Access arrangements

Are you disabled or do you require specific access arrangements to enable you to take an exam? We can help you so you can take your test and be assessed fairly.

We have a number of ways to support people who are disabled (temporarily or long-term) or need specific arrangements to take our exams. For example, access arrangements are available if you:

• have a broken arm
• have a long-term illness or physical condition (e.g. diabetes)
• have a specific learning difficulty
• have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
• are neurodivergent
• are feeding an infant.

Please get in touch with your test centre at least six weeks before your test so that they can make arrangements.

If you usually have other test-taking arrangements which are not listed here, please contact your test centre for advice.

Access arrangements can include the following:

Modified papers

• large print or Braille
• text or Braille descriptions of photographs
• recordings for listening tests with more time between sections.

Specific support

• extra time and/or supervised breaks
• reader and/or scribe
• use of personal assistive technology.

Please contact your local test centre as soon as possible if you think you will need a modified IELTS test version.

I have a visual impairment

If you have a visual impairment, we can offer access arrangements to support you in taking your IELTS test.

It can take six weeks for some arrangements to be made. Please contact your test centre as early as possible.

All requests for access arrangements are subject to approval.

What will the IELTS test centre do?

The test centre will:

• ask for details about your vision
• confirm the deadline to book your test (this depends on what you need and is usually up to six weeks before your test)
• make the arrangements you need to take the test.

If your chosen test centre does not have the equipment or space you need (e.g. a separate room), they will do their best to help you to find a centre that does.

Your centre may also ask you to provide supporting information, such as a medical certificate.

What access arrangements can I ask for?

There are lots of different options – choose what you need from the list below:

1. Extra time

If your vision impairment means that you will need extra time to complete a paper you can ask for at least 25% extra time.

On occasions, more time will be given to allow for reading questions and writing answers, but too much time could have a negative impact on energy and stamina.

You can also ask for breaks while taking the test. Your centre will tell you what you can have.

2. Supervised breaks

As well as (or instead of) extra time, you can ask for supervised breaks. This means you can stop writing and take a break alone in another room. You will be supervised while you take your break.

3. Taking the test over two days

If you are entitled to 100% extra time, it may be possible to take the test papers on different days. For example, Speaking and Reading on day 1, Writing and Listening on day 2. You can combine this arrangement with supervised breaks.

4. Support with reading the question papers

You may be permitted to use your own equipment to assist you in reading the test. You can ask to use the following types of equipment:

• handheld magnifiers
• screen magnification software
• screen reader software
• refreshable Braille displays.

Please contact your test centre for further information.  

You can also request a ‘reader’ who will read (and reread) the questions to you.

Please also see section 10: Having someone read to you or write down your answers, below.

5. Support with writing your answers

You may be permitted to use your own equipment to submit your answers in the following ways:  

a. Using any of the following machines:

• mechanical Braille keyboard
• electronic Braille keyboard, linked to a printer
• computer or word processor (though you will not be allowed to use the spellcheck, grammar check, thesaurus or similar functions
• Braille note taker.

b. Speaking your answers to a person who writes them down for you. Please also see section 10: Having someone read to you or write down your answers, below.

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

6. Braille question papers

• IELTS test papers are available in either SEB (Standard English Braille) or UEB (Unified English Braille) and as contracted (Grade 2) Braille
• uncontracted (Grade 1) Braille.

7. Enlarged print question papers

IELTS question papers are available in an enlarged font. Enlarged print papers are also called ‘Modified Large Print’ papers.

We take out any ‘visual’ material which is not needed for answering the question. Where a task has a graph or other diagram, this is adapted and the information is made more accessible, e.g. given in text in a table. We then make large-print versions of the papers in A4 size. The print size looks like this:

8. Extra time versions of the Listening test

Many of the questions in the Listening test ask you to make notes while you listen to a recording. If you need extra time to do this or cannot listen and take notes at the same time, this test version may be suitable for you. The supervisor (the person who will give you your Listening test) will:

• stop the recording before each part of the test to give you enough time to read the questions
• stop the recording at certain points during each part to give you enough time to write your answers
• stop the recording after each part to give you enough time to check your answers.

9. Accessible versions of the Speaking test

You can ask to:

• have extra time to read any exam material or decide what you want to say
• have the Speaking task card in enlarged print or Braille
• have an electronic version of the Speaking task card to use with screen-reading software.

10. Having someone read to you or write down your answers

A ‘reader’ will read the questions out to you. However, they will not explain the questions to you or give you any advice. They can also read back your answers to you, or you can use screen-reading software. However, you must not use the spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus functions.

If you want someone to write down your answers, you will be asked to spell certain words and you must also give the punctuation.

If you someone is supporting you with reading or writing down your answers, you should practise before your test. For example, make sure you can spell out the letters of the alphabet.  

If you would like to know more about having a reader or someone to write down your answers, please contact your test centre.

I’m D/deaf; I have a hearing or Speech impairment

The IELTS test includes Listening and Speaking sections. If you are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impairment we can offer access arrangements to support you in taking your IELTS test. It can take up to six weeks for arrangements to be made, so please talk to your local test centre as early as possible.

All requests for access arrangements are subject to approval.

What will the IELTS test centre do?

The test centre will:

• ask for details about your hearing or speech
• confirm the deadline to book your test (this depends on what you need and is usually up to six weeks before your test)
• make the arrangements you need to take the test.

If your chosen test centre does not have the equipment or space you need (e.g. a separate room), they will do their best to help you to find a centre that does.

Your centre may also ask you to provide supporting information, such as a medical certificate.

What access arrangements can I ask for?

There are lots of different options – choose what you need from the list below:

1. Hearing aids, headphones and other equipment

In the Listening section of your test, you:

• read some questions which are printed on a question paper
• listen to a recording
• write answers to the questions on a separate answer sheet.

Here are some ways we can support you:

• If you normally use a hearing aid, you may use it in the test, but remember to tell your test centre before the test
• If you normally use devices such as wireless systems or personal FM systems, you may ask the centre for permission to use this type of equipment. You need to ask your centre at least six weeks prior to your test date
• If you can hear with the help of headphones or amplification equipment, you may ask the centre for permission to use this type of equipment to hear the recording. You need to ask your centre at least two weeks prior to your test date
• If you are using headphones, the supervisor (the person who will give you your 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. You are not allowed to use a personal audio player to listen to the recording
• If you are using certain equipment, such as amplification equipment, you will normally sit the test in a separate room. Notify your test centre at least six weeks prior to your test date.

2. Hearing-impaired (lip-reading) versions of the Listening test

You can ask for a hearing-impaired (lip-reading) version of the Listening test. Instead of playing a recording, the supervisor will read out the material to you. They will read out each text twice. The supervisor will stop reading from time to time during the second reading. This will give you time to write your answers.

This version might be suitable if hearing recorded sound is challenging, if you are able to lip-read in English, or if you can access the test content through a combination of hearing and lip-reading.
 
Make sure you:

• can lip-read a person who is speaking English
• practise with sample papers before the test.

It may be possible for you to practise lip-reading with the person who will give you your Listening test before you take the test. You can ask your test centre if this would be helpful.

3. Access arrangements for the Speaking test

You can ask for extra time to read any exam material or decide what you want to say You are not allowed to use signing in a Speaking test.

4. Extra time in Reading and Writing tests (if you are D/deaf or have a hearing impairment)

Depending on the impact of your condition, you can ask for up to 25% extra time.

5. Supervised breaks

As well as (or instead of) extra time, you can ask for supervised breaks. This means you can stop writing and take a break alone in another room. You will be supervised while you take your break.

I have a specific learning difficulty

If you have a specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, we can offer access arrangements to support you in taking your IELTS test.

It can take six weeks for some arrangements to be made. Please contact your test centre as early as possible.

All requests for access arrangements are subject to approval.

What will the IELTS test centre do?

The test centre will:

• ask for details about your specific learning difficulty
• confirm the deadline to book your test (this depends on what you need and is usually up to six weeks before your test)
• make the arrangements you need to take the test.

If your chosen test centre does not have the equipment or space you need (e.g., a separate room), they will do their best to help you to find a centre that does.

Your centre may also ask you to provide supporting information.

What supporting information must I have?

You must give the centre a report about your learning difficulty:

• prepared when you were aged 13 or older
• including an assurance that the evidence of specific learning difficulties was obtained through the results of appropriate and recognised tests, and the tests must be stated.

If you do not have (or cannot get) a report like this, or if your report was prepared before the age of 13, please talk to your IELTS test centre.

What access arrangements can I ask for?

There are lots of different ways that we can support you. Choose what you need, and you can then ask your centre to make the arrangements for you.
 
Once you have received permission for any access arrangements, your answers will be marked in the same way as all other test takers. For example, if you make a spelling or grammar mistake, you may lose marks.

1. Extra time

You can normally ask for an extra 25% of the time for a paper. So, if a paper takes one hour, you will get an extra 15 minutes.

If you are severely impacted by a specific learning difficulty, you can ask for more than 25% extra time. However, too much time could have a negative impact on your energy and stamina.

2. Extra time versions of the Listening test

Many of the questions in the Listening test ask you to make notes while you listen to a recording. If you need extra time to do this or cannot listen and take notes at the same time, this test version may be suitable for you. The supervisor (the person who will give you your Listening test) will:

• stop the recording before each part of the test to give you enough time to read the questions
• stop the recording at certain points during each part to give you enough time to write your answers
• stop the recording after each part to give you enough time to check your answers.

3. Supervised breaks

As well as (or instead of) extra time, you can ask for supervised breaks. This means you can stop writing and take a break alone in another room. This might help if you find it challenging to concentrate for long periods. You will be supervised while you take your break.

4. Writing your answers using a computer

You can ask for permission to write your answers using a computer or word processor. You must not use the spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus functions if you want to use a computer or word processor.
 
If you have permission to use a computer, remember:

• your test centre may not have equipment, such as a computer, that you can use. However, you may be able to use your own equipment. You must notify your test centre at least six weeks prior to the test
• you will have to sit alone in a separate room. If your test centre does not have space for you to do the test with a computer, they will do their best to help you find another centre where you can take the test
• you must write your own answers. You cannot read out your answers to someone who writes them down for you
• you cannot use voice recognition software (programs which turn speech into text).

You can also choose to sit your IELTS test on computer at a test centre, or do the IELTS Academic test online (where available). Talk to your local test centre to see what options are available.

5. Reading the question papers

You must read the question papers yourself. Although it may take you longer to read the question papers, you are not allowed to:

• have someone read them to you (a reader)
• use a computer with screen-reading software.

6. A copier (or transcriber)

If your handwriting is very difficult to read, you may ask your centre to copy (make a transcript of) your work. This means that, at the end of the test, you will read out your answers to the copier, including all the punctuation. The copier will write down an exact copy of your answers, including any mistakes in grammar, spelling, or punctuation.

7. Support to fill in your answer sheets

In the Listening and Reading sections of your IELTS test, you have to copy (transfer) your answers to an answer sheet which is then scanned by a computer. If you find it challenging to follow the numbers or order of questions on a page, you may be allowed to write your answers on a separate piece of paper or, sometimes, directly on to the question paper. Ask your centre for advice prior to the test date.

8. Transparent coloured overlays

You can ask for permission to use transparent coloured overlays if you normally use them. You must notify your test centre prior to the test.

9. You may apply for enlarged print copies of an exam paper

Enlarged print papers are also called ‘Modified Large Print’ papers.

IELTS question papers are available in an enlarged font. We take out any ‘visual’ material which is not needed for answering the question. Where a task has a graph or other diagram, this is adapted and the information is made more accessible, e.g. given in text in a table. We then make large-print versions of the papers in A4 size. The print size looks like this:

10. Other equipment

Ask your IELTS test centre if you want to use any other type of equipment, for example, a screen magnifier.

Exemptions

If the access arrangements listed above are not sufficient, you can ask for an exemption from one or two components of your IELTS test. This means you do not have to take the test(s). For example, if you have a hearing impairment and cannot access the content of the Listening and/or Speaking test with a combination of hearing and/or lip-reading, you can ask for exemption from one or both of those components.

You must apply for exemption before taking your test. Contact your test centre for further information.
 
You can ask for an exemption from one or two components of your IELTS test. If approved, you will be given a score for the missing section(s) based on your performance on the other sections of the test. This score will be used to calculate your overall IELTS score.
 
Your Test Report Form will have the following statement printed on it:

‘This test taker has had their [Speaking/Listening/Reading/Writing] test [Band Score/Band Scores] notionalised on the basis of the average of the other [two/three] Band Scores to accommodate an approved exemption.’