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The British Council aims to ensure that every candidate is treated fairly and objectively and that they are given optimum conditions to take their exams.
Our test centres can make arrangements to accommodate special circumstances or requirements to enable test takers to attend a test centre, and to understand questions and tasks and give their answers.
If you have a disability or another condition which might require special arrangements, you should let the test centre at which you will be doing your test know as soon as you can. Each case is considered individually, so they will need a medical certificate from you to put arrangements in place.
In this case your application must be supported by medical evidence, which should meet the following criteria:
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The medical evidence should be legible and either in English or in Portuguese. |
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The medical evidence should be an original document on headed paper and bearing the name, relevant qualification(s) and signature of a recognised practitioner. |
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The medical evidence should give a clear statement of the candidate’s disability. |
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The medical evidence should make it clear how the disability justifies Special Arrangements. |
Additional criteria apply in the case of applications for Special Arrangements for candidates with specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia):
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The medical evidence must be in the form of a report prepared in a period no more than one year before the test date. |
A range of options are available, including enlarged print, and brailed question papers depending on the examination you are taking.
Answers may be recorded in a variety of ways, e.g. via an amanuensis, or using a Braille machine or word-processor, and extra time may be allowed for completion of Reading and Writing Modules.
A special needs version of the Listening Module is also available.
If you have partial hearing loss and can hear with the help of headphones or special amplification equipment you may ask for permission to use this equipment when taking listening modules.
A lip-reading version of the Listening Module is available.
In the case of severe hearing difficulties, you can apply for exemption from the Speaking and/or Listening Modules. In the IELTS test
You can apply for up to 25% extra time depending on the examination to complete the Reading and Writing Modules, and can also apply to write your answers using a typewriter or word-processor, if you normally write this way.
Currently all our exams venues are accessible to those in wheelchairs or with reduced mobility.
If you are genuinely ill on the day of or during the test you should let the test supervisor know. Special consideration may be given to test takers who report their illness on the day.
Special considerations vary according to the examination being taken and the university or professional body who write the exam. Please be sure to make you needs known to us a minimum of five weeks before taking the exam in the case of IELTS and at the time of registration for all other examinations.
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