Special Circumstances
I’d like to take a Cambridge exam but I have visual difficulties…..
Are you thinking of taking a Cambridge exam? If you are blind, or have problems seeing, Cambridge ESOL 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 visual 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.
The centre may ask you to provide a medical certificate.
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 to be made.
1. Extra Time
If you have visual difficulties, you will almost certainly need extra time to complete a paper. You may ask for an extra 25% of the normal time for the paper.
You may ask for more than 25% extra time. You might need this if, for example, it takes you a long time to read the questions or write your answers.
Remember, however, that too much extra time may make you very tired.
You can also ask for breaks whilst taking a paper, in addition to any extra time you need. Your centre will tell you what you will be allowed.
2. Reading the question papers in a different way
If you are partially sighted, you may ask for permission to use the following equipment:
- magnifying glass
- stand-alone screen magnifiers
- screen-reading software
- closed-circuit television (CCTV)
- hand-held scanning apparatus.
You may also ask for a 'reader'. This is a person who will read and re-read the questions to you.
NB: in Reading Papers, the reader may not read out texts to you and you may not use screenreading software to do this.
3. Writing your answers in a different way
If you wish, you may ask for permission to write your answers in the following ways:
- with a Braille keyboard
- with a Braille keyboard, linked to a printer
- you may use a typewriter, computer or word-processor. 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).
- you may speak your answers to an amanuensis. This is a person who writes down your answers for you (see Section 8 below).
4. Braille question papers
From the drop-down menu, choose the exam you are thinking of taking. You will see if you can apply for a Braille version of your exam.
If a Braille version is available, you can choose to have your papers in contracted (Grade 2) or uncontracted (Grade 1) Braille.
5. Enlarged Question Papers
From the drop-down menu, choose the exam you are thinking of taking. You will see if you can apply for enlarged print versions of your exam.
You can ask for two different kinds of enlarged question paper.
Type 1:
We enlarge the standard question paper making no changes to the layout or material. You will receive A3 size question papers. The print size looks like this.
(Usually 15.5 point)
Type 2:
We change the question papers, taking out any 'visual' material which is not needed for answering the question. We then make large-print versions of the papers in A4 size. The print size looks like this.
(Usually 18 point bold)
We can also help if you want even larger size print or reduced print question papers (where the print is smaller than in the standard version).
6. Special Versions of Listening Tests
From the drop-down menu, choose the exam you are thinking of taking. You will see if you can apply for a special listening test for your exam.
Many of the questions in the listening tests ask candidates to make notes while they listen to a recording on CD. If you are blind or have visual difficulties you may not be able to do this. To help you take the listening test, we produce a special version.
You hear the same material and answer the same questions as other candidates.
However, 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.
7. Special Versions of Speaking Tests
From the drop-down menu, choose the exam you are thinking of taking. You will see if you can apply for a special version of the speaking test for your exam.
For most exams (except IELTS), you must normally take the speaking test with a partner.
If you have visual difficulties, you can ask to:
- have extra time if it takes you longer than usual to read any exam material or decide what you want to say
- take the test with a partner who is not a candidate (not taking the examination)
- take the test without a partner. This means that, in the parts of the test which usually ask both candidates to talk to each other, you talk to the examiner instead.
- use ‘verbal’ rather than visual material (see below).
Parts of the speaking test for some exams are visual - they use pictures taken from newspapers or magazines, for example.
If you are partially sighted we can give you enlarged copies of these pictures. If you find it difficult to use enlarged pictures we can give you enlarged print versions of written descriptions of the pictures.
If you are blind, we can give you Brailled written descriptions of the pictures.
8. Having a 'reader' or an amanuensis.
A reader is a person who will read the questions out to you. Note that the reader will not explain the questions to you and cannot give you any advice. A reader is not allowed to read out the texts in a Reading Test.
An amanuensis is a person who will write down your answers. If you would like an amanuensis to write down your answers, you should note that:
- you will be asked to spell certain words
- you must also give the punctuation.
The amanuensis will read your answers back to you if you wish. Please contact your centre if you would like to know more about having a reader or an amanuensis.
You should practise with a reader/amanuensis before the examination. For example, you should make sure that you can spell out the letters of the alphabet.
You are also allowed to use screen-reading software to read back your answers to you, although you must not use the spellcheck, grammar check, or thesaurus functions if you have them.
Where can I get more information?
If you would like information or advice, please contact your centre.
