Extra examination time for students with learning disabilities: An examination of the maximum potential thesis

Extra examination time is a common accommodation for college students with learning disabilities. However, the validity of test scores obtained under this condition is open to question because nonlearning disabled students mi ght also benefit from extra examination time. Nevertheless, according to th e Maximum Potential Thesis (MPT), only students with learning disabilities benefit from extra examination time. Nonlearning disabled students, in cont rast, already perform at their maximum potential under timed conditions, an d their performance will not significantly improve with extra time. An anal ysis of 5 studies that directly test MPT shows only weak support for it. Me thodological problems in several of the studies further weaken its evidenti ary basis.