Question 1

How should I apply for the IELTS test if I have special requirements?

Accepted Answer

If you have special requirements, you must book your IELTS test as soon as possible through your nearest IELTS test centre. It may take up to 6 weeks for the test centre to make special arrangements for you.

Question 2

How will the test centre help me?

Accepted Answer

Your test centre will:

Confirm the application deadline

Get full information on your disability including a medical certificate

Make necessary arrangements for you to take the test. If your test centre is unable to facilitate your request, they will help you find the nearest test centre that can.

Question 3

Can I request for extra time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you have special requirements, you can ask for an extra 25% of the normal time to complete the test. You can also request for more time or request for breaks depending on your medical condition. Your test centre will help you with this request.

Question 4

Will I get help with reading the question papers?

Accepted Answer

You can ask for a reader who will read questions aloud to you. They can also read your answers back to you. However, you must note that the reader cannot read out texts or explain questions in the IELTS Reading test.
You can also contact your test centre to use the following types of equipment:

Handheld magnifiers

Screen magnification software

Screen reader software

Refreshable Braille displays.

Question 5

What kind of help can I get with writing down my answers?

Accepted Answer

Your test centre may allow you to write your answers in the following methods if you cannot see or are partially sighted:

Speaking your answers to someone who writes them down for you

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

Using one of the following machines:

a) Electronic Braille keyboard, linked to a printer
b) Mechanical Braille keyboard
c) Computer or word processor (you cannot use the spellcheck, grammar check, thesaurus or similar functions)
d) Braille note taker

Question 6

What kind of Braille question papers are available to me?

Accepted Answer

You can ask for a Braille question paper in the following formats:

Contracted (Grade 2) Braille

Uncontracted (Grade 1) Braille

Unified English Braille

Question 7

Enlarged print question papers

Accepted Answer

You can ask your test centre for enlarged print question papers for your IELTS test. This will be available in an enlarged font (usually 18 point bold) and we will remove any visual material that is not needed for answering the question.

Question 8

Is there a special version of the IELTS Listening test for me?

Accepted Answer

Most questions in the IELTS Listening test will require you to write down answers or make notes while you listen to an audio recording. If you cannot see or are partially sighted, we can adapt the Listening test for you.
The supervisor will:

Stop the CD before each part of the test to give you enough time to read the questions

Stop the CD at certain points during each part to give you enough time to write one or more answers

Stop the CD after each part to give you enough time to check your answers.

Question 9

Is there a special version of the IELTS Speaking test for me?

Accepted Answer

If you have visual difficulties you can ask for:

Extra time to read any test material or decide what you want to say

Have enlarged print or Speaking task cards in Braille.

IELTS Academic

IELTS General training

IELTS for UKVI

IELTS One Skill Retake

English self-assessment tool

IELTS Reading test: how to manage your time?

Grammar 101: Affect vs. Effect

Grammar 101: Understanding verb tenses

Visual difficulties

Special arrangements