Updated as of September 19, 2024.
Dearth of Information Online
In the past, the International Baccalaureate IB) program has provided online resources for guidance regarding accommodations for students taking IB exams. The search function on IB’s website no longer leads to resources regarding accommodations for these exams.
Current online information
The IB website no longer provides links to details about exam accommodations it offers. The site does, however, warn: “Adaptations to the on-screen assessment for students with vision impairment and hearing impairment must be made one year before the intended examination session.” IB Registration web page.
The exam registration deadline for students who are not blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing, or deafblind is around five months (summer months not included). Yet IB requires twelve months for students needing blind/low vision or deaf/hard of hearing accommodations. This is significant, and students and families should be aware of this more-than-doubling of registration lead time.
Existing reference materials
These reference materials appear to be current, but, as noted above, they are no longer found using the IB website’s Search function. Nevertheless, these materials provide a good framework for IB assessments – both paper and eAssessments. We recommend reviewing these materials and sharing them with your IB school when you make accommodation requests.
Handbook of procedures for the Diploma Programme; Section E: Special circumstances and arrangements
Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Accommodations Available (based on published reference materials)
Paper testing
Braille
- ALLOWED
- Handbook of procedures for the Diploma Programme “E 1.2 Assessment arrangements requiring authorization … For candidates who are visually impaired, include details about the modification of examination papers (for example, enlargement) including the Braille comber de required for candidates who are blind.”
- Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Tactile Graphics
- Accommodation will be made
- “… when the question asks the candidate to comment on an image, which is not appropriate for a blind candidate. We then need to consider whether a description of the picture is a reasonable alternative, or whether this increases the cognitive load on the candidate (too much information) or provides too much guidance (the description focuses on the aspects that will gain credit). Alternatively, should the question be rewritten in a different way?” Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Enlarged print
- Accommodation will be made
- Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Magnification with digital magnifier (CCTV)
- Accommodation will be made
- Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Digital testing: eAssessments
Screen magnifier
- Accommodation may be made; Principle of Fairness for All”
- Page 141, pages 201-202, Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Screen reader
- ALLOWED
- “There are also major accessibility benefits for candidates with the use of screen readers. While some candidates may not be able to use the computer to address their access requirements, on-screen assessment will allow access to a wider range of candidates without the need for additional support, which can still be used where appropriate.” Page 53, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Refreshable braille display:
- Accommodation may be made; Principle of Fairness for All”
- Page 141, pages 201-202, Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Human Reader
- No information provided
Scribe/Dictated response
- No information provided
Student responds via assistive technology, such as a word processor
- Accommodation may be made; Principle of Fairness for All”
- Page 141, pages 201-202, Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Braille Notetaker for student response
- Accommodation may be made; Principle of Fairness for All”
- Page 141, pages 201-202, Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Braille Writer for student response
- Accommodation may be made; Principle of Fairness for All”
- Page 141, pages 201-202, Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Calculator on Calculator-allowed portions of test
- Accommodation may be made; Principle of Fairness for All”
- Page 141, pages 201-202, Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Calculator on NO Calculator-allowed portions of test
- No information provided
If Additional Accommodations are Needed …
- Accommodation may be made; Principle of Fairness for All”
- Page 141, pages 201-202, Page 141, Assessment principles and practices—Quality assessments in a digital age
Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
- Text: Send to: (410) 357-1546
- Voice mail: Call (410) 357-1546, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.