Extra Time on Brazilian College Level Exam for Students With and Without ADHD

Extended Time on Exams as an Accommodation at First Level of Higher Education: A Randomized Controlled Study

Standardized tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the brazilian National High School Exam (ENEM) give more time for students with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) to complete the exam. The goal of this study is to find out if giving students with ADHD more time on tests actually helps them. Additionally, the research aims to find out if more time helps students without ADHD too or not, or even if it only helps students with certain traits.

Initially, the participants of this study will fill out forms and questionnaires online. Then, they will go through a psychiatric evaluation, where they will talk to a psychiatrist, and neuropsychological testing, where they will do some mental activities. Later on, they will do a mock test of the ENEM, with and without extra time.

Extended time, Academic test Performance, Academic Achievement, Neuropsychological Testing, Cognitive Function

Participants will be assigned either to the "ADHD group" or "non-ADHD group" based on diagnosis. Both groups will receive the same intervention, which is to perform three academic exams based on the Brazilian National High School Exam (ENEM) under three different time conditions (40 minutes, 50 minutes and 60 minutes). The order in which they will perform each exam and with which time condition will be randomized. In order to emulate real-life conditions in which students compete for college entry and motivate them, the participants will be competing for valuable prizes (ebook readers).

Proportion of correct answers weighted by item difficulty, according to the standard scoring of this exam.

Inclusion Criteria: Brazilian citizen; Planing to participate in college-entry standardized tests (ENEM, Vestibulares); Exclusion Criteria: Medical condition and/or disability that may hinder the neuropsychological testing; Intelligence Quotient (IQ) lower than 80; Psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, current moderate or severe depressive episode, suicide risk, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities.