The standardized test in Bulgarian as a foreign language is made accessible to everyone, including people with special needs.
Our goal is to guarantee equality and equal conditions for all candidates taking the exam. Our intention is to provide the necessary conditions for candidates with special needs so that they receive an equal opportunity to take the exam.
Here are described the different accommodations that people with special needs may use, as well as the procedure for providing them.
In some cases, small changes to the procedure are necessary for the successful conduct of the exam, such as extension of time, provision of more breaks, use of special personal assistive devices, medications, or a guide dog. In other cases, the exam centre may provide additional special speakers, an assistant to record answers, an assistant to read the texts, as well as organize the taking of the exam under individual conditions in a separate room.
Please submit your request for the accommodations you need at least 30 days before the exam date!
Accommodations for people with visual impairments
If you have reduced vision or a visual impairment, you may use the following accommodations:
– Extension of exam time
– Enlarged print of exam materials: A4 size (bold font, 18-point)
– Reader (assistant who reads the texts and task instructions instead of you)
– An assistant who fills in and records your answers
– Adapted version of the listening section with the possibility of extending pauses for writing answers
Please note that if you wish to use the services of an assistant for reading or writing, you may request a preliminary meeting for practice!
Please note that your assistant will record your answers without editing the spelling and punctuation indicated by you!
Accommodations for people with hearing impairments
If you have reduced or impaired hearing, you may use the following accommodations:
– Use of your personal hearing aid during the exam
– Use of personal sound amplification equipment
– Adapted version of the listening section with the use of an assistant who reads the text for you instead of listening to a recording
– Adapted version of the speaking section with the possibility of extending the time
Please note that if you wish to use the services of an assistant for reading or writing, you may request a preliminary meeting for practice!
Please note that your assistant will record your answers without editing the spelling and punctuation indicated by you!
Accommodations for people with dyslexia or learning difficulties
If you have learning difficulties or dyslexia, you may use the following accommodations:
– Extension of exam time
– Adapted version of the listening section with the possibility to control the number and length of pauses
– Additional breaks
– Computer-based version of the test
– An assistant who records your answers
– Enlarged font size of exam materials: A4 size (bold font, 18-point)
Please note that if you wish to use the services of an assistant for reading or writing, you may request a preliminary meeting for practice!
Please note that your assistant will record your answers without editing the spelling and punctuation indicated by you!
Removal of individual exam components
If you have very severe impairments and the special accommodations listed above are not sufficient, you may apply for exemption from certain sections of the exam (speaking and/or listening) due to physical impossibility of conducting them.
In case a section of the exam is removed, the following will be noted in your certificate:
“Due to severe impairment of hearing/speech, during the taking of the exam, the candidate was exempted from the listening/speaking section. The grade for the removed section(s) is calculated based on the average grades of the remaining sections of the exam.”
Procedure for applying for accommodations
All candidates with special needs must submit a written request to use accommodations one month before the exam date. The form must be sent to the Director of the Department at the following email address: desk@deo.uni-sofia.bg. A medical certificate must be attached to the accommodation request form in order to assess the individual needs of the candidate and propose appropriate accommodations. Within two weeks, the application will be reviewed, and the accommodations that can be provided will be proposed. After approval of the request for special accommodations, candidates may proceed with the standard procedure for exam organization and payment of the exam fee.
Conditions for payment of some accommodations
All additional accommodations provided by the Department for people with special needs are free of charge. Some exam centres outside DLTCE or those abroad may require payment for some of the offered accommodations – for example, use of a separate room or the services of an assistant for reading/writing. The exact price for using these accommodations will be specified upon approval of your request and must be paid before the exam is conducted.
LIST OF ACCOMMODATIONS:
– Separate room for conducting the exam
– Extension of exam time
– Additional breaks
– Use of special personal assistive devices/medications
– Use of additional speakers provided by the exam centre
– Use of a guide dog
– Enlarged font size of exam materials
– An assistant who reads the texts and task instructions for you
– An assistant who records your answers
– Adapted version of the listening section with the possibility to control the number and length of pauses
– Preliminary practice meeting with an assistant for reading or writing
– Removal of the listening section
– Removal of the speaking section