Reasonable adjustments for the Life in the UK test: extra time, audio and accessibility support

You can request reasonable adjustments for the Life in the UK test, but you must do it when you book, not on test day. Every test already includes adjustable font size, screen background colour and headphones for audio of the questions, and the booking service can arrange wheelchair access, a height-adjustable desk and, for complex needs, a reader or scribe. Extra time is not on the published list, so ask the special arrangements team before booking if you need it.

This guide is for people who can sit the test but need support to do it fairly, for example because of dyslexia, a physical disability or a health condition.

What adjustments the booking service actually offers

GOV.UK confirms you can "make special requests when you book your test, for example if you have a disability and need extra equipment or help accessing the centre". The booking service, run by PSI for the Home Office, publishes more detail in its FAQ:

Not sure where you stand? Take a free Life in the UK mock test — 24 real-style questions, scored exactly like the real exam, no sign-up needed.

• On-screen accessibility for everyone. The test system lets you adjust the font size and the screen background colour, which helps candidates with dyslexia, visual stress or low vision.
• Audio of the questions. Headphones are provided so you can listen to the questions being read aloud. This is built into the test system, not a separate request.
• Physical access. Selecting "Easy Access" during booking notifies the centre to provide a height-adjustable desk and make sure you can move around comfortably, which covers wheelchair users and mobility conditions.
• A reader and a scribe. For more complex needs, the service says to contact the helpline on 0800 015 4245 so tailored support can be arranged.
• Welsh and Scottish Gaelic. Taking the test in Welsh (in Wales) or Scottish Gaelic (in Scotland) is also handled through the special arrangements process.

The booking website itself works with screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), and PSI can supply its information in large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.

How and when to request adjustments

Adjustments are requested at booking. When you click "Make a booking" from your Life in the UK account, the first page asks if you have any specific requirements, and that is where you flag them. The booking terms and conditions (clause 10.22) say that if you consider yourself to have a disability or learning difficulty, you must submit a request for special arrangements during the booking process or contact specialarrangements@lituk.psionline.com.

Tests must be booked at least 3 days in advance anyway, and arranged support such as a reader or scribe takes coordination with the centre, so contact the helpline before you pick a date rather than after. You can only amend the time and date of an appointment free of charge up to 72 hours beforehand. Our guide to how to book the Life in the UK test walks through the whole booking journey.

What evidence you need

The official "what to expect" guidance is short but clear: "If you have made any special requests when you booked your test, you will need to bring evidence to support the request (for example a letter from your doctor)." The published pages do not set a rigid evidence list per adjustment, so a GP or specialist letter describing your condition and the support you need is the safest default; for dyslexia, a diagnostic report works the same way. If unsure, ask the helpline (0800 015 4245, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm) before test day.

What about extra time?

Extra time is the adjustment people search for most, but it is not listed on GOV.UK or in the booking service FAQ as a standard published option. The standard test gives everyone 45 minutes for 24 questions, and most prepared candidates finish well inside it. That said, the service states it aims to support "all candidates who require particular accommodations by making test adjustments or other special arrangements", and complex requests are handled case by case. If a condition genuinely affects your working speed, email specialarrangements@lituk.psionline.com with medical evidence and ask, but do not assume extra time will be granted.

Adjustments or full exemption: which applies to you?

Adjustments are for people who can sit the test with support. If a long-term physical or mental condition prevents you from taking the test at all, GOV.UK confirms a full exemption route exists instead, requiring an exemption form or a letter from your doctor. That is a different process with different evidence: read who is exempt from the Life in the UK test if that route fits your situation better. For everyone else, the adjustments above plus focused preparation are the reliable path to the 18 out of 24 pass mark.