As a student in Virginia public schools, I was required to take the Virginia Standards of Learning tests every year from third grade through twelfth grade. Also known as SOL tests or simply SOLs, these exams did not count for a course grade, but I was required to pass a certain number of exams in order to graduate. While almost all students find SOLs to be stressful or at least annoying, I was always anxious because my family and I often had to work with my school to ensure I would receive the appropriate Virginia SOL test accommodations for low vision.
Even though I graduated from Virginia public schools in 2015, I have continued to work with students with visual impairments across the commonwealth of Virginia, and the process for requesting accommodations for SOLs and the types of accommodations available has not changed drastically since I was a student. Infused with my own personal experiences and stories as a student with low vision, here is an overview of Virginia SOL test accommodations for low vision and what to know about taking large print SOLs in Virginia from someone who had to take these tests year after year.
Request SOL test accommodations as early as possible
Like most students, I took my first SOL tests when I was in third grade. However, due to confusion over whether I needed large print SOL test accommodations, the school forgot to order an SOL test in large print, and there was no test available for me when test day came— not even a standard print test. I ended up sitting in a first-grade classroom for a week while my school scrambled to order large print tests for me, as my classmates were taking their own SOLs and I was not allowed to be in my teacher’s classroom.
When the tests arrived a week later, I ended up taking all four tests in one day instead of having one day to complete each test. Since the test proctor offered candy between tests, nine-year-old Veronica was okay with answering lots of test questions since she had finally received her SOL test accommodations. That said, I would never recommend that a student take more than one or two exams in a single day.
This experience taught my family and I three different things that helped us when dealing with SOL test accommodations in the years to come:
- If a student receives large print in the classroom, then they should generally also receive a large print SOL, or another accessible copy of the test
- Make sure that tests are ordered at least six weeks ahead of time, or by whatever deadline is set by the state
- It’s helpful to take a break between tests to avoid eyestrain, and it’s even better if that break includes having something to eat!
Many students with low vision that I have met have had approved SOL test accommodations where they could complete one test over the course of two or more sessions or two or more days, as this helps to minimize eye strain. I have never used these accommodations personally, but would later be approved for them automatically when filing for ACT testing accommodations for extended time.
Related links
- My Talk At A Future Date: What I Wish I Learned About AT Before Starting College
- Extended Time Accommodations For Low Vision
- ACT Accommodations For Low Vision
- Learning to Self-Advocate With Low Vision
- Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks
What to expect from the large print SOL test booklet
My vision condition has progressed over the years, so the large print test I took in third grade was impossible for me to read in eighth grade. I assumed that the test booklet could be customized to reflect the accommodations for print materials in my IEP, but the SOL test accommodations for low vision unfortunately do not allow for this. All of the large print paper test booklets share the following conditions:
- The large print test is printed on either A1 or A2 paper in a vertical layout (I don’t remember which, and this information is not publicly available). When opened, the booklet did not fit on a standard sized desk
- The text is enlarged to size 18-20 point Tahoma font, with no options for larger font or different fonts
- Images are enlarged to 166% of their original size. Any text embedded in graphics, maps, tables, or charts is enlarged proportionately to the size of the item, which may not be equivalent to 18-20 point font.
- Students must use pencils on the large print test unless they have a special accommodation for pens/highlighters
- The ten field/test questions on the traditional exam are eliminated, as are the fill-in-the-blank, true/false, pick multiple, and other free-response question formats.
- By default, students who receive large print tests will have to fill out the bubble sheet for transcribing their answers, unless they have an accommodation for a scribe. Alternatively, the student will also need to request an enlarged answer document.
One of my teachers was confused when I finished my exam before everyone else and asked the principal why I was the first to finish the exam. Because my exam didn’t have the additional field test questions (which meant I had fewer questions overall) and I did not have to transfer my answers to an answer document, it took me less time to finish my exam.
Related links
- Virginia Guidelines for Special Test Accommodations (PDF)
- Instructor Evaluations and Low Vision
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision
- Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- My Favorite Free Fonts For Print Disabilities
Are digital SOL tests accessible for low vision?
Online SOL tests were introduced when I was in middle school, and I thought I would be able to take my test on a computer instead of a large print book, but that was unfortunately not possible. According to the Accommodations Resource page from the Virginia Department of Education, the SOL TestNav testing software does not support magnification, the use of external magnification software, text-to-speech/screen readers, or options to adjust the font size or otherwise enlarge images for students with visual impairments.
If a student with visual impairment wants to take an SOL test with the option to have a test read aloud, they will need to have a read-aloud accommodation, which consists of a proctor reading the test to them as they click on the answers.
Related links
- Participation and Inclusion | Virginia Standards of Learning
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Users With Low Vision
- Dealing With Anxiety About Accommodations
My Virginia SOL testing accommodations for low vision
As a student with low vision who accessed the general curriculum, I received the following SOL test accommodations, which were near identical to the accommodations listed in my IEP and 504 Plan (though we could not specify font sizes or scaling for images). To make it easier to request Virginia SOL test accommodations for low vision, I have included the accommodations codes based on the Virginia Assessment Program 2025–2026 Special Test Accommodations Resource Guide.
- Code 2: Use of a dry-erase board as scratch paper
- Code 3: Additional writing implements, including use of pens and highlighters
- Code 4: Visual aids. This includes use of a physical magnifying glass and a line tracker to follow text, e.g. index card. Code 4 was also used to approve the use of a LCD projector for magnification.
- Code 6: Large print test booklet.
- Code 10: Read-Aloud test. Questions, answers, text embedded within graphics, and sentences read out loud only when requested by the student.
- Code 18: Examiner records responses. Student does not use answer document.
- Code 28: Calculator/Arithmetic tools. Use of an accessible iPad calculator with guided access enabled
- Code 32: Setting. This included an alternate location/small group testing at a school-based location, a large table for viewing the large text booklet, and special lighting.
Since my SOL tests were proctored separately with at least two proctors in the room, I would typically take SOLs in a conference room, empty classroom, or other school-based location while my classmates took their tests in a computer lab or in another space. Because I could not fill out the enlarged answer document (Code 8), I marked my answers in the test booklet and a proctor transcribed my responses on the standard answer sheet; I dictated my answers verbally to the scribe after I finished answering all of the questions.
Related links
- 2025–2026 Special Test Accommodations Resource Guide
- Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision
- Magnifying Glasses For Low Vision
- Using An Overhead Projector For Standardized Testing
Requesting an accessible calculator for SOL tests
Until my junior year, I had never found an appropriate calculator that I could both use independently and use on an SOL test. As a result, I just never used a calculator on my SOL tests and took longer to finish exams. The instructional technology specialist at my second high school introduced me to the myScript calculator app that I could use on a school iPad with Guided Access enabled. This app was then approved for my specific use on the SOL after my school submitted the Calculator Accommodations Criteria form. I used this for my Chemistry SOL and found it very helpful, but have not personally used it on any math SOLs.
Related links
- Five Websites That Help Students With Low Vision In The Math Classroom
- Five Calculator Apps That Help Students With Low Vision In The Classroom
- How To Use Guided Access For Testing
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
What if I fail an SOL test?
I managed to pass all of the SOL tests that I needed to graduate, which meant that I passed at least two English exams, two math exams, two science exams, two history exams, and another exam in one of those subjects. Unfortunately, I did fail one SOL test: my Geometry SOL. While my teacher had been passionate about creating accessible materials and providing tests in large print, my Geometry SOL featured several low-resolution images/graphs, and text that was difficult for me to read.
Because I had only missed by a few questions, I qualified for expedited retakes that took place approximately six weeks after I failed the SOL test. I ended up re-taking the Geometry SOL test at least three times and failed each time, even though I received a high grade in Geometry. After I passed my Algebra 2 SOL and had the minimum amount of SOL math credits needed to graduate, there was less pressure for me to pass the Geometry SOL.
The primary reason why I failed my Geometry SOL is because I could not access the text or graphics/tables independently in a font size I could read. In retrospect, I likely would have passed if I had access to assistive technology such as digital magnifiers or larger print that I could read through a bifocal, instead of having to rely on a LCD projector to enlarge information and having to stand directly in front of the board to read text. Regardless, I still have a recurring dream that I have to take the Geometry SOL again or else I won’t graduate or get my diploma, and I am now a PhD student!
For students like me who fail an SOL test but managed to pass the class, please know that you did not fail the test, the test failed you by not providing you the information in an accessible format. It’s impossible to show what you know or answer a question correctly if you can’t see it to begin with!
Related links
- How I Take Math Tests With Double Vision
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
- Adapting Coordinate Planes: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Adapting Digital Equations: Math Problems and Low Vision
More tips for SOL test accommodations for low vision students
- The process for requesting SOL tests in large print is unrelated to requesting large print textbooks— learn more about requesting accessible textbooks in Virginia and across the United States in Receiving Accessible Educational Materials With NIMAC and AIM-VA
- I created an accessible version of the Periodic table approved for Virginia SOLs, which can be accessed free of charge at Free Accessible Periodic Tables For Low Vision. I also have an accessible version of the Z-table for statistics used for standardized tests at Adapting Accessible Z-Tables: Math Problems and Low Vision
- Looking for information about how different states implement accommodations for standardized tests? Check out The National Center on Educational Outcome’s (NCEO’s) Accommodations Toolkit
Published April 19, 2017. Updated December 2025