For students registered with a college or university’s Disability Services office, the Disability Services testing center allows students to complete proctored assignments like a weekly quiz, a midterm, or a final exam with their approved disability accommodations. I still remember when I visited the testing center for the first time as a freshman student with low vision and how I brought a backpack full of useless items because I didn’t know what I would need. This post covers what the testing center does, how the process works from scheduling to check-out, and what to bring (and what to leave behind), based on my own experiences as a student with low vision
About the Disability Services testing center
The Disability Services testing center is a dedicated space where students with approved disability accommodations for testing can take quizzes, tests, and exams outside of the regular classroom environment. It is staffed by proctors and video surveillance to protect academic integrity.
While some colleges have spaces where students can take tests on campus, this testing center is specifically for students who are registered with Disability Services and have active, approved accommodations on file for the current semester. Common accommodations administered through the testing center include:
- Extended time, such as 1.5x or 2x time
- Untimed or extended breaks, allowing for rest periods that do not count against testing time
- Reduced-distraction environment, which can be private rooms or small-group testing spaces
- Use of assistive technology such as screen magnification software, screen readers, CCTVs/video magnifiers, and accessible calculator applications
- Alternative format materials, such as large print, braille, or digitally scanned exams
- White noise machines, which are available by request at many testing centers, helpful for students who find ambient sound helpful for focusing. This is typically not written as an approved testing accommodation at my university, but this was the case for a friend at another college.
Typically, the instructor will deliver the exam to the testing center, or give the student a sealed/taped envelope with a physical copy of the exam inside. For online exams (such as those on Canvas), the proctor will receive a link to the exam and sets it up for the student. The instructor will then pick up the finished exam or have the student bring it to them in a taped envelope to avoid tampering.
Related links
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- How To Create A Disability Services File
- Why You Should Register With Disability Services in College
- How To Get Disability Accommodations In Community College
- Extended Time Accommodations For Low Vision
- How I Use Canvas With Low Vision
- File Formats For Low Vision and Print Disabilities
Scheduling an exam with the testing center
Scheduling is the student’s responsibility, and it must be done well in advance. Most testing centers require that a test proctoring form or equivalent scheduling request be submitted at least two business days before the exam date, or at least one week before the exam date if the student is on a satellite campus. Some students may need to schedule exams two weeks ahead or more, especially for final exams/midterms or for more complex alternative formats such as hard copy braille or tactile graphics.
Same-day requests are generally not accepted for the testing center, though I managed to get a same-day request approved when my professor moved a test date and contacted the testing center when they opened to explain the situation. Many students schedule all exams for the semester in the first few weeks of classes or after receiving the course syllabus.
The scheduling process typically involves:
- Logging into the Disability Services student portal
- Selecting the relevant course and exam date
- Submitting the request for review
- Waiting for confirmation, after which the instructor is notified and asked to deliver the exam to the testing center
If an exam needs to be rescheduled due to illness or an emergency, the student must contact both the instructor and the testing center as soon as possible. It is up to the instructor over whether the exam can be rescheduled or not, but in my experience professors are flexible if a student is otherwise doing well in the class.
Related links
- What If I Miss Assignments Or Classes In College?
- How To Explain Disability Accommodations To Professors
- Satellite Campuses: College O&M
What to expect on test day
Arriving and checking in to the testing center
I strongly recommend arriving fifteen minutes prior to the start of the exam. The check-in process takes time, and arriving late can cut into testing time, or result in a missed exam entirely (though students who are already in line don’t have to worry about delays impacting their test time). At most testing centers, students who arrive more than 15 minutes after their scheduled start time are marked as a “no show,” and rescheduling becomes the student’s responsibility.
At check-in, students will need to present a photo ID. This is typically a student ID card, though some courses or institutions also require a government-issued ID. Students who do not have a driver’s license can use a state-issued ID card. All non-test-related materials (phones, smartwatches, textbooks, bags) must be placed in a designated area or locker before entering the testing space.
The testing environment
Once check-in is complete, a staff member will assign a testing space. This may be a private room, a small-group room, or a desk with privacy shields, depending on the student’s accommodations and available space.
Some testing centers do not allow students to bring in their own scrap/scratch paper, while others allow students to bring paper as long as they inspect it first. Any Scantrons or answer documents brought in will also be inspected by staff before the exam begins; students who have accommodations related to writing on a test instead of using a Scantron do not have to bring a Scantron to their exam. All materials used during the test, including scratch work, are collected at the end.
Unless otherwise approved as part of disability accommodations, devices must be turned off and put away for the duration of the exam. Students using noise-canceling headphones must ensure they have no Bluetooth capability and are not plugged into any device, though students can bring earplugs that do not connect to anything. Students who require a phone for medical purposes (e.g. continuous glucose monitor) can request an approved accommodation from Disability Services to keep the device accessible, though it must remain in sight of testing center staff at all times.
During breaks
Students with extended or untimed break accommodations should be aware of the testing center’s specific break policies. At most centers, students must remain on the same floor as the testing center during breaks. No phones, electronics, papers, or other materials may leave the testing space or be accessed during a break. Students should not speak with anyone during break time except testing center staff.
In my experience, my break accommodations typically consisted of allowing me to walk around the private testing room or putting my head down on the desk. I was not allowed to leave the room or touch the light switch.
Checking out
At the end of the exam, all materials (the exam itself, scrap paper, scratch work) are collected by the proctor. Any materials written on during the exam should be numbered and labeled with the student’s name before submission to keep pages in order.
During high-volume periods such as midterms and finals, check-in and check-out lines can be long. Students who arrive on time for their exam are typically reimbursed for any testing time lost due to check-in delays, but the check-out process itself may still take extra time
What to bring to the Disability Services testing center
Student ID and contact information
A student ID is required at every exam. For some courses, a government-issued ID is also required. A state-issued ID card works well for students who do not have a driver’s license.
One tip that has helped me is to keep a small index card or note with the professor’s name, email, office location, and phone number, along with the student’s own name, class name, and section. This has proven useful on multiple occasions when an exam was not in its expected location or when a proctor needed to contact the instructor for clarification. I don’t include my student ID number on this index card in case the card gets misplaced.
Approved writing tools
For students with low vision, standard gray pencil on white paper offers very poor contrast. High contrast pens or colored pens can provide significantly better contrast against the page. Bringing several colors allows for color-coding answers, marking questions for review, and organizing scratch work visually. A set of four different colored highlighters is also useful for marking multiple-choice questions.
Avoid strongly scented markers, as these can be triggering for students with chemical sensitivities.
Dry-erase board and markers
A small dry erase board with dry erase markers is a helpful tool for working through equations, drafting code logic, or sorting through thoughts before committing to a final answer on the exam. The ability to erase and rewrite freely makes this a practical alternative to scratch paper for many low vision students, and this was approved as one of my testing accommodations. That said, I typically would use the dry-erase board and/or markets provided by the testing center.
Low-tech assistive technology
Students will need to have any assistive technology devices that they want to use for testing approved by Disability Services prior to test day. Students can generally bring approved devices that do not use electricity or connect to a power source, like a magnifying glass, typoscope, blindness cane (white cane), tinted glasses, acetate sheet, or similar items, though they will need to be inspected first.
Cardstock paper
When using pens and markers, ink can bleed through standard paper. Using a few sheets of cardstock (8.5″ × 11″) for scratch work prevents bleed-through and keeps work legible; I was allowed to bring this into the exam as long as the proctor inspected it in advance. If cardstock is unavailable, placing an extra sheet of paper between the exam and the desk achieves a similar result.
Blank index card
This may be provided by the testing center, but an index card can be helpful for line tracking and function as a typoscope, making it easier to focus on a single section of text.
Earplugs
While most testing centers provide disposable earplugs, bringing a personal pair that fits comfortably can make a significant difference during a long exam. I wear the same earplugs that I use for band.
Personal device (if pre-approved)
Personal devices such as tablets are not typically permitted in the testing center. However, if a student has an approved accommodation to use a personal device for a specific purpose (such as accessing an accessible calculator application), students may be allowed to use their own device with restrictions. At many schools, this requires Guided Access (on iOS) or an equivalent feature to be enabled, which locks the device to a single approved application and prevents access to other features or the internet. This must be arranged in advance with the testing center.
Related links
- How To Use Guided Access For Testing And Exams
- Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision
- Writing Aids For Low Vision: My Personal Superlatives
- Highlighting Information With Low Vision
- Assistive Technology For Dysgraphia
- Wearing Tinted Glasses for Low Vision
What not to bring to the testing center
Cell phones and smartwatches
Cell phones and smartwatches must be stored in a locker or designated area during the exam. Students who do not need their phone for medical reasons are better off leaving it elsewhere entirely, especially during finals when locker lines can be long. I typically leave my phone in my dorm, which is a five-minute walk from the testing center; however, I bring my phone with me if I won’t be getting out of an exam until late at night, which sometimes happens during finals week.
Backpacks and bags
During high-traffic exam periods, retrieving items from lockers can add significant time to the check-out process. Bringing only what is needed for the exam, carried in a jacket pocket or small clear bag, is a more efficient approach.
Some of my friends who lived off campus would store their backpacks or bags in my dorm, since I lived near the testing center and they didn’t want to wait in line to get their items. This was a great excuse to go to the dining hall afterwards and celebrate the end of their exam!
Pencil pouches and organizers
These will need to be emptied into a clear plastic bag at check-in for security purposes. Organizing items directly in a clear bag before arriving saves time and avoids the frustration of having a carefully organized pouch dismantled at the door.
Portable CCTVs and personal video magnifiers
While students with low vision are allowed to use a video magnifier or CCTV, they generally can’t use their personal devices since many of these tools can take screenshots. Instead, students will use the video magnifiers available at the testing center.
When registering with the testing center, it is worth noting any preferences. While these aren’t guaranteed, I often request the Onyx in my university’s testing center since some of the older CCTV models can flicker and become disorienting. Some students use handheld video magnifiers, but most of my friends and I use desktop video magnifiers with an X/Y table.
Personal computers
Students who rely on specific accessibility software settings such as custom configurations for NVDA, JAWS, or ZoomText can often bring a flash drive containing those settings. Known as a dongle, this flash drive can be plugged into a testing center computer that already has the software installed, allowing the student to work with familiar settings without using a personal device.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- Magnifying Glasses For Low Vision
- Dorms and Campus Housing: College O&M
- Navigating The Dining Hall: College O&M
- Choosing A Backpack With Low Vision
More resources on taking tests in college with low vision and using the Disability Services testing center
- My most recent exam in the testing center was a math/statistics exam, which included the use of a formula sheet that was displayed on my iPad with Guided Access. Learn more about how I take math exams in How I Take Math Tests With Double Vision and Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision
- Sometimes, my professors allow me to take quizzes in the classroom instead of walking to the testing center. I share more in How I Receive Accessible Quizzes and Tests in the Classroom
- One time, I was late for an exam because I thought I had plenty of time to pet the therapy dogs in the student center before my exam, and showed up with seconds to spare. I have never walked into an exam feeling so relaxed and happy as I did that day (and I also got an A!), but it showed me why it is important to Keep Track Of My Schedule With Low Vision
Published May 20, 2017. Updated March 2026