What is the difference between a modification and an access accommodation for state testing?

• A. A modification changes the content or difficulty; an accommodation changes the way the test is taken but not the standard.
• B. A modification changes the way the test is taken; an accommodation changes content.
• C. Both modifications and accommodations change the standard.
• D. An accommodation changes content and difficulty.

Answer: (A)

Modifications change what is being measured by the test. They alter the content or make the tasks easier, which means the standard being assessed is effectively changed for that student. Accommodations, on the other hand, keep the same content and the same performance standard, but adjust how the test is taken to help the student access it (for example, extra time, breaks, large print, text-to-speech, or a scribe). So, a modification changes the content or difficulty; an accommodation changes the administration method without changing what the test is required to prove.