The British Council is committed to ensuring all candidates have fair and open access to exams. If you have a disability, medical condition, or learning difficulty, you may be eligible for special arrangements to support your needs.
Please contact us to discuss which arrangements can be provided.
What type of support can I get?
If you have hearing or visual impairments, you may be eligible for modified exam materials, including:
- braille papers (Grade 1/un-contracted or Grade 2/contracted)
- large print: either A4 size (18pt bold font) or A3 size (15.5pt font)
- listening materials: special needs CD or lip-reading test
- speaking materials: Braille or large print written prompt or large print visual prompt.
If you have dyslexia or physical difficulty you may be able to request special administrative arrangements, including:
- extra time: 25-100 per cent extra time depending on your need
- supervised breaks during the examination
- use of a computer
- an amanuensis (a person who will write down your answers)
- a reader
- a scribe/copier (verbatim transcript)
- speaking test: standard format, with a ‘dummy partner’ or in single format
- separate invigilation
If you need other special arrangements that are not mentioned here, we will do everything we can to meet your needs. Contact us and we will try to find the most suitable solution.
Please note that special arrangements can only be provided for paper-based exams.
Requirements for all candidates
All requests for special arrangements must be submitted three months before the exam date and supported by a professional medical report.
- The medical documentation must meet all the following criteria:
- The document must be clear and readable.
- It must be an original document on official headed paper or bear an official stamp.
- It must bear the name, relevant qualification(s), and signature of a recognised, appropriately qualified practitioner.
- It must contain a clear statement of your disability or need and explicitly explain how this condition justifies the specific special arrangement requested.
- The document must be provided in English or in Romanian.
You can find more detailed guidance on additional access arrangements, including temporary conditions, ADHD and dyslexia, neurodivergence, assistive technology, and accessible Listening or Speaking test options, on the Cambridge English access arrangements page. Please contact us as early as possible so we can advise you on the options available for your exam.