An increasing number of people in the U.S. are receiving preferential treatment for professional qualification examinations such as lawyers and lawyers, calling themselves Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Critics point out that some are abusing the system.
According to the Wall Street Journal, 14 percent of 8,000 people who took the California bar exam in July last year received preferential treatment related to overtime. The number more than tripled from 4 percent a decade ago. In Washington, D.C., the number of people who received preferential treatment also increased significantly.
The U.S. revised the Disabled Persons Act (ADA) in 2008 to provide extended hours related to high school and college entrance exams and professional certificate tests to those with physical and mental disabilities.
However, some point out that some wealthy people are exploiting such a system. In some local high schools with high income levels, more than 30% of students were provided with convenience for the test based on related diagnosis. In some universities, one-third of students reportedly claim disability. This contrasts with only 3% of local colleges where relatively low-income students go to.
Those who received extra time actually performed well on the test. In February last year, 65 percent of the applicants who received extra time in the California bar exam were accepted, higher than the overall average (58 percent).
With tangible benefits to tests, related activities are expanding to other professional tests. The rate of overtime benefits in nurse exams was 2.6% last year, doubling from 1.3% in 2016. In dental examinations, the rate of 0.5% in 2015 rose to 1.7% last year.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
