MCAT Accommodations: How to Apply and What You Need

Who Qualifies for MCAT Accommodations?

Having a diagnosed disability or health condition doesn’t automatically qualify you for MCAT accommodations. The AAMC considers how your current functional limitations affect your ability to take the MCAT under standard testing conditions and whether the accommodation you’re requesting is supported by your documentation.

Conditions or impairments that may qualify you for MCAT accommodations include:

• Learning disabilities

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders or major depression

• Physical disabilities and chronic medical conditions

• Sensory impairments, including vision or hearing impairments

• Diabetes

• Acquired brain injuries, such as concussions or traumatic brain injuries

• Temporary impairments or medical conditions, such as injuries, recovery from surgery, or pregnancy/lactation-related needs

• Other disabilities or conditions that affect your ability to test under standard conditions

The type of accommodation you request should relate directly to the limitation you experience. For example, extended testing time may be appropriate when a condition affects how quickly you can access or process test content, while stop-the-clock breaks may be used to manage symptoms or take care of other needs without losing testing time.

Before you apply, it’s a good idea to review the AAMC’s evaluation guidelines for your condition:

• Evaluation Guidelines for Learning Disabilities, ADHD, & Psychiatric Disabilities

• Evaluation Guidelines for Physical Disabilities

• Evaluation Guidelines for Sensory Disabilities

• Evaluation Guidelines for Diabetes

• Evaluation Guidelines for Acquired Brain Injury

What MCAT Accommodations Can You Request?

MCAT accommodations are tailored to your needs, so what you’re approved for will depend on how your condition affects you during the exam. The AAMC may approve options such as:

• Extended testing time if your condition makes it harder to read, process information, or complete exam questions within the standard time
• Stop-the-clock breaks, which allow you to pause the exam clock during a section to manage symptoms, access food or water, or address another disability-related need
• Extended breaks between sections of the MCAT
• A separate testing room if you need a different testing environment
• Access to food, drink, or certain medical items beyond what is normally permitted
• Adaptive equipment or testing features, such as an adjustable-height workstation, adaptive mouse, or screen magnification
• Pregnancy or lactation accommodations, such as additional break time and an appropriate space for pumping

Keep in mind that extended time and additional breaks aren’t the same thing. Extended testing time gives you more time to work through MCAT questions, while extended or stop-the-clock breaks give you additional time away from the exam.

How to Apply for MCAT Accommodations

Applying for MCAT accommodations takes some planning, especially since you may need time to gather records or schedule an evaluation before you can submit your request. The process involves:

1. Reviewing the AAMC’s requirements for your condition and the accommodations you plan to request.
2. Gathering your documentation, including a current comprehensive evaluation and any relevant academic, testing, or accommodations records.
3. Completing the written portions of the application, including your personal statement and the Profile, Condition, and History sections.
4. Submitting your application and supporting documents through the AAMC’s Accommodations Application System and tracking your determination in the portal.

Gather the Required Documentation

Supporting documentation is a key part of your MCAT accommodations application. The AAMC requires a current comprehensive evaluation from a qualified professional, along with other records that help demonstrate your condition, your current limitations, and your need for the accommodations you’re requesting.

Your evaluator should have appropriate training and experience assessing your specific disability or health condition. They should also have personally evaluated you and be independent, meaning they aren’t a relative or employer. A degree or professional license alone doesn’t necessarily make someone qualified to conduct the evaluation, so it’s a good idea to review the AAMC’s Evaluator Guide before getting started.

The evaluation should explain how your condition affects you under the actual demands of the MCAT. That includes your current limitations, any history of accommodations or academic support, and why the specific accommodations you’re requesting would be appropriate.

Relevant history might include:

• How your condition has affected your education or performance on previous standardized tests
• Accommodations you’ve received, such as an IEP, Section 504 Plan, college disability services accommodations, or extra time on previous exams
• Interventions or support you’ve used, such as tutoring or specialized academic programs

Keep in mind that receiving an accommodation in the past doesn’t automatically mean the same accommodation will be approved for the MCAT. The AAMC considers your current needs and how they relate specifically to MCAT testing conditions.

Along with your evaluation, you may also need or be encouraged to submit other records depending on your condition and history:

• Verification of previous accommodations you received in school or on standardized tests
• Standardized test score reports from exams like the SAT, ACT, PSAT, or GRE
• Previous evaluations documenting your condition and limitations
• Transcripts from high school, college, and any graduate or post-baccalaureate programs
• Supporting academic records like teacher comments, progress reports, or documentation of unofficial accommodations
  

Write Your MCAT Accommodations Personal Statement

Your MCAT accommodations personal statement serves a very different purpose from your AMCAS personal statement. You don’t need to tell a compelling story or explain why you want to become a doctor. Instead, your goal is to clearly explain how your condition affects you under standard MCAT testing conditions and why the accommodations you’re requesting are appropriate.

Be specific and straightforward. Across your personal statement and other written sections of the application, be prepared to explain:

• How your condition affects you when taking the MCAT, including the specific challenges you experience under standard testing conditions
• How your condition has affected you in other academic or testing settings
• Your history of accommodations, if you’ve received them in elementary school, high school, college, or on standardized exams such as the SAT or ACT
• When and how your condition was diagnosed or documented, including who evaluated you
• Why you’re requesting each accommodation and how it would address the limitations you experience
• What strategies, treatments, medications, devices, or other supports you currently use and why they may not fully address your needs during the MCAT

If this is your first time requesting accommodations, explain that as well. A lack of previous accommodations doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t qualify, but the AAMC will want context for why you’re seeking them now.

You’ll also complete the Profile, Condition, and History sections of the application. Keep your answers throughout the application consistent with your personal statement and the supporting documents.

Submit Your Application

Once you’ve gathered your supporting documentation and completed your written responses, you’re ready to submit your application through the AAMC’s Accommodations Application System.

All application materials should be submitted through the online system rather than by email. After you submit, the AAMC will assign you a determination deadline based on the type of application you filed. It may take up to two business days for that date to appear in your portal, but you can use the portal to track the status of your application.

Before you hit submit, make sure your application is complete. If the AAMC determines that additional information is needed, you’ll have to resubmit the application, which can significantly delay your determination.

Keep copies of everything you submit, including your eventual determination letter. Although your application materials remain available in the AAMC system for five years, the AAMC recommends maintaining your own records as well.