Disabled candidates taking the national college entrance exam can request reasonable accommodations, including a 50% time extension for those using Braille test papers.

13. Disabled candidates taking the national college entrance exam can request reasonable accommodations, including a 50% time extension for those using Braille test papers.

Cost: There is no monetary cost. However, candidates must submit a written application within the timeframe specified by their provincial education authorities and attend an in-person verification session.

In plain terms: The Ministry of Education and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation have issued official guidelines outlining specific accommodations for disabled students taking the college entrance exam. These include Braille test papers, large-print test papers, exemption from foreign language listening tests, extended exam time, private testing rooms, and permission to bring hearing aids or wheelchairs into the exam hall. These benefits are not automatically granted; candidates must apply in writing by the deadline set by their provincial education authorities, attaching a valid disability certificate (second generation or newer). If a candidate disagrees with the decision, they may request a review from the provincial education department.

Benefit: Article 5 of the “Regulations on Managing Accommodations for Disabled Candidates in the National College Entrance Exam” lists twelve distinct accommodations. These include providing Braille, large-print, or standard test papers for visually impaired students; exempting hearing-impaired students from foreign language listening tests; allowing visually impaired students to bring Braille pens, writing boards, non-recording Braille typewriters, electronic visual aids, white canes, and magnifying glasses into the exam; permitting hearing-impaired students to use hearing aids or cochlear implants; and allowing mobility-limited students to bring wheelchairs or walking aids, with custom desks and chairs available upon request. The time extension is clearly defined in Article 5, Paragraph 6: “For visually impaired candidates using Braille test papers, the total exam time is extended by 50% relative to the standard duration; for those using large-print or standard papers, or for candidates with limited hand mobility due to cerebral palsy or other conditions, the extension is 30%.” Additional benefits include priority access to exam venues, private standardized testing rooms, and on-site assistance from guides and sign language interpreters. Article 7 details the application process: candidates must submit a formal written request by the provincial deadline, accompanied by a valid disability certificate; an expert panel then conducts an on-site assessment, after which the provincial education authority issues a written notice of approval or denial. Article 8 allows candidates to appeal any decision via a written review request to the provincial education department. Article 9 specifies that for candidates exempt from foreign language listening tests, the final score is calculated as “written test score × total foreign language points / total written test points.” Finally, Article 18 states that these same accommodations may be applied to other national education exams, such as graduate school admissions or adult college entrance exams (National Regulations, effective April 7, 2017).

Evidence grade: A

Sources: Ministry of Education of China, China Disabled Persons' Federation (2017). Provisions on the Management of the National Unified Examination for Disabled Persons to Participate in the Enrollment of Regular Colleges and Universities (Teaching [2017] No. 4, Article 5, Article 7, Article 8, Article 9, Article 18). <http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-04/12/content_5650060.htm>

Notes: Each province sets its own application deadline, which is published in its annual college entrance exam registration guidelines. Missing this deadline means no eligibility for accommodations that year. Therefore, students and parents should check their provincial education authority’s website during the first semester of senior year to confirm the exact application window. Article 18 also provides a broader pathway: similar accommodations can be requested for other national education exams, including graduate school and adult college entrance exams. Additionally, Article 14 of this section explicitly prohibits schools from denying enrollment to disabled students. The primary beneficiaries of these provisions are the candidates themselves or their children.