Student CTC Resources
Find helpful resources and guidance for navigating the Center for Testing and Classroom Accommodations (CTC). Whether you’re a student using approved accommodations or a faculty member supporting accommodated testing, these resources can help you understand CTC processes, expectations, and available support.
Testing for OAE-Accommodated Students
The Centralized Testing Center (CTC) provides a proctored testing environment for eligible students who are actively registered with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) and have approved academic exam accommodations. Students may test at the CTC when their course is being proctored and when their approved accommodations fall within the CTC’s current scope of services. Students testing at the CTC should review their accommodation letter, submit an exam request for each proctored course assessment, and follow CTC testing procedures.
Resources
To be eligible to take quizzes, midterms, and final exams with accommodations coordinated by the Centralized Testing Center (CTC), students must be actively registered with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) and have approved exam-related accommodations.
Each quarter, students must log in to their OAE|CONNECT student account, select Academic Request Forms, and submit an Academic Accommodation Request for each course assessment they plan to take at the CTC.
Please review all submitted exam dates and times carefully. If an exam is added, moved, or otherwise changed, contact oae-testingcenter@stanford.edu immediately.
Exams are generally administered at the same date and time as the class exam unless an alternate arrangement has been approved in advance by the course instructor. All evening exams must be completed by 10:00 p.m. If you need to take an exam at a different date or time from the class, the CTC requires written confirmation from the instructor identifying the approved exam date and time.
Following the exam, course staff are responsible for collecting completed exam materials from the CTC, according to the course’s established return arrangements.
Schedule Your Exams with the CTC
If you require alternative testing accommodations for your in-person proctored quizzes, midterms and final exams and are eligible to test at the Centralized Testing Center (CTC), you must complete both of the following steps at the beginning of each academic quarter:
- Share your valid accommodation letter with your instructor
- Schedule your in-person assessments in the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) Online System: OAE|CONNECT.
- Review your syllabus or course site to confirm your course's proctoring status. The CTC is administering accommodated exams for proctored courses in AY 26-27.
- For non-proctored exams, your instructor is responsible for applying your approved accommodations (such as extra time) following the standard university exam accommodation process.
- Before your exams:
- Verify that all your assessments for a course have been scheduled in OAE|CONNECT
- Confirm your exam date, time, and location details
- If you have any questions or concerns about how your accommodations are being applied, contact your Disability Adviser at the Office of Accessible Education (OAE).
- Exam requests submitted after the stated deadlines may not be implemented in time and will be subject to seat availability.
- Confirm or obtain your accommodation letter
- If you already have an approved accommodation letter, ensure it is current and specifically covers exam-related accommodations.
- If you need to establish or update accommodations, contact your Disability Adviser as soon as possible. You may be asked to provide documentation.
- Share your accommodation letter
- Request your accommodation letter on OAE|CONNECT and share with your Professor and teaching team
- Log into OAE| CONNECT and select academic request forms
- On the Academic Accommodation Request form, select Exam Accommodations if you are eligible to test at the CTC and your course is being proctored.
- Read the Exam Accommodations section carefully.
- Click “Go to Next Step” at the bottom of the page.
- Answer the two questions:
- Do you have a current, valid accommodation letter?
- Have you shared your accommodation letter with your professor?
- You will see a list of courses you are actively enrolled in on Axess. Select the course for which you are requesting exam accommodations for testing at the CTC. Make sure the course is being proctored.
- Select all exams for which you want to request accommodations (e.g., quizzes, midterms, final). We strongly encourage students to submit exam requests for all assessments for a course at once.
- Click on submit exam accommodation request. You and your primary instructor will receive an email confirming your submission. If you do not receive confirmation within one business day, contact oae-testingcenter@stanford.edu .
- Changes to an existing request: Notify the CTC at oae-testingcenter@stanford.edu as soon as possible and, when feasible, at least three calendar days before the assessment.
- Newly approved accommodations: If your accommodation letter is issued or modified after a deadline, submit your exam request as soon as possible after receiving the updated accommodation letter and notify your instructor. The CTC will work in good faith to implement changes promptly.
- Documented emergencies: If you experience a documented emergency that prevents you from meeting deadlines, contact your Disability Adviser immediately. The CTC will make reasonable efforts to accommodate you, though implementation by the requested exam date is not guaranteed.
- Cancellations or rescheduling: Inform the CTC at oae-testingcenter@stanford.edu as soon as possible if your exam date or time changes.
If you have any questions or concerns with completing the above steps, please contact:
- Your Disability Adviser at the Office of Accessible Education (OAE)
- CTC Directly: Email: oae-testingcenter@stanford.edu | Telephone: 650.785.5664
- CTC In-person: 408 Panama Mall, Second floor, Suite 217
- OAE Main Office: Email: oae-contactus@stanford.edu | Telephone: 650.723.1066
By following this process and meeting the deadlines, you help ensure that your approved exam accommodations are in place and functioning for each assessment at the Office of Accessible Education's Centralized Testing Center. All times are Pacific Time (PT) unless otherwise stated.
Student Exam Procedures
a. Before the Examination
Prior to your exam please confirm the time and writing location by checking the email you would have received three days in advance of your exam. It is your responsibility to report any error or omission in the schedule to CTC’ staff immediately.
Avoid using perfumes, colognes, body sprays, or scented lotions on the day of your exam. Do not bring nuts or nut products to the CTC.
- Please come to the CTC reception 15 minutes prior to the start of your exam. This time is needed to complete check-in, store belongings, and be escorted to your assigned testing space.
- Be prepared to present your Stanford ID, Stanford Mobile app ID or photo identification to the exam proctor on duty. Screenshots or pictures of a photo ID will not be accepted.
- After your identity has been confirmed, CTC staff will direct you to store any non-permitted belongings and will escort you to your assigned seat. Students may enter the testing room up to 10 minutes before the scheduled start time; however, exams may not be opened or started before the start time listed on the exam cover sheet.
- Once checked in, students must remain within the CTC’s designated testing area for the duration of the exam, except when taking an approved or proctored restroom break. Students may not access lockers or personal belongings during the exam.
Only items authorized by the instructor, required for the exam, or approved through the student’s accommodations may be brought into the testing space. Permitted items may include:
- Writing utensils
- Instructor-approved exam aids, such as a calculator, reference sheet, notes, blue book, or scantron
- A water bottle
- A non-smart watch without an alarm or communication capability
- Medication, if approved as an accommodation
- Food or snack items only when approved as an accommodation; food must not have strong odors or noisy packaging
Students are responsible for bringing all instructor-approved materials required for their exam. The CTC does not provide course-specific materials unless arranged in advance by the instructor.
The following items are not permitted in the testing space unless specifically authorized by the instructor or approved as an accommodation:
- Cell phones
- Smart watches
- Laptops, tablets, iPads, or other electronic devices
- Headphones, earbuds, pagers, or similar devices
- Smart glasses, including Meta glasses
- Cameras, recording devices, or communication devices
- Food and beverages, except water and approved accommodation-related snacks or medication
All electronic devices must be turned off—not silenced—and stored in a locker before entering the testing space.
Lockers are available in the hallway outside the CTC for students who need to store backpacks, electronic devices, outerwear, and other personal belongings.
Items stored in lockers must remain there for the duration of the exam. Students may not access lockers during restroom breaks or other breaks. Students should bring only essential and permitted materials to the CTC whenever possible.
All exams administered at the CTC are monitored by exam proctors and real-time camera feeds. Cameras support exam monitoring in testing spaces where partitions or separate rooms may limit a proctor’s direct line of sight.
- Camera feeds are monitored in real time during the exam period only and the video feeds are not recorded.
- Proctors may also walk through the testing space periodically to monitor exams and assist students.
The CTC’s proctoring practices are intended to support academic integrity while providing an accessible and respectful testing environment.
b. During the Examination
- Students who arrive within 30 minutes of the scheduled exam start time may begin their exam at the CTC but will receive only the remaining scheduled exam time.
- The CTC will not extend the exam end time for late arrivals.
- Students who arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled exam start time may not enter the testing space unless the course instructor approves them to write the exam at the CTC. CTC staff will contact the instructor to request approval.
- If instructor approval is received, the student may begin the exam with the remaining scheduled time only; no additional time will be provided.
- If you have a question or concern during your exam, notify the exam proctor at the reception desk immediately.
- For questions about exam content, apparent errors, or unclear instructions, CTC staff will attempt to contact the course instructor or designated teaching staff. The CTC cannot guarantee that the instructor or teaching staff will be available to respond during the exam.
- While awaiting a response, students should continue working on other exam questions whenever possible. If the instructor cannot be reached, the student may be asked to note an assumption and proceed.
- Any instructor-provided clarification or correction will be shared with the student in printed format.
If you are ill or experience an emergency that prevents you from taking your exam, notify the CTC staff and your primary instructor as soon as possible at oae-testingcenter@stanford.edu and follow your course’s procedures for missed exams.
The CTC does not independently approve make-up exams. Any request to take an exam at a different date or time must be approved by the course instructor and is subject to CTC availability.
Students who need to use the restroom must notify the reception desk exam proctor before leaving their testing space. Breaks must occur within the CTC’s designated testing area.
Before leaving, students must turn over their exam and leave all exam materials at their testing station. Students may not access personal belongings, lockers, phones, notes, or other materials during a break.
Restroom breaks must be taken individually and may be monitored or escorted as necessary to maintain exam security.
Break time is included within the student’s allotted exam time, including any approved extended time.
Accessible and all-gender restrooms are located in the hallway immediately outside the CTC testing space.
Students are prohibited from consuming food and beverages in the testing space except for water, medication, or snack items approved as an accommodation.
Students with an approved food accommodation are allowed to bring only snack items that do not have strong odors and do not create disruptive noise, such as loud or crinkly wrappers.
Smoking, vaping, and smoke or vape breaks are not permitted during an exam.
Students testing at the CTC are expected to comply with the Stanford Honor Code and all course-specific exam instructions. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
- Using unauthorized notes, devices, websites, or materials
- Using a cell phone, smart watch, smart glasses, or other unauthorized electronic device
- Communicating with another person during an exam
- Copying from another student or allowing another student to copy your work
- Accessing personal belongings, notes, or electronic devices during a break
- Exceeding the authorized exam time
- Removing, withholding, altering, or failing to return exam materials
If a CTC staff member observes or reasonably suspects a possible Honor Code violation, staff may collect relevant materials, document the incident, and notify the course instructor. Potential violations may be referred for review under applicable University processes. Students may be permitted to continue the exam when appropriate; this does not indicate that the concern has been resolved.
c. Ending the Examination
The examination must end at the specified time unless extra time has been added due to exceptional circumstances. Students must stop writing or typing immediately when instructed by the exam proctor.Before leaving the testing space, students must:
- Write their name and Stanford ID number on all required exam papers, booklets, scantrons, or answer sheets.
- Return all exam materials to the exam proctor, including the exam, reference sheets, scratch paper, blue books, scantrons, and any instructor-provided materials.
- Sign the CTC exam cover sheet. The proctor will record the student’s exam end time.
- Clear their items from the seat and collect personal belongings from their locker, if applicable.
If the exam has been completed on the computer, the proctor will print out the typed answers. The student will be asked to review the printed document, confirm that the exam is complete, and sign (initial) the printed document at the top of the first page.
Exam Conflicts, Schedule Changes, and Make-Up Exams
If your instructor changes the date or time of an exam, notify the CTC immediately. Please include:
- Your full name and Stanford ID number
- Course subject, number, and section
- Instructor’s name
- Original exam date and time
- New exam date and time
- Written confirmation of the change from the instructor, such as an email or Canvas announcement.
Schedule changes are subject to CTC staffing, space availability, and the instructor’s approval.
Students are responsible for identifying and reporting exam conflicts as soon as possible to their Disability Adviser, CTC staff and their instructor. This includes conflicts created by extended-time accommodations, overlapping exams, or changes to a course exam schedule.
The CTC will make reasonable efforts to support approved accommodations; however, alternate testing times cannot be guaranteed without timely notice and instructor approval.
The CTC does not independently authorize make-up exams. Students who miss an exam because of illness, emergency, late arrival, or another circumstance must contact their instructor to discuss available options.
If an instructor approves a make-up exam at the CTC due to disability related reasons, the student must provide the CTC with written instructor approval and the proposed exam date and time. Administration of a make-up exam is subject to CTC capacity, staffing, and the availability of appropriate accommodations.
For questions about CTC testing procedures, contact oae-testingcenter@stanford.edu
