Which of the following best describes the role of accommodations in assessment?

• A. Providing extra time or alternative formats to support access for students with disabilities.
• B. Reducing the number of correct answers allowed.
• C. Increasing the difficulty for all students equally.
• D. Removing any support to test independence.

Answer: (A)

Accommodations in assessment aim to provide equitable access so the test measures the student’s true abilities rather than barriers created by disability or other needs. They adjust how the test is delivered or how responses are recorded without changing what the test is intended to measure. Providing extra time or offering alternative formats (like large print or a screen reader) directly supports access for students with disabilities, keeping the task's construct intact while removing unfair obstacles. The other options would alter what is being assessed or how it is scored: reducing the number of correct answers changes the scoring; increasing difficulty for everyone changes the test’s purpose; and removing support defeats the purpose of making the test accessible.