The Alternative Testing Program

The Alternative Testing Program (ATP) supports students and faculty with accommodated exams. 

If you are a student enrolled in an ATP-participating class, this is how exams work: 

1. You are approved for an exam accommodation by Student Disability Services
2. You inform faculty of your approved exam accommodations (by requesting your accommodation letters via SDS Online Services)
3. SDS-ATP staff will enroll you for your accommodated exams in SDS Online Services  
4. You’ll automatically receive an email for each exam with exam details (date/time/location) 

Important Reminder About Deadlines

Due to the large number of courses this program supports, please note the following deadlines. These deadlines are not flexible and will apply to all students.

• For students who have previously been approved for exam accommodations: 
  You should request your accommodation letters as soon as possible once the semester starts. If you request your letter less than seven days before your exam, we cannot guarantee you’ll be included in the ATP exam.
• For students newly approved for an exam accommodation: 
  Request your letters as soon as you are approved. Accommodation letters must be sent at least three days prior to your next exam in order to participate in the ATP-proctored exam.
• Temporary exam accommodations are functionally equivalent to standard exam accommodations and the deadlines above will apply. You will be enrolled in all eligible exams up until your accommodations expire. If your temporary accommodations are extended, contact sds-testing@cornell.edu.  

Please reference the process for requesting accommodation letters. Be aware that it takes at least one full business day for our office to process a request to send accommodation letters after an accommodation plan has been approved. 

What’s new for the 2024-2025 year? 

• Approved to use a laptop during exams?
  • If using an SDS laptop:
    • You can now submit one request to use an SDS laptop for all of your ATP exams per class. In order to ensure that everyone who needs to use a laptop has access to one, all students needing to use a laptop for their exams should use the SDS Laptop Request Form no later than five days prior to your first exam. If you do not submit a request, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to use a laptop during your exam.
         
  • If you are planning to use your personal computer during exams:
    1. Make sure you have discussed this with your professor/TA/course staff before your exam.
    2. Let us to know this. E-mail sds-testing@cornell.edu (and CC your professor/TA/course staff). Doing so before your exam helps us make sure that your accommodations are implemented in a way that works best for you and prevents delays during your exam time. 
          
• SDS Online Services will always have your latest, most up-to-date exam schedule. Check it frequently! Select “Accommodated Exams” from the left-hand column once you log in to review your ATP exam schedule.  
   
• If you have an academic conflict and can’t take your exam at the same time as the rest of the class, you can now easily request an exam time change. To do so, log in to SDS Online Services, navigate to “Accommodated Exams” and locate the exam you need to change. Click on “Modify Request” and change the exam time to one your professor has approved. SDS-ATP staff will review your request and either approve or deny it based on faculty requirements (some faculty allow only 8am or 5pm as the conflict exam time). You’ll receive an updated email with your exam details and the exam will also be updated in your SDS Online Services with your new exam time and location.  
   
• If you need to take a makeup exam using your accommodations for an ATP class, you can submit a request using SDS Online Services. Navigate to “Accommodated Exams,” select the class you need to take a makeup exam for from the dropdown menu, then follow the prompts to submit a request for a makeup exam. If you don’t see a makeup option for the exam you need to take, select “My exam is not listed here” and proceed to schedule your exams. SDS-ATP staff will review your request and approve or deny it. Your professor/TA/course staff should have approved your makeup date/time before you submit your request. 
   

How do I know if I this applies to me?

Check the Master List of ATP Classes. This list is continually updated throughout the year. 

If you’re enrolled in a listed class and have been approved for exam accommodations, you’ll be taking ATP exams if you wish to use your exam accommodations. 

Do I have to take an ATP exam?

No. If you do not want to use your approved exam accommodations, you will take your exam as regularly scheduled by your professor. Only students enrolled in classes participating in the ATP wishing to utilize their approved exam accommodations take ATP exams.  

When are accommodated exams held?

ATP exams are at the same time as the general exam (usually, the class time). So if a class is scheduled to take their exam at 9:05am, the accommodated exam will be held at 9:05am as well, just in a different location. Any extra time accommodations will be added on at the end.  

However, if your class has evening prelims, ATP evening exams (prelims) start at 6:30pm instead of 7:30pm so that students with extra time do not finish their exams very late in the evening.  

What if I can’t take the accommodated exam at the scheduled time?

If you have an academic conflict and can’t take your exam at the same time as the rest of the class, you can request an exam time change. 

To do so: 

1. Log in to SDS Online Services,
2. Navigate to “Accommodated Exams” and locate the exam you need to change.
3. Click on “Modify Request” and change the exam time to either 8am or 5pm, depending on what your professor allows, then submit your request.
4. Watch your email. SDS-ATP staff will review your request and either approve or deny it based on faculty requirements (as some faculty only allow 8am or 5pm as the conflict exam time). If approved, you’ll automatically receive an updated email with your exam details and the exam will also be updated in SDS Online Services with your new exam time and location.   

How do I request a makeup exam? 

If you need to take a makeup exam using your accommodations for an ATP class, submit a request using SDS Online Services. Navigate to “Accommodated Exams,” select the class you need to take a makeup exam for from the dropdown menu, then follow the prompts to submit a request for a makeup exam. You can view more detailed instructions in the ATP Student Guide. 

Why don't I see my exam scheduled? 

Please note that during the first two weeks of classes, SDS-ATP staff are actively enrolling students in exams and your exam may not yet have populated or be viewable in SDS Online Services. 

If you do not see your exam listed, please ensure that: 

• You have informed your faculty of your approved accommodations (that is, “sent your letters” via SDS Online Services). We can’t enroll you in exams until this happens.
• Your class is participating in ATP. 

If your letters have already been sent, then we are actively working on enrolling you in your exam(s) and you should see them in SDS Online Services no later than 10 days prior to your exam date(s). 

I have questions or need more help. Who do I contact? 

First, check SDS Online Services! You can find your ATP exams here under “Accommodated Exams” in the left-hand column after you log in. If you still have questions or need additional help, email sds-testing@cornell.edu. 

Second, review the ATP Student Guide which contains detailed instructions for everything you need to know to take your ATP exams.  

Third, check your course syllabus and Canvas page. It will contain course-specific ATP information that may answer your question about a specific class.  

Finally, if you still have questions or need additional help, email sds-testing@cornell.edu. We will respond as soon as possible, but it may take longer to receive a reply near the beginning of the semester.   

ATP Resource Links 

• List of classes participating in ATP
• 2024-2025 ATP Student Guide
• SDS Laptop Request Form
• SDS Online Services