This study undertook an in-depth review of the special arrangements (SAs) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The aim was to audit the IELTS SAs in light of what was considered good policy and practice within the language testing and assessment profession at the time. It also sought to elicit stakeholder attitudes, perceptions and experiences of the range of IELTS accommodations offered.
The researchers contextualised their study within current understandings of ethics, fairness, social justice and validity concerns in the field of language testing and assessment, especially as these concern test-takers with special educational needs who may require some form of testing accommodation, i.e., a departure from the standard test in terms of content, format, delivery or scoring approach. The descriptive review and evaluative audit of IELTS SAs drew upon recent frameworks developed and applied in the field of language testing and assessment, including a socio-cognitive framework for language test development and validation and tools for evaluating test fairness and contexts of use.
Methodological approaches included: desk-based documentary analysis of publicly available material; consultation with professional experts in special educational needs and disability via questionnaire completion; application of analytical tools to the accommodated tasks for the four IELTS test components; survey questionnaires with targeted IELTS stakeholders; interviews with selected IELTS stakeholders (e.g., test designers, test takers, test centre staff) to elicit their attitudes, perceptions and lived experiences. Data analyses provided a full description of the different accommodation types offered (at that time) for IELTS test-takers with visual, hearing/speaking and specific learning difficulties, as well as provision for the use of assistive (access) technology in IELTS.
The researchers highlighted some important issues to emerge from their study and made over 20 tentative recommendations for the IELTS Partners to consider for the future.