Taking your theory test if you have special needs

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Taking your theory test if you have special needs

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) provide a number of facilities for those people with special requirements, these include foreign language voiceovers, extra time, British Sign Language interpretation and translator assisted tests.

How do candidates with special needs take the theory test?

The following facilities are available for candidates with special needs. All of the facilities need to be requested at the time of booking.

Facilities for those whose first language is not English

If your first language is not English, or you can not read or understand written English well, you can request a voiceover in one of 21 languages. A voiceover allows you to hear the theory test instructions and questions through headphones. The questions will automatically be read out to you, you can hear the answer options by touching the text on the screen. You can hear the questions as many times as you like, you simply need to touch the text of the question onscreen again.

These languages are:
Albanian	Farsi	Polish	Tamil
Arabic	Gujarati	Portuguese	Turkish
Bengali	Hindi	Punjabi	Urdu
Cantonese	Kashmiri	Pushto	Welsh
Dari	Kurdish	Spanish
English	Mirpuri

Translator assisted tests

If there is no voiceover provided in the language you require, you can request to have a translator assisted theory test. The call centre agent should be able to tell you the names and contact details of the relevant DSA approved translators. It is your responsibility to arrange a test date with the translator and to pay any fees involved.

Facilities for those with reading difficulties

If you have dyslexia or other reading difficulties you can ask for an English or Welsh voiceover. You can also request to have up to double time for the multiple choice part of the theory test. If you require more than the standard time of 40 minutes for the multiple choice part you will need to send in evidence of your reading difficulty to the theory test booking customer services.

Facilities for those with hearing difficulties

If you are deaf or have hearing difficulties you can ask to take the theory test in British sign language (BSL). The BSL interpretation will run alongside the standard test questions and answers. If you do not use BSL, an interpreter can be taken into the test centre, this facility needs to be arranged through the theory test customer services section. There is no extra fee for either facility.

Other special requirements

If you have a special need that is not met by the facilities above, you can contact the theory test customer services section who can discuss your requirements and the facilities available.

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