure your preparation around the actual GRE content. The GRE diagnostic gives you a starting baseline score across Verbal and Quant, which you can then use to build a focused study plan targeting your weakest areas before test day.