Visual difficulties

If you have any vision-related challenges, such as being blind, partially sighted, or having difficulty seeing, we may be able to assist you in taking your IELTS test.

To make this possible, what do you need to do?

Apply through your IELTS test centre as soon as possible, as it may take up to six weeks to arrange the necessary accommodations.

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

• The test centre will confirm the application deadline, which usually depends on the specific arrangements required and is typically up to six weeks before the test date

• The test centre will ask for detailed information about your visual difficulty to better understand your needs

• The test centre will make the necessary arrangements to ensure you can take the test comfortably and fairly

If your current test centre doesn't have the required equipment or space to accommodate your needs (like a separate room), they will make an effort to find another centre that can better accommodate you.

Additionally, your test centre may request you to provide a medical certificate to verify your condition. This certificate will help ensure that the appropriate arrangements are made to support you during the test.

What special arrangements you can request for your IELTS test?

You have several options to choose from:

1. Extra time:

If you have visual difficulties, you may need additional time to complete a paper. You can ask for an extra 25% of the normal time allotted for the paper. If you require more time due to slower reading or writing, you can request an even longer extension. However, keep in mind that excessive extra time could lead to fatigue. You can also ask for breaks during the test, and your test centre will inform you about the available options.

2. Help with reading:

If you are unable to see or have partial sight, you can use your own equipment to assist you in reading. You are allowed to use the equipment like handheld magnifiers.

If you want more information, you can get in touch with your test centre.

You can also ask for a 'reader,' a person who will read and repeat the questions to you. However, please note that in the Reading paper, the reader cannot read out the texts to you, and you are not allowed to use screen-reading software. For further details about having someone read to you or write down your answers, please refer to section 8 below.

3. Assistance for writing answers:

If you are unable to see or have partial sight, you can use your own equipment to write your answers in the following ways:

• Using the machine like – Computer or word processor (though you won't be allowed to use spellcheck, grammar check, thesaurus, or similar functions).

• Speaking your answers to a person who will write them down for you. For more details, please refer to section 8 below about having someone read to you or write down your answers.

• Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper instead of using the computer-read answer sheet.

4. Braille question papers:

The exam papers are provided in Braille, and you can choose from the following options:

• Contracted (Grade 2) Braille

• Uncontracted (Grade 1) Braille

• Unified English Braille (UEB) from January 2016 onwards

5. Enlarged print question papers:

IELTS question papers are available in an enlarged font. To make it easier to read, we remove any 'visual' elements that are not necessary for answering the questions. Then, we create large-print versions of the papers in A4 size. The print size is 18 points and appears bold.

6. Special versions of the Listening test:

In the Listening test, you are usually required to take notes while listening to a recording on a CD. However, if you have visual challenges and cannot do this, we can adjust the Listening test to accommodate your needs. Also, We can arrange for a special listening CD with inbuilt additional pauses and each text will be played twice.

7. Special versions of the Speaking test:

If you have visual difficulties, you can request the following accommodations for the Speaking test:

• Extra time if you need more time than usual to read any test material or decide what you want to say

• Enlarged print or Speaking task cards provided in Braille format to aid your understanding and response during the Speaking test.

8. Having Someone Read to You or Write Down Your Answers:

A 'reader' is a person who will read the questions to you during the test. However, please understand that they cannot explain the questions or offer any advice. They can also read back your answers if you wish. You can also use screen-reading software to read back your answers, but certain functions like spellcheck, grammar check, or thesaurus are not allowed.

In the Reading papers, a reader is generally not permitted to read out the texts to you, and you are usually not allowed to use screen-reading software for this purpose.

If you want someone to write down your answers, there are some important points to consider:

1. You will need to spell certain words during the test

2. You must also provide the punctuation for your answers

If you plan to have someone help you with reading or writing down your answers, it's a good idea to practice beforehand. For example, make sure you can spell out the letters of the alphabet.

If you would like more information about having a reader or someone to write down your answers, please get in touch with your test centre. They will be able to provide further assistance and guidance.