SAT & ACT
SAT and ACT scores can influence college admissions and scholarships.
Testing Accommodation Evaluations
Standardized Testing Accommodation Evaluations SAT, ACT, AP Exams, LSAT, MCAT Lake Oswego | Portland
When the score doesn't match what you know.
You've done the preparation. You understand the material. You keep up in class. In many cases, you are performing at a high level day to day. But when it comes to timed, standardized exams, something changes. You run out of time. You lose your place. You walk out knowing the score will not reflect what you actually know.
For students with ADHD, dyslexia, processing differences, or anxiety, this is common. When a student studies for hours and walks out of the test feeling like the result doesn't match what they actually know, something feels off. Standardized tests can measure the obstacle instead of the ability.
At Whole Child Collective, we conduct comprehensive evaluations for children, teens and young adults. Our reports are formatted to support accommodation requests, and we walk families through the process from start to finish.
Standardized tests measure performance on one specific kind of task, on one specific day. Our team of licensed psychologists has built careers around understanding how children and teens actually learn, think, and process information. We translate that depth of expertise into the documentation your child needs.
Why It Matters
Why Accommodations Matter
Standardized exams still carry weight.
AP Exams
AP exams impact college credit and placement.
LSAT & MCAT
LSAT and MCAT scores shape graduate and professional school options.
When those scores are not accurate, it can affect more than a single test.
Our process makes sure outcomes are based on ability, not barriers.
Who We Serve
Who Are These Evaluations For?
Students recognize themselves here
- you understand the material but cannot finish exams in the time allowed
- you perform well in coursework but standardized scores lag behind
- you re-read questions or lose efficiency under time pressure
- you have been pushing through for years, but it is becoming harder to sustain
Families often notice
- their capable teen or young adult working harder than peers
- strong reasoning and understanding that is not reflected in scores
Students with ADHD or learning disabilities are significantly more likely to underperform on timed standardized tests, not because of what they know, but because of how the test is structured.
The College Board and ACT both accommodate this. But only with proper documentation.
What Brings Families to Us
If any of this sounds familiar, you are in the right place
These are the conversations we have with parents almost every week.
My child studies hard, but their SAT score doesn't reflect what they actually know.
We've suspected ADHD or dyslexia for years but never got a formal evaluation.
The school approved accommodations, but College Board denied the request.
We don't know if our child qualifies, or where to start.
The testing deadline is coming up and we are running out of time.
Our child has a 504 plan, but we are not sure if it is enough for College Board.
What Evaluations Are For
What The Testing Process Is Designed To Do
Comprehensive evaluations for potential testing accommodations answer a specific question.
What does a student need in order to demonstrate what they know under standardized testing conditions?
A Complete Picture
A clear understanding of how the student learns and processes information.
Accepted Documentation
Documentation that meets requirements for:
College Board
SAT & AP Exams
ACT
ACT
LSAC
LSAT
AAMC
MCAT
A Path Forward
Extended time, reduced distraction environments, or other supports that allow a student to demonstrate actual ability.
You're Not Alone
You don't need a diagnosis already to reach out.
Many of the families we work with come to us with questions, not answers. That is exactly the right place to start. Our role is to help you understand what your child is experiencing and whether a comprehensive evaluation is the right step forward.
What to Expect
The Evaluation Process
Our evaluation process is structured, thorough and tailored to each patient.
- Initial consultation. Fill out our contact form or book a consult to begin. We will reach out to learn more, answer questions and discuss your goals.
- Diagnostic interview with your teen or young adult and gather developmental, academic and educational history from patients and their parents.
- Evaluation and testing sessions across two appointments, covering cognitive, academic, and neuropsychological testing as appropriate.
- Review of records and prior documentation such as previous testing, accommodations and other relevant records.
- Collaboration with other providers when appropriate. When helpful, we may connect with learning specialists, physicians, prescribers, or other providers for a complete picture.
- Comprehensive written report aligned with accommodation guidelines to meet College Board and other board requirements.
- Feedback session with clear recommendations and next steps reviewed with the patient and/or parents.
Areas We Evaluate
Our evaluations document the diagnoses and functional impact that the College Board, LSAC and AAMC review when considering an accommodation request.
ADHD (inattentive)
ADHD (hyperactive)
ADHD (combined)
Dyslexia
Reading disorders
Auditory processing disorder
Visual processing disorder
Processing speed challenges
Specific learning disabilities
Anxiety disorders
Executive functioning challenges
Other neuropsychological conditions
The Impact
What Changes After an Evaluation
When testing conditions are aligned with how a student actually processes, performance often shifts.
Students are able toComplete exams without the same level of time pressure
Maintain focus and accuracy across sections
Produce scores that better reflect their knowledge
Approach high-stakes testing with more confidence
For many students, this affects not just outcomes, but how they see their own abilities.
Documentation that opens doors.
Whether your test date is months or weeks away, the first step is to reach out. We will help you understand the path forward.
Testing Accommodations Evaluations
Clinical Leadership
Evaluations for all standardized exams, including SAT, ACT, AP, LSAT and MCAT are led by Dr. Erika Doty. Drs. Kramer and Hiller also provide accommodation evaluations to support learning, ADHD and neuropsychological evaluations as part of our collaborative team.
SAT/ACT/AP/LSAT/MCAT Evaluations
Dr. Erika Doty
Licensed Psychologist, Founder & Owner. Lead evaluator for standardized testing accommodations.
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Our Testing Accommodations Team
Dr. Rebecca Kramer
Licensed Psychologist. Psychoeducational, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological evaluations.
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Dr. Todd Hiller
Licensed Psychologist. Neuropsychological evaluations and psychoeducational evaluations.
Schedule TodayDr. Doty has consistently provided insightful high-quality reports to our families in a timely manner that easily meet the requirements for school accommodations, standardized testing and college. More than that, however, the warmth and positivity of the process is what students and families cherish.
Learning specialist at a Catholic high school with 25 years of experience
The Outcome
A Clearer Path Forward
Students often begin this process feeling frustrated or uncertain.
By the end,
there is clarity.
That clarity can change performance and confidence.
01
A better understanding of how they learn
02
Language for what has been getting in the way
03
Documentation to adequately support accommodation requests
04
Clear next steps and an action plan
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
The College Board and ACT consider accommodations for students with documented disabilities or medical conditions that substantially limit one or more major life activities, including learning, reading, writing, or concentrating. Common qualifying conditions include ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disabilities, processing disorders, anxiety disorders, executive functioning challenges, and other neuropsychological conditions. The key is that documentation must clearly establish both the diagnosis and the functional impact on standardized testing.
The full process from initial consultation to receiving the written report typically takes several weeks. Because both the College Board and ACT have their own review timelines after documentation is submitted, we generally recommend families begin the evaluation process at least four to six months before the intended test date when possible.
Our evaluations are designed to meet the documentation guidelines published by both the College Board, which administers the SAT and PSAT, and ACT Inc. The written report includes the specific diagnostic information, test results, history, and accommodation recommendations these organizations require. While no evaluator can guarantee approval, comprehensive documentation that clearly establishes diagnosis and functional impact significantly strengthens the request.
School-based accommodations through a 504 plan or IEP are decisions made by your child's school district under federal education law. College Board and ACT accommodations are separate decisions made by those testing organizations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. While a 504 plan or IEP can support a College Board request, it is not automatically sufficient. Both organizations require their own documentation review and often want more detailed clinical information than a school plan provides.
It depends on what documentation you already have. If your existing evaluation is recent, comprehensive, and includes the specific diagnostic and functional impact information College Board and ACT require, it may be sufficient. However, school evaluations are not always written with these submissions in mind. We are happy to review what you have and help you understand whether a new or updated evaluation would strengthen the request.
We recommend starting at least four to six months before the intended test date. This allows time for the evaluation itself, report writing, and the College Board or ACT review process, which can take seven weeks or longer once documentation is submitted. If a deadline is approaching, contact us anyway. We may be able to help you understand your options and timing.
Evaluation fees vary based on the type and scope of testing your child needs. We are happy to provide a detailed fee estimate during your initial consultation. Coverage for psychological and neuropsychological evaluations varies significantly by insurance plan. We can provide documentation to help you submit for out-of-network reimbursement when applicable.
After your results meeting, you will have the written report formatted to support College Board or ACT submission. Our team can clarify findings or provide additional documentation if either organization requests it during their review.
Let's give you a fair shot.
If you are preparing for the SAT, ACT, AP exams, LSAT or MCAT and are unsure if testing accommodations are the right next step, please reach out. We welcome families from Lake Oswego, Portland, and surrounding communities in Oregon and Washington.
You deserve the chance to show what you actually know.
If your child is experiencing a mental health crisis or is in immediate danger, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. This page describes outpatient evaluation services and is not a substitute for emergency care.
