Using Exam Accommodations

Where to Start

Before scheduling at the Exam Accommodations Center (EAC), ensure you are set up with your instructor to use your exam accommodations with these 4 easy steps!
Before scheduling at the Exam Accommodations Center (EAC), ensure you are set up with your instructor to use your exam accommodations with these 4 easy steps!

Where to Start

If you have not yet used your accommodations in your course, first, ensure that you've notified your instructor about your accommodations by sending your Notification Letter
Using your exam accommodations involves discussing and planning with your instructor to determine the best approach for your specific needs and course setup. While the Exam Accommodation Center (EAC) is available as a resource, it is not the only option for implementing accommodations. Review our Using Exam Accommodations Guide with your instructor to determine the best plan.
If you and your instructor determine that the EAC is the best option for testing, your instructor will need to refer your exams to the EAC at least one week before the exam date. To learn how instructors refer exams, visit our EAC Instructor Webpage.
Watch your email for a confirmation that your exam has been referred to our center. Once you receive that email, wait 24 hours to schedule your exam.

Implementing Exam Accommodations - A Guide for Students
Schedule Your Exam

If you instructor refers you to the EAC, you will need to schedule your appointment to save a spot for your exam. Learn how to schedule your appointment online!
If you instructor refers you to the EAC, you will need to schedule your appointment to save a spot for your exam. Learn how to schedule your appointment online!

Schedule Your Exam

What is the EAC?
The Exam Accommodation Center (EAC) provides a quiet, distraction-reduced space equipped to meet a variety of accommodation needs. This service was created to assist instructors and students by offering a reliable option for implementing exam accommodations.
Learn more about the EAC
EAC Scheduling Policies:
Written exams must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Same-day scheduling for written exams will not be accepted.
Canvas exam walk-ins are welcome, but space is not guaranteed. We recommend scheduling or coming in early and not waiting until the last day.
Only the accommodations you select during scheduling will be provided. Choose every accommodation you want to use on your exam.
An instructor referring a student does not schedule a spot for the student. Students are responsible for scheduling their exams at the EAC following our policies and timelines.
Having issues scheduling? Contact us right away!
Learn how to schedule your exam:
Tutorial: How to Schedule at the EAC
Scheduling for finals week?
Visit our webpage for finals-specific information and tutorials to ensure your exam is scheduled.
Finals Week Scheduling Info
Reschedule/Cancel Your Appointment

Need to adjust your exam appointment? Check out our tutorial to easily alter your testing appointment.

Need to adjust your exam appointment? Check out our tutorial to easily alter your testing appointment.

Reschedule/Cancel Your Appointment

Need to reschedule or cancel your exam appointment? This tutorial walks you through the steps to make changes easily and in compliance with EAC policies. Keep in mind that written exam appointments must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and cannot be modified once this deadline has passed.

Tutorial: How to Reschedule or Cancel an Exam Appointment
EAC Prohibited Items

Before taking your exam, ensure you know what you can and cannot bring into the testing area. All prohibit items must be left out in the lobby area during your exam.
Before taking your exam, ensure you know what you can and cannot bring into the testing area. All prohibit items must be left out in the lobby area during your exam.

EAC Prohibited Items

The EAC follows strict guidelines to uphold the integrity of each exam. In order to test with the EAC, students must follow the policies below. The EAC will ask to check all materials you are bringing in to the testing location to ensure no additional materials are brought in.
Allowed
Drinks must be in clear, unlabeled bottles
Any resources allowed by your instructor
Any items you have approved accommodations for
Unaltered ISU ID
Prohibited (unless approved with accommodations)
Cell phones, watches (analog and digital), or other electronic devices
Food or medicines
Hats or hoods
Pencil cases or bags
Headphones/earplugs not provided by the EAC
Scratchpaper not provided by the EAC
Any materials/items that your instructor has not allowed
Making excessive noise, moving around the room, sharing answers, or looking at other's exams
Trouble with Exam Referrals or Scheduling Conflicts?

Don’t let unsubmitted referrals or exam timing conflicts cause unnecessary stress—click here to learn how to resolve these issues and ensure your accommodations are in place.
Don’t let unsubmitted referrals or exam timing conflicts cause unnecessary stress—click here to learn how to resolve these issues and ensure your accommodations are in place.

Trouble with Exam Referrals or Scheduling Conflicts?

When Instructors Aren’t Responding or Referrals Aren’t Submitted
If your instructor hasn’t responded to your requests about exam accommodations or hasn’t submitted your exam referral, here’s what you can do:
Send Reminders: Continue contacting your instructor to follow up, reminding them of the need to plan exam accommodations or submit an EAC referral. Remember, referrals must be submitted at least one week before the exam.
Share Resources: Provide your instructor with our referral tutorials to guide them through the process.
Suggest Help: Encourage your instructor to call us directly if they need assistance with submitting the referral.
Reach Out to Us: If you’ve attempted to resolve the issue and your accommodations are not set up, or your referral still isn’t submitted, contact us as early as possible. We can work with your instructor to ensure your accommodations are implemented. Complete our Student Support Request Form, or give us a call!
When Exam Times Overlap with Your Other Courses
Students are not required to miss another class to take an exam with accommodations. If your instructor’s referral schedules your exam during a class time, take the following steps:
Contact Your Instructor: Let them know about the conflict. Your instructor can edit the referral to allow you to take the exam at an alternate time or date.
Seek Our Help: If your instructor is struggling to adjust the exam time, reach out to us. We can help communicate with your instructor to resolve the issue and ensure your accommodations are upheld.
These steps are designed to support you in navigating any challenges while maintaining a collaborative and professional approach with your instructors.
Avoid Common Scheduling Mistakes

Don’t risk missing your accommodations—get tips to schedule your exams smoothly and on time. Ensure your exams are scheduled with the right testing center and find out how to avoid delays or mistakes.
Don’t risk missing your accommodations—get tips to schedule your exams smoothly and on time. Ensure your exams are scheduled with the right testing center and find out how to avoid delays or mistakes.

Avoid Common Scheduling Mistakes

Scheduling with the Wrong Testing Center
Many students are mistakenly scheduling exams with the regular testing centers instead of the Exam Accommodations Center (EAC).
Please note that the regular testing center and the EAC are entirely separate RegisterBlast systems with no connection.
To avoid confusion:
The regular testing center on RegisterBlast has a red banner, while the EAC uses a blue banner. Make sure you are looking at the website you are referred to!
Always use the Canvas menu link labeled "Exam Accommodations Center" rather than the RegisterBlast website directly for the EAC.
Some students are also confusing the new regular testing center in our building with the EAC. Hixson 2242 (located on the top floor) is not the same as the EAC, which is on the main floor of the Hixson-Lied building.
Scheduling Without a Referral
Some students are attempting to schedule exams without their instructor’s referral or before it has been approved.
To ensure everything runs smoothly:
Wait for your instructor to submit the exam referral and for the EAC to approve it before scheduling your exam.
You will receive an email once your instructor has referred the exam.
Wait approximately 24 hours after receiving this email before attempting to schedule, as the EAC must approve the referral first. If the referral is not approved, you will not be able to schedule your exam.
Late Accommodation Requests
If students delay discussing their accommodations with instructors, they risk not having accommodations in place in time for their exam.
To avoid this:
Instructors must submit referrals to the EAC at least one week before the exam.
Instructors are not expected to arrange exam accommodations with less than a week’s notice.
Discuss your exam accommodations with your instructor as early as possible to ensure everything is properly set up so you don’t miss out on your accommodations.

What to Expect on Exam Day

EAC Policies & Procedures

Checking In and Arrive on Time

Arrive at your testing location within 15 minutes of your scheduled exam start time. Bring your ISU ID for check-in, and store all prohibited items in the designated area. Gather any necessary materials, then meet with a proctor who will review your exam instructions. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late may lose exam time or, at the EAC staff's discretion, be denied entry.

All Notes/Resources WILL be Collected

To uphold the integrity of exams taken in the EAC, our staff will collect ALL notes or resources brought into the exam UNLESS the exam is open note/book or the instructor specifically stated in the exam referral. This means that any notes that you bring in will be collected at the end of your exam, with no exceptions. This policy ensures that students with accommodation who take exams at different times from their peers cannot take notes about the exam out of the EAC. If you want to keep your notes, take a picture or scan them BEFORE you arrive for your test. You will not be allowed to keep them or take a picture after.

Bathroom Breaks/Leaving the Testing Location is NOT Allowed

Once you begin your exam, you cannot leave for any reason (unless you have an approved accommodation or your exam exceeds 4 hours). This means that taking the time to ensure you have everything with you and have gone to the bathroom is really important, especially during long exams. Take a moment to ensure you are completely ready before entering, and do not drink a bunch of water ahead of time!

Cheating: It's Not Worth It!

Any incidents of cheating will be dealt with promptly. Both cameras and proctors monitor the EAC. If a student is caught cheating, they will be removed from the exam room along with any prohibited materials. Proctors will confiscate the materials and document the student's progress at the time of removal. The student will be allowed to complete the exam without the prohibited materials. After the exam, the student will be taken into the EAC's main reception where both the instructor and Student Conduct will be notified via email to decide next steps, and the incident will be recorded in the system for future reference.

Trust us, cheating is not worth the trouble! Focus on doing your best, no matter how prepared.

Outside view of the Hixson-Lied building where the EAC is located

View of the main floor of the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, featuring plenty of comfortable study spots while you wait for your exam!

Entrance to the EAC on the main floor of the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, with the EAC sign displayed in the hallway and the door to Room 1200 on the right.

Map of the main floor of the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center, highlighting the EAC. The entrance and lobby are located in Room 1200.

Entrance to the low distraction room and cubbies where you can place your personal items while you are taking an exam. As a reminder, no materials are allowed in the testing center aside from approved testing materials and clear water bottles.

Low distraction testing cubicles. Each testing space is labeled with a desk number which you will be assigned when you arrive at the EAC and has a computer for taking Canvas exams, and space on the desk to work on written exams.

Private testing room. These rooms are reserved for students with specific needs, such as specialized testing technology, adjustable desks, and more.

In Spring 2024, we opened our second low-distraction room to meet the growing demand for exam accommodations.

Using Exam Accommodations

EAC Testing Hours