Hearing or Speaking Difficulties

If you face challenges with hearing or speaking, we are here to offer assistance in taking your IELTS test. To ensure that suitable arrangements are made for you, it is advisable to initiate your application at an IELTS test centre as soon as possible. Sometimes, the process of organising special accommodations may take up to six weeks.

Here's what the IELTS test centre will do for you:

• Confirm the application deadline, which is usually set up to six weeks prior to your test date, depending on the specific accommodations you require

• Request comprehensive details about your hearing or speaking difficulty to better understand your needs

• Make necessary arrangements to accommodate your requirements during the test

If your designated centre lacks the necessary equipment or space (e.g., a separate room) to cater to your needs, they will make every effort to assist you in locating another centre that can.

You may be asked to provide a medical certificate by the centre. Please be aware that all requests for special accommodations are subject to approval.

What accommodations are available for you?

There are various options to choose from. Here is a list of possibilities:

1. Hearing aids, headphones, and other assistive devices

In the IELTS Listening test, candidates are typically required

• Read questions presented on a question paper

• Listen to a recording

• Provide answers to the questions on a separate answer sheet

For individuals with hearing difficulties, the following assistance is available:

1. If you normally use a hearing aid, you are permitted to wear it during the test. Just make sure to inform your test centre beforehand.

2. If you regularly use devices like wireless systems or personal FM systems, you may seek permission from the test centre to use such equipment. Please make this request at least six weeks before your test date.

3. If you can hear better with the help of headphones or special amplification equipment, you may request permission from the test centre to use such equipment for listening to the recording. It is advised to make this request at least two weeks before your test date.

4. If you are using headphones, the test supervisor (the person administering your Listening test) must be able to hear and control the recording as well. This means they will either listen to the audio through an external loudspeaker or use a second pair of headphones. Using personal CD players, MP3 players, or similar devices to listen to the recording is not allowed.

5. If you require special equipment, such as specific amplification devices, you will usually sit the test in a separate room. Notify your test centre at least six weeks before your test date to arrange for this.

2. Lip-reading version of the Listening test for the hearing-impaired

You have the option to request a hearing-impaired (lip-reading) version of the Listening test. Instead of playing a recording, the test supervisor (the person conducting your Listening test) will read the material aloud to you. They will read each text twice, with occasional pauses during the second reading to allow you ample time to write your answers.

To benefit from this option, it's essential that you:

• Possess the ability to lip-read someone speaking in English

• Practice with sample papers before the actual test to familiarise yourself with the format

Additionally, some test centres may offer the opportunity for you to practice lip-reading with the supervisor before taking the test. Don't hesitate to inquire at your test centre about this possibility. Also, You must inform the test centre at least six weeks before the test date.

3. Special accommodations for the Speaking test

If you find that it takes you longer than usual to express yourself or comprehend spoken English, you can request extra time to complete the Speaking test. However, please note that using signing during the Speaking test is not permitted.

4. Exemptions and endorsed certificates

If the special arrangements mentioned earlier are not sufficient to accommodate your needs (e.g. if lip-reading is not feasible), and you experience severe hearing and/or speaking difficulties, you have the option to request exemption from either the Listening test and/or the Speaking test. This exemption means you are not required to take the specified test(s).

To apply for an exemption, you must inform the test centre at least six weeks before the test date. For more details, kindly approach your test centre for further information.

In the case of IELTS, you are allowed to seek exemption from one or both components. If approved, you will receive a score for the exempted components based on your performance in the other components of the test. This assigned score will be used to calculate your overall IELTS band score.

Your Test Report Form (TRF) will include the following statement:

‘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 notionalised on the basis of the average of the other two/three Band Scores.’