Access Arrangement Policy

British Council IELTS test centres can help if you have visual, hearing, speaking or learning difficulties. If you need a modified version of IELTS, please be aware that you are required to provide medical evidence to support your claim. Your English language ability will be assessed objectively, regardless of any disability or special needs that you may have.

 

Please note a medical report will be required to support your access arrangement application, which must be bilingual in English and Chinese, within a period of two years before the test date, and issued by a medical professional from a Tertiary Grade A Hospital.

 

We are committed to accommodating your special needs as far as possible, but please be aware that the arrangements mentioned in this policy may not always be available in all test sessions and at all test venues. The arrangements available for the IELTS on Paper test may also differ from those offered for the IELTS on Computer test. In order for you to attend your test as planned, please ensure you submit your access arrangement application 3 months prior to your selected test date.  

 

Special arrangements include:

·    Braille question papers

·    Enlarged print question papers

·    Scribe and Reader

·    Assistive technology

·    Modified Listening CD

·    Hearing impaired version

·    Exemptions.

 

Visual difficulties

If you have visual difficulties you may be able to request some of the following arrangements:

·    Extra time depending on the level of visual difficulty.

·    Use of a Scribe - your test centre will also need to request a modified CD for the Listening test from Cambridge Assessment English to allow time for the Scribe to work.

·    Use of a Reader - your test centre will also need to request a modified CD for the Listening test from Cambridge Assessment English to allow time for the test taker to use the screen reading software or for the Reader to work.

·    Enlarged print question papers.

·    Braille question papers.

·    Modified CD for the Listening test.

 

Braille question papers

These materials are suitable for blind test takers who can read Braille.  A modified Speaking Test booklet is available with test taker cards in Braille or enlarged print.

 

Enlarged print question papers

These materials are suitable for test takers with visual difficulties. Enlarged print question papers are adapted, taking out any ‘visual’ material that is not needed for answering the question, for example, frames around texts.

The standard font size in IELTS question papers is Arial 11-point font and Enlarged Print question papers are in Arial 18-point bold font.

If you need a bigger font size, you may use assistive technology (like a magnifier) to increase the text to a more comfortable size.

 

Use a PC or a laptop to type answers

Test takers using Enlarged Print papers will normally not need to use a Scribe to write answers. A Scribe can only be used if you cannot write at all and are unable to record your answers using an enlarged answer sheet or assistive technology, e.g. typing them using a PC or a laptop.

However, if you are very severely visually impaired and wish to use a Scribe, this will be possible. You will need to provide medical evidence to support your request which clearly states your percentage of visual difficulty.

 

Use of a Scribe or Reader

You can request for a Scribe or Reader if you are unable to read or write.

Rules for using a Scribe:

·    The Scribe must write down only what the test taker dictates.

·    The test taker must dictate their answers clearly, indicating all punctuation and capital letters and the spelling of commonly misspelt or less common words.

·    If the Scribe is unclear on the details of the test taker’s intended answer, they must request clarification.

·    The Scribe must also ask the test taker to dictate the spelling of words which are less common, likely to cause confusion (e.g. where there is a similar but different word in the test taker’s first language), homophones. The Scribe must underline all words where the spelling has been checked in this way.

·    The Scribe must not give factual help to the test taker nor offer any suggestions.

·    All dictation and writing must be completed within the time specified for the test.

 

Rules for using a Reader: 

·    A test taker using a Reader must have separate invigilation.

·    A Reader should be able to read accurately and at a reasonable rate and must be familiar with the texts and task types in IELTS. 

 

During the test a Reader must:

·    read accurately

·    not give factual help to the test taker, nor offer any suggestions

·    not advise the test taker regarding which questions to do, when to move on to the next question, or the order in which the questions should be done

·    read, as often as requested, the questions and the answers already recorded. This means that the Reader can repeat one or more of the questions after reading a section of text, or at any point upon the test taker's request

·    if asked, give information regarding time elapsed and remaining

·    if asked, give the spelling of a word which occurs in the question paper; otherwise spellings must not be given

·    not offer the test taker any other kind of assistance, e.g. indirectly by using intonation.

 

Assistive technology

Assistive technology is specialist equipment that can give you access to standard technology (a PC or laptop) or enable you to read, write, speak or listen. 

Assistive technology can only be used by the test taker and not by someone acting on your behalf. You must be proficient in the use of the equipment and any relevant programmes or software. Operator manuals cannot be used during the test.

 

Hearing difficulties

If you have hearing difficulties the following types of modified Listening test materials may be available to you.

 

Modified Listening CD

Extra time and pauses cannot be added to the Listening test by stopping the standard test CD. However your test centre can request a modified CD from Cambridge Assessment English which plays the Listening texts twice. It will also include additional pauses for you to write your answers. 

Separate invigilation will be required and the use of a personal CD player is not permitted.

 

Hearing impaired version

This version is for test takers who:

·    have difficulty hearing recorded sound but find live, human voices accessible

·    can lip-read in English

·    can access the test content through a combination of hearing and lip-reading.

Instead of playing a recording, a suitable member of the test centre staff will read a script to you out loud. The member of staff will read each text twice.

If you have severe hearing difficulties you can also apply for extra time in Reading and Writing tests to process what you read.

 

Speaking difficulties

You are not permitted to use signing or sign language in the Speaking test.

However, test takers with visual, hearing or speaking difficulties can be granted extra time in the Speaking test to:

·    read and process the written material

·    process what the examiner is saying

·    produce a speech sample.

 

Learning, communication and interaction difficulties

Learning, communication or interaction difficulties include conditions such as:

·    dyslexia

·    dysorthographia

·    ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder)

·    ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

·    AS (Asperger Syndrome).

If you have one of these conditions, a combination of some, or all of the below arrangements may be helpful for you: 

·    25% extra time for Listening (Your test centre can request a modified CD from Cambridge Assessment English for the Listening test. This will repeat the Listening texts twice and include additional pauses for you to write your answers.) 

·    enlarged print question papers (Your test centre can request modified papers from Cambridge Assessment English with a layout and font style which may help test takers with dyslexia.)

·    25% extra time for Reading and Writing

·    supervised breaks (which may help test takers with ADHD or anxiety)

·    separate invigilation

·    use of a PC or a laptop for typing answers.

Test takers with a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia are not permitted to use a Reader or Scribe.  In this case you must read and write your own answers.  

 

Physical difficulties 

This category includes test takers such as those with a form of paralysis or those who can write but not by conventional means, e.g. with their feet. 

If you need to use additional facilities such as a wheelchair or hearing aids, or if you have other conditions that may require special consideration, please inform us as soon as possible. Unapproved facilities and utensils will not be allowed in the test room, and you will not be eligible for a refund if you are unable to attend the test without them.

You will need to include as much information as possible in your application so that suitable arrangements can be made, and the correct modified materials arranged. 

Support workers are not usually allowed to accompany a test taker for any part of an IELTS test. Usually, they can only stay with you as far as the test room and must then wait outside until the test is finished. 

 

Exemptions 

Special arrangements will enable most test takers to take all four sections of the test and to be assessed in the same way as any other test taker. However, special arrangements may not meet the needs of some test takers with particularly severe difficulties. In this case you may apply to be exempt from one or two of the test sections.

Applications for exemptions must include as much medical evidence and background information as possible to justify the request. These will be considered on a case by case basis.

 

Contact your local test centre

Please contact our customer service team as soon as possible if you have special needs that may require a modified IELTS test version.

For IELTS full test, please write to: ieltsaa@britishcouncil.org.cn

For IELTS One Skill Retake, please write to: ieltsosr@britishcouncil.org.cn