It may take 3 months for some special arrangements to be made for people with Visual difficulties, so he/she should submit the application as soon as possible through their IELTS test center.

What will the IELTS test center do?

✦ Confirm the application deadline (this depends on the arrangements he/she need and is typically from two weeks up to three months before the test) and ask for full details of candidate’s visual difficulty
✦ Make the arrangements required for the candidate to take the test.
Did You Know?
• If the center does not have the equipment or space he/she needs (e.g. a separate room), they will do their best to help the candidate to find a center that does.


• The center may also ask candidates to provide a medical certificate.

What special arrangements can a visually challenged person ask for? There are lots of different options - one can choose what they need from the list below: ✶ Extra time If a person has visual difficulties, he/she will almost certainly need extra time to complete a paper and can also ask for an extra 25% of the normal time for the paper. He/she can ask for more than this if, for example, it takes a long time for the candidate to read the questions or write their answers. Remember, however, that too much extra time could make a person very tired and so one can also ask for breaks while taking a paper. The center will tell what one can have.
✶ Help with reading the question papers If a candidate cannot see or partially sighted, he/she may be permitted to use their own equipment to assist them in reading and can also ask to use the following types of equipment:

✦ Handheld magnifiers ✦ Screen magnification software ✦ Screen reader software ✦ Refreshable Braille displays.

Candidates can contact the test center for further information. Candidates can also ask for a ‘reader’. This is a person who will read and reread the questions to test takers. Please note, however, that in the Reading paper, the reader cannot read out texts to test takers and test takers are not allowed to use screen-reading software.
✶ Help with writing the answers If a candidate cannot see or partially sighted, he/she may be permitted to use their own equipment to write their answers in the following ways:

✦ Using any of the following machines:
• Mechanical Braille keyboard
• Electronic Braille keyboard, linked to a printer
• Computer or word processor (though candidates will not be allowed to use the spellcheck, grammar check, thesaurus or similar functions
• Braille note taker.
✦ Candidates can speak the answers to a person who writes them down for him/her. ✦ Candidate can write the answers on a separate sheet of paper instead of using the computer-read answer sheet.

✶ Braille question papers Exam papers are available as:

✦ Contracted (Grade 2) Braille ✦ Unconstructed (Grade 1) Braille ✦ And from January 2016 in UEB (Unified English Braille)

✶ Enlarged print question papers IELTS question papers are available in an enlarged font. Candidates can also take out any ‘visual’ material which is not needed for answering the question. The center then make large-print versions of the papers in A4 size. The print size looks like this:

✦Usually 18 point bold

✶ Special versions of the Listening test Many of the questions in the Listening test ask the test taker to make notes while he/she listens to a recording on CD. If a candidate cannot see or partially sighted, they may not be able to do this. So such candidates can adapt the Listening test for them. The supervisor (the person who will give test taker their Listening test) will:

✦ Stops the CD before each part of the test to give test taker enough time to read the questions ✦ Stops the CD at certain points during each part to give test taker enough time to write one or more answers ✦ Stops the CD after each part to give test taker enough time to check their answers.

✶ Special versions of the Speaking test If a candidate have visual difficulties, they can ask for:

✦ Candidate can take extra time longer than usual to read any test material or decide what they want to say ✦ Have enlarged print or speaking task cards in Braille

✶ Having someone read to you or write down your answers A ‘reader’ is a person who will read the questions out for a test taker. Please note, however, that they will not explain the questions to test takers or give any advice. They can also read back answers given by test takers. One can also use screen-reading software to read back their answers. However, candidates must not use the spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus functions.

✦ In Reading papers, a reader is not normally allowed to read out texts to test taker and even test takers are not normally allowed to use screen-reading software to do this. ✦ If a candidate wants someone to write down their answers, he/she should note that:
• Test takers will be asked to spell certain words
• Test takers must also give the punctuation.
✦ If a candidate having someone to help them with reading or writing down their answers, they should practice before their test. For example, make sure to spell out the letters of the alphabet.

It may take 3 months for some special arrangements to be made for a candidate with hearing and speaking difficulties, so candidates should submit their application as soon as possible through an IELTS test center.

What will the IELTS test center do?

✦ Confirm the application deadline (this depends on the arrangements required for a candidate and is typically from two weeks up to three months before their test)
✦ Ask for full details of the candidate’s difficulty
✦ Make the arrangements required for a candidate to take the test.
✦ If the center does not have the equipment or space required for a test taker (e.g. a separate room), they will do their best to help them to find another center that does.

The center may also ask candidates to provide a medical certificate.
What special arrangements can a candidate ask for? There are lots of different options - candidates can choose the arrangements provided from the list below.
✶ Hearing aids, headphones and other equipment In the IELTS Listening test, test takers:

✦ Read some questions which are printed on a question paper
✦ Listen to a recording
✦ Write answers to the questions on a separate answer sheet.

If a test taker has hearing difficulties, here are some ways that a center can help them:

✦ If a candidate normally uses a hearing aid, he/she may use it in the test, but remember to tell the center before the test.
✦ If a candidate normally uses devices such as wireless systems or personal FM systems, he/she may ask the center for permission to use this type of equipment. One needs to ask the center at least 2 weeks prior to their test date.
✦ If a candidate can hear with the help of headphones or special amplification equipment, he/she may ask the center for permission to use this type of equipment to hear the recording. One needs to ask the center at least 2 weeks prior to their test date.
✦ If a candidate using headphones, the supervisor (the person who will give test takers listening test) must be able to hear and control the recording. This means they will listen to an external loudspeaker or use a second pair of headphones. Test takers are not allowed to use a personal CD player, MP3 player or another similar device to listen to the recording.
✦ If a candidate is using special equipment, such as special amplification equipment, they will normally sit the test in a separate room. Notify the test center at least 2 weeks prior to the test date.

✶ Hearing-impaired (lip-reading) versions of the Listening test Candidates can ask for a hearing-impaired (lip-reading) version of the Listening test. Instead of playing a recording, the supervisor (the person who will give the test-takers listening test) will read out the material for them. They will read out each text twice. The supervisor will stop reading from time to time during the second reading. This will give test-taker time to write the answers. Make sure:

✦ Candidates lip-read a person who is speaking English
✦ Practice with sample papers before the test.

It may be possible for test-takers to practice lip-reading with the person who will give their listening test before taking the test.
✶ Special arrangements for the Speaking test If it takes longer than usual to say things or to understand what people say, candidates can ask for extra time to complete the test. Candidates are not allowed to use signing in a Speaking test.
✶ Exemptions and endorsed certificates If a candidate has severe hearing and/or speaking difficulties, and the special arrangements listed above are not sufficient (for example, if he/she cannot lip-read), they can ask for an exemption from taking the Listening test and/or the Speaking test. This means they do not have to take the test(s).
Candidates must apply for exemption before taking the test. Ask the center for further information.
For IELTS, one can ask for an exemption from one or two components. Candidates will be given a score for the missing component(s) based on their performance on the other components of the test. This score will be used to calculate the Overall IELTS Band Score.
The Test Report Form will have the following statement printed on it: ‘Due to extreme speaking/hearing (etc.) difficulties, this candidate was exempt from the Speaking/Listening (etc.) test(s). The Speaking/Listening (etc.) test Band Score(s) has/have been nationalized on the basis of the average of the other two/three Band Scores.

What do I need to do? It may take three months for some special arrangements to be made for a test taker, so candidate should submit the application as soon as possible through the IELTS test center. What will the IELTS test center do? The center will:

✦ Confirm the application deadline (this maybe 3 months before the test, depending on the arrangements that a candidate need; typically from two weeks up to 3 months advance notice required) ✦ Ask for full details of candidate learning difficulty ✦ Make the arrangements that a candidate need to take the test

If the center does not have the equipment or space required by a candidate (e.g. a separate room), they will try to help the candidate to find another center that does. The test center may also ask the candidate to provide a medical certificate.
What medical evidence should a candidate have? Candidate must give the center a report about their learning difficulty:

✦ Written when he/she were aged 12 or older ✦ With full details of their learning difficulty and tests which have been carried out ✦ Written by a fully qualified psychologist (educational, clinical or chartered).

If a candidate do not have (or cannot get) a report like this, he/she can talk to the IELTS test center.
What special arrangements can a candidate ask for? There are lots of different options some of them are list below. Candidates can then ask their center to make the arrangements they need. Once he/she have received permission for any special arrangements mentioned below, their answers will be marked in the same way as all other test-takers. For example, if a candidate makes a spelling or grammar mistake, they may lose marks.
✶ Extra time

✦ Candidates may need extra time to complete a paper (e.g. if he/she takes a long time to read the questions or texts, or write their answers). ✦ Candidates can normally ask for an extra 25% of the normal time for a paper. So, if a paper takes one hour, he/she will get an extra 15 minutes. ✦ Candidates can ask for more than 25% extra time if he/she think they need it. ✦ Candidate may also ask for a special version of a Listening test, which is a way of giving extra time in the test. The supervisor will:
• Stops the CD before each part of the test to give test takers enough time to read the questions
• Stops the CD at certain points during each part to give test takers enough time to write one or more answers
• Stops the CD after each part to give test takers enough time to check the answers

✶ Supervised breaks As well as (or instead of) extra time, candidates can ask for supervised breaks. This means he/she can stop writing and take a break alone in another room. This might help if they have difficulty concentrating for long periods. Candidates will be supervised while they take a break.
✶ Writing the answers using a computer Candidates can ask for permission to write their answers using a computer or word processor. He/she must not use the spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus functions if they want to use a computer or word processor. If he/she has permission to use a computer, remember:

✦ The test center may not have the equipment, such as a computer, that he/she can use. However, test takers may be able to use their own equipment but must notify their test center at least 6 weeks prior to the test. ✦ Candidate will have to sit alone in a separate room. If the test center does not have space to do the test with a computer, they will do their best to help in finding another center where they can take the test. ✦ Candidate must write their own answers. They cannot read out their answers to someone who writes them down for them. ✦ Candidates cannot use voice recognition software (programs which turn speech into text).

✶ Reading the question papers Candidate must read the question papers themselves. Although it may take longer to read the question papers, they are not allowed to:

✦ Have someone to read them (a reader) ✦ Use a computer with screen-reading software.

✶ Having a copier (or transcriber) If a candidate handwriting is very difficult to read, he/she may ask their test center to copy (make a transcript of) their work. This means that, at the end of the test, he/she will read out their answers to the copier, including all the punctuation. The copier will write down an exact copy of their answers, including any mistakes in grammar, spelling or punctuation.
✶ Help filling in the answer sheets In the IELTS listening and reading tests, candidates have to copy (transfer) their answers to an answer sheet which is then scanned by a computer. If he/she find it difficult to follow the numbers or order of questions on a page, they may be allowed to write their answers on a separate piece of paper or, sometimes, directly on to the question paper. One can ask the test center for advice prior to the test date.
✶ Transparent colored overlays Candidates may ask for permission to use transparent colored overlays if he/she normally use them. One must notify their test center at least 6 weeks prior to the test.
✶ Candidates may apply for enlarged print copies of an exam paper Enlarged print papers are also called ‘Modified Large Print’ papers. The question paper is modified, and anything which is not needed for answering the question - for example, frames around texts - is removed. All the words in these papers are in the same print size.
✶ Other equipment Candidates can ask the IELTS test center if they want to use any other type of equipment, for example, a screen magnifier.