Extended Time vs. Stop-the-Clock Breaks on High Stakes Testing

Some high achievers can walk out of a standardized test feeling like they knew the material but ran out of time. Many bright, hardworking adults (especially those with ADHD, anxiety, or endurance challenges) wonder whether they should request extended time on exams like the MCAT, LSAT, or GRE.

But there’s another option that often fits better for people who can focus well in short bursts but lose steam during long testing blocks: stop-the-clock breaks.

Here’s what each accommodation really means, how they differ, and how to decide which one matches your testing profile.

1. What Extended Time Really Means

Extended time (25%, 50%, or 100% more time) gives you additional minutes for each section. However, approval usually requires objective evidence of slowed processing or inefficient speed compared to peers.

In other words, it’s meant for people whose speed itself is impaired, not just those who find the test difficult or fatiguing. Strong scores on processing speed, reading fluency, or timed tasks usually make extended time requests less likely to be approved.

2. What Stop-the-Clock Breaks Are

Stop-the-clock breaks let you pause the timer to take brief, structured rest periods. You keep the same total testing time, but you can use short breaks to stretch, reset, and refocus before resuming.

This option fits people who:

• Work efficiently for short periods but tire over time

• Experience attention fatigue or anxiety during long sessions

• Show attention regulation issues or declining stamina on testing

These breaks are often easier to justify and more consistent with profiles showing endurance-related challenges.

3. Why Many High-Achieving Adults Are Denied Extended Time

High-achievers often have average to high-average test results but still struggle under real-world time limits. Testing boards interpret this pattern as pacing or anxiety, not a disability.

Accommodations aren’t based on intelligence or effort. They depend on data showing functional impairment. That’s why careful documentation of attention fatigue and cognitive endurance is often more effective than simply retesting for speed.

4. How to Decide Which to Request

If you struggle with…

• Reading or writing speed below peers, consider extended time.

• Sustaining focus over long periods, consider stop-the-clock breaks.

• Fatigue or restlessness, consider stop-the-clock breaks.

• Both slow speed and stamina decline, consider combination request.

A well-planned evaluation can measure both efficiency and endurance, giving you the strongest possible data for your application.

5. The Bigger Picture

Even if extended time isn’t approved, testing can still help. You can learn how to:

• Pace yourself strategically

• Manage anxiety and attention

• Use evidence-based focus and timing techniques

• Work with your natural cognitive rhythm instead of against it

The goal isn’t only to secure accommodations. It’s to understand how your brain functions best under pressure.

In Summary

Extended time addresses slow processing.
Stop-the-clock breaks address attention fatigue.

Choosing the right accommodation depends on how your mind works, not how smart you are. With comprehensive testing, you can find strategies (and, if appropriate, documentation) that truly fit your needs.