ELL Accommodations by Isabel Speight

Time Extension

spei1022 — 2025-04-24 19:22:54 UTC

Available to ELL students taking a test in any content area as well as the Regents Exams. Time is typically extended for students by adding half the total amount of allotted time to the total time ("time and a half"), but exact accommodations are at the discretion of the schools' principals and professionals.

Separate Location

spei1022 — 2025-04-24 19:26:12 UTC

Available to ELL students on any exam in a content area as well as NYS Regents Exams, optional separate testing locations are used to help students focus. Other reasons students may need separate testing locations are they need part of the test read aloud, they have trouble concentrating and easily get distracted, or they need more time taking the test.

Next Day Completion

spei1022 — 2025-04-24 19:29:55 UTC

When ELLs and former ELLs are assigned two Regents Exams on the same day and have the extra time accommodation, they are allowed to complete the exam the following day. This accommodation is helpful to students who can better demonstrate their knowledge by not spending hours and hours taking tests on the same day.

Third Reading of Listening Section

spei1022 — 2025-04-24 19:37:07 UTC

While other students without accommodations are read the listening section on a test twice, this accommodation allows for a third reading. This applies to the English Language Arts (ELA) test from grades 3-8 and the Regents Examinations as well except for state language exams (Spanish Regents).

Bilingual Dictionaries / Glossaries

spei1022 — 2025-04-24 20:04:41 UTC

Prohibited on any language tests including language competency Regents Exams.

Bilingual dictionaries/glossaries that provide only translations of words are provided. If there is a definition and/or explanation of the word/simple phrase, it is prohibited.

Simultaneous Use of English and Alternative Language Editions

spei1022 — 2025-04-26 17:31:29 UTC

Student can be given both editions of the test at the same time, can be looking at both simultaneously, but can only record answers (or submit for grading) in one booklet. However, these different language editions are often both expensive (to cover many different languages) and often do not align with the actual language of instruction. Additionally, the words in the different test booklets, although they may be in the students' L1s, could be words they have never heard before since they are learning new content in their L2, thus learning the words in their L2 before learning them in their L1.

Oral Translation for Lower-Incedence Languages

spei1022 — 2025-04-26 17:37:18 UTC

IF the alternative language editions of the test booklets are not a good fit for the student(s) taking the exam, then an option for a translator to be present while the student takes the test is available. The translator will just be providing definitions (but not explanations).