Should children with ADD get extra time on test.

lucifer11287
Sun, 17 Jul 2005 20:19:17 +0000

The SAT isn’t, as far as I’m aware, a test of critical thinking. The math portion certainly isn’t critical thinking, nor is the writing. Both of those are essentially just application of learned principles (algebra and geometry for math, grammar for writing; consider that even the written portion of the writing test isn’t graded based on how brilliant of an argument one constructs but rather for whehter or not one follows basic grammatical constructs). Even the critical reading portion doesn’t involve that much critical thinking, its mostly just interpreting answer choices.
If a person has a learning/mental/(insert chosen term here, I’m sure there are more) disability, then it means that they are less mentally able than a normal person in some way. Disability=lack of ability/inability, its a simple definition. Standardized tests aren’t supposed to determine who works harder, they are supposed to determine who can do X work at Y quality in Z time. I will say again that I have no problem with extended time, so long as it is documented, because then whoever is interpreting results can see the difference between someone who gets a 2400 regularly and someone who gets extra time for that same score. However, without noting these changes, standardized tests lose some of their meaning - I imagine most kids would do better given extra time.
There is a fundamental difference between giving blind people an aural/brail form of the test, or accomodating some other form of nonmental disability, and giving extra time/etc… to someone with a mental disability. Whether or not someone is blind, deaf, etc… does not impact their reasoning abilities - ADD/etc… does.
Why is it fair to give ADD kids extra time and not give kids who read slowly/write slowly/whatever extra time?
ADD isn’t a learning “difference”. It is a disability. People with it must work harder to adapt and overcome it compared to people of the same innate ability without said disability.