Special Circumstances
I’d like to take a Cambridge exam but I have specific learning difficulties…..
Are you thinking of taking a Cambridge exam? If you have specific learning difficulties, like dyslexia, we may be able to help!
What should I do?
You must apply for Special Arrangements through your nearest Cambridge ESOL centre as soon as possible. In the case of IELTS you must apply through your IELTS centre.
What will the Cambridge ESOL centre do?
Your centre will tell you the latest dates for application. These are usually several months before the exam.
The centre will ask for full details of your particular difficulty and will make all the necessary special arrangements for you to take the exam.
Some Centres may not have the necessary equipment or space (for example, a separate room), but they will do their best to help you to find another Centre where you can take the exam.
What medical evidence must I have?
You must give the Centre a report about your specific learning difficulty:
- written no more than two years before the date of the examination
- with full details of the specific learning difficulty and tests which have been carried out.
- written by a fully qualified educational, clinical or chartered psychologist.
If you do not have (or cannot get) a report like this, ask your Cambridge ESOL Centre for advice.
What Special Arrangements can I ask for?
There are several Special Arrangements you can ask for. Please read through the following sections carefully, and make sure that you or your teacher asks for all the necessary arrangements.
1. Extra Time
You may need extra time to complete a paper. For example, it might take you a long time to read the questions or texts, or write your answers.
You may normally ask for an extra 25% of the normal time for a paper. So, if a paper takes 1 hour, you will get an extra 15 minutes. You may ask for more than 25% extra time if you or your teacher thinks you will need it. Remember, however, that too much extra time may make you very tired.
2. Supervised breaks
As well as (or instead of) extra time, you may 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. This might help if you have difficulty concentrating for long periods.
You or your teacher should talk to your Cambridge ESOL centre about what you will need.
3. Writing your answers
You can ask for permission to write your answers using a computer, word-processor, or typewriter if you normally write this way.
If you want to use a computer or word-processor, you must not use the spellcheck, grammar check or thesaurus functions (if you have them).
Here are four important points:
- Your Centre may not have equipment like computers that you can use, but you may be able to use your own equipment.
- If you use a computer, you will have to sit alone in a separate room. Some Centres may not have any space for you to do the exam with a computer, but they will do their best to help you find another Centre where you can take the exam.
- You may not read out (dictate) your answers to an 'amanuensis' (a person who writes down your answers for you). You must write your own answers.
- You may not use voice recognition software. These are programs which convert speech to text.
4. Reading the papers
Although it may take you longer to read the question papers, you are not allowed to have someone read out the papers to you (a reader) and you are not allowed to use screen-reading software. You must read the papers yourself.
5. Having 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 exam, 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.
6. Help filling in your Answer Sheets
In most Cambridge ESOL papers, you have to copy (transfer) your answers to a computer-marked answer sheet.
If you find it difficult 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 the question paper.
Ask your centre for advice.
7. Transparent coloured overlays
You may ask for permission to use transparent coloured overlays if you normally use them.
8. Other equipment
Ask your Cambridge ESOL centre if you want to use any other type of equipment, for example a screen magnifier.
Important note
Once you have received permission for any of the above Special Arrangements, your answers will be marked in the same way as all other candidates (for example, if you make a spelling or a grammar mistake, you may lose marks).
Where can I get more information?
If you would like information or advice, please contact your centre.
