The British Council aims to ensure that every candidate is treated fairly and objectively and that they are given optimum conditions to take their exams. We can make arrangements to accommodate special circumstances or requirements to enable test takers to attend a test centre, and to understand exam questions and tasks and give their answers.
If you require special arrangements to undertake your exam, please follow the instructions for each exam below. The special arrangements available depend on the examination board and in some cases you may be exempt from a part of an examination because of a disability or difficulty. Please note, no documents regarding special arrangements will be accepted after registration has closed.
Special arrangements can be provided for:
IELTS
If you require a modified version of the test please contact us with at least three months' before your test date. This notice period is necessary for the modified test version to be prepared. If your circumstances require special administrative arrangements to be made, e.g. extra time, you must contact us with at least six weeks' notice. You will need to provide a medical certificate issued within the last two years at the time of registration to the office.
Cambridge English exams
If you have a disability or special need, contact us at least three months before your test date. You will need to provide a medical certificate issued within the last two years when registering for the exam. You can apply for special arrangements for Cambridge English paper-based exams only.
IGCSE/International GCSE/A-levels and school exams
If you require special administration, for example extra time, you will need to contact us, or your school exams co-ordinator if you are a school student, applications should be submitted by the regular registration deadline. If your circumstances require a special test version to be prepared, you will need to contact us, or your school exams co-ordinator if you are a school candidate, one month before the regular registration deadline. Normal late fees apply after deadline. You will need to provide a medical certificate issued within the last two years along with your special need request. You will need to obtain this certificate from one of the authorised centres on the list to download below.
Once the exam timetable is published (usually three to four weeks ahead of the exams session), you may notice an exam clash. If you are a school student, you should tell your school exams co-ordinator. If you are a private candidate, you should respond to the email that we send out asking you to check for clashes.
Professional and university exams
In most cases you will need to contact your examining board or university directly for a special need request. The examining board will contact the British Council about the arrangements and will inform you about the approval of your request. You can contact us for a special need request if you have registered with us for your exam. You will need to provide a medical certificate issued within the last two years at the time of registration.