Even for neurotypical learners, standardized testing is an intimidating task. Having dyslexia as a prospective college student can further those feelings of self-doubt.

While parents and educators see intense effort, all practice book answer keys show are inaccuracies. This gap between focus and results can frustrate dyslexic students and discourage them from chasing their full potential.

With the proper testing tools and resources, however, dyslexic students can make strong SAT or ACT showings and secure their desired college admission.

Understanding Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disability defined by a cluster of language skills-based symptoms. It typically appears in early childhood and is a lifelong condition.

In elementary-aged children, it manifests as difficulties with:

• Reading
• Writing
• Spelling
• Pronouncing words

Research indicates that reading is conducted by a different area of the brain in dyslexics than neurotypical individuals, and their brains also work five times harder while reading.

No two cases of Dyslexia are identical. Some are more severe than others, and not everyone has the same symptoms. For example, some dyslexics may struggle with reading, but have a better grasp of writing or spelling, and vice versa.

Dyslexia in Adolescents

As Dyslexic children grow older, though they usually do learn basic reading and writing comprehension with time, it is often later than most peers. Certain difficulties continue to persist. Some signs of Dyslexia in adolescents and young adults include:

• Slow reading time
• Lower overall reading comprehension
• Confusion over homophones (e.g. two/too/to)
• Challenges with foreign languages and word problems in math
• Poor handwriting
• Fatigue following tasks that require significant reading/writing.

What Dyslexia is not at any age, however, is a lack of intelligence or effort. Dyslexic students may learn differently from others, but that does not make them any less capable of test, college, or career success.

Several testing accommodations are offered that can help Dyslexic students significantly with standardized testing, and a few test prep strategies go a long way in increasing overall performance.

The Ideal Test Prep Regimen

Before taking an actual ACT or SAT, the following tools and methods can help you prepare and study.

Small, Manageable Study Sessions

With studying, more does not always mean better. SAT or ACT practice sessions are best kept between 30-60 minutes on a specific day and completed over a period of weeks or months.

Practice tests are meant to give you a rough idea of pacing and structure; intense last-minute studying hinders your ability to develop a proper strategy and overloads your brain with too much information all at once.

Smaller, spaced-out study sessions are the better strategy regardless of student neurotype. As Dyslexic individuals often experience fatigue after intense periods of reading and writing, these smaller sessions ensure they don’t over-exert themselves while building a richer understanding of the material.

Oral or Verbal-Based Approaches

Many Dyslexic students retain information more easily through spoken words and reciting information than through reading or writing. A significant gap between written and verbal ability is a quintessential aspect of Dyslexia. Incorporating this into test prep can significantly prove a student’s understanding.

This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Some specific methods include:

• Working with another individual to read questions and answers for you
• Using audiobooks
• Recording lectures to use later
• Visual aids (such as color-coding or flashcards)

Available Technologies

Several apps and online programs are available to help Dyslexic students with not only test prep, but academics and learning more generally. A few of these include:

• Text-to-speech software. Take test questions and answers and put them into spoken form for ease of understanding.
• Lexy. An AI-based free tutoring app that utilizes multisensory methods to tutor dyslexic children and teens in reading, writing, and phonics.
• Read&Write. A literacy support software for dyslexic students that provides text-to-speech support, visual aids, and other such features to input text.

Testing Tools Available to Dyslexic Students

Certain accommodations are available on both the SAT and ACT that can help Dyslexic students immensely.

Extra Time

As Dyslexic students need more time to process and read over texts and questions, extra time is worth considering

Much like in-class exams and quizzes, the SAT and ACT both offer either time-and-a-half or double time. It is also available to students at the college level if desired.

Private Testing Rooms

Dyslexic students benefit from quiet testing problems, where the ruffles of turning pages or the swooshing of pencils do not take away focus. Every bit of mental energy matters when accessing a student’s full capability.

For these situations, the SAT and ACT both offer private testing rooms. Such rooms offer dyslexic students a peaceful environment free from any potential distractions.

Assistive Technology

If your study regimen has made heavy use of spoken and verbal aids, such as text-to-speech or in-person tutoring, you are in luck. In its efforts to accommodate testers who struggle with reading or are hard of sight, digital versions of the test with text-to-speech support are available to Dyslexic students.

Find Your Study Support

With summer on its way and the school year ending across much of the U.S., students who act now have plenty of time to practice and prepare for the fall testing season.

Are you a Dyslexic student looking for standardized test prep? Here at Test Prep Score, we know no two students are the same and what may benefit one learner, may not help another. Check out our find a tutor page to be connected with a local tutor today.