Stopped-Clock Breaks
Stopped-Clock Breaks
Also known as breaks, test breaks, stop-the-clock breaks.
Stopped-Clock Breaks is an accommodation that provides students with a set amount of additional time per hour that students can take a break from writing their test.
The break time does not count towards student’s exam writing time to ensure they are not penalized for taking the break.
This accommodation is designed to support students who experience disability-related impacts or symptoms during exams.
Breaks provide students with an opportunity to manage disability-related impacts such as re-focusing attention, using the washroom, coping with physical discomfort, stretching, reducing cognitive or physical fatigue, attending to medical needs, implementing anxiety reduction strategies, etc. Recent research indicates that breaks “may be a more appropriate and reasonable accommodation than extended time” for students with disabilities including ADHD and mental health.
Breaks will be listed in a student’s accommodation plan as a number of minutes per hour of testing (for example, 5 minutes/hour). Break time is calculated based on a student’s total writing time (including extra time). If relevant, you can calculate the total amount of time using this app (external link) .
- Students writing in-person tests at the Accommodated Test Centre (ATC) must inform their invigilator(s) at the start and end of their break and leave all testing materials at their seat.
- Students remain under invigilation and may only communicate with invigilators/staff during breaks.
- Students are not permitted to leave the ATC or access any personal belongings/electronic devices.
Harrison, A.G., Pollock, B. & Holmes, A. Provision of Extended Assessment Time in Post-secondary Settings: a Review of the Literature and Proposed Guidelines for Practice. Psychol. Inj. and Law 15, 295–306 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-022-09451-3 (external link)