Examinees Who Are Homeschooled or Are Not Currently Enrolled

Overview

ACT provides reasonable accommodations to international examinees with documented disabilities or functional limitations. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a United States law, ACT applies its accommodations policies and review standards consistently across all testing locations to ensure fairness and comparability of scores worldwide.

Accommodation decisions for international examinees are made using the same principles of demonstrated need, appropriate documentation, and test validity. This ensures that approved accommodations provide equal access without fundamentally altering what the ACT is designed to measure, consistent with the intent of the ADA, which seeks to ensure individuals with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in standardized examinations.

Examinees are responsible for submitting required documentation directly to ACT. In addition to ACT policy requirements, examinees should be aware that local laws or regulations in their country may differ; however, ACT’s accommodation determinations are based on its standardized global policies to maintain fairness, consistency, and validity across all administrations.

Who This Applies To

This process applies if you are:

• Homeschooled
• Not currently enrolled in a public, virtual, or private high school
• Enrolled in a school that cannot submit accommodations requests through ACT’s school-based request system

If you are enrolled in a school that participates in ACT accommodations submissions, that school must submit your request on your behalf.

Note: Limited exceptions may allow an enrolled student to submit a request directly to ACT. Additional documentation is required. See the Frequently Asked Questions section below for details.

Review Standards and Considerations

Requesting accommodations without a school requires independent documentation and justification. Parents and examinees should be aware of the following expectations:

• Accommodations are not automatic and are not granted based solely on a diagnosis
• ACT evaluates both the existence of a disability and its functional impact on a major life activity
• Documentation must demonstrate a history of using accommodations in instructional or testing settings when applicable
• Requests are evaluated individually and may be approved in full, partially approved, or not approved

What ACT Considers When Reviewing Requests

ACT reviews accommodation requests using the following guiding principles:

• Fairness: Ensuring equitable access for examinees with disabilities while maintaining a level testing environment, without providing an unfair advantage
• Consistency: Making determinations in alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ACT policy, and any prior accommodations when appropriately documented 
• Validity: Approving accommodations that do not fundamentally alter what the ACT is designed to measure 
• Qualified Input: Requiring documentation from qualified professionals that demonstrates a disability resulting in substantial limitations relevant to taking the ACT test

Required Components of a Homeschooled or Non-Enrolled Examinee Request

All requests must have all required documentation completed in full and submitted by the published accommodations deadline for the preferred test date. Incomplete and late submissions may delay review or result in denial. 

ACT may request additional information if documentation is incomplete or unclear.

Required documentation to submit with your request for accommodations:

ACT Accommodations Request Form (PDF)	The request form must be completed fully and uploaded with the request Accommodations selected on the form must be listed on the examinee’s plan or provided in instructional settings
Exceptions Statement (PDF)	The Exceptions Statement form must be completed fully and uploaded with the request The form must be completed by the individual responsible for the examinee’s instruction
Diagnostic documentation	Full diagnostic documentation must be submitted with the request Documentation that does not meet ACT criteria, is outdated, or does not clearly support one or more requested accommodations may result in a denial ACT evaluates diagnostic documentation on an individualized basis and does not approve accommodations based on a diagnosis alone

Substantial documentation to substantiate your need for accommodations, such as:

Documentation Type	Documentation Details and/or Examples
Copies of prior educational plans	Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) Individualized Supports Plan (ISP) Other academic accommodation plans
Records of prior testing accommodations	Approval letters from other testing programs Documentation of accommodations used on state or national assessments Note: prior testing accommodations are considered in the review, but do not guarantee ACT approval.
Letters or statements from qualified professionals	Letters or statements may be provided when they: Clarify functional limitations not fully captured in diagnostic reports Explain the rationale for specific accommodations Provide updated context related to the examinee’s current functioning Align with ACT’s documentation criteria and clearly connect the disability to each requested accommodation
Letters or statements from examinee or parent/guardians	Letters or statements may be provided when they: Prior use of accommodations or supports Challenges experienced in timed testing environments The impact of the disability on test taking without accommodations
Letters or statements from instructors	Letters or statements must be provided by: A homeschool instructor A tutor or educational provider who works regularly with the examinee Another educator who has direct, ongoing instructional experience with the examinee

Important Notes About Substantial Documentation

• ACT reviews additional documentation only in conjunction with all required forms and diagnostic documentation
• Additional documentation should support, not replace, required materials
• ACT does not approve accommodations based solely on letters, surveys, or personal statements
• Submitting excessive or duplicative materials may slow down the review and may not increase the likelihood of approval

What ACT Does Not Approve

ACT does not approve accommodations that:

• Fundamentally alter what the ACT is designed to measure
• Are requested solely for convenience, preference, or test preparation
• Are not supported by documentation showing a substantial limitation
• Conflict with test security or standardization requirements

Ready To Submit?

Once you have gathered all required documentation, you may submit your accommodations request to ACT.

Before submitting your request, confirm that:

• All required forms are completed
• Documentation clearly supports each requested accommodation
• Materials are submitted by the published accommodations deadline

Submitting a request does not guarantee approval. ACT reviews all requests individually in accordance with its accommodations policies and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For additional detail on documentation standards, review ACT’s Policy for Accommodations Documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions