Goethe B2 Special Needs: Accommodations and Extra Time
Last updated: 22 September 2026 · Verified against current official Goethe-Institut sources
The Goethe-Institut publishes official rules on accommodations for participants with special needs. The core requirement is clear: you must declare your specific needs when you register and prove them with a doctor's note or comparable document.
Who is covered
- Visually impaired or blind participants
- Hearing-impaired or deaf participants
- Participants with permanent or temporary motor disabilities (e.g. a broken writing arm)
- Participants with reading disabilities and/or difficulties spelling (dyslexia)
- Participants with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Participants with speech disorders (e.g. stuttering)
Which accommodations are possible
| Condition | Possible measures |
|---|---|
| Visual impairment | Exam booklet in Braille, electronic booklet on PC for screen reader, enlarged materials, 25–100% extra time |
| Hearing impairment | 25–100% extra time, sign language or lip-reading videos, headphones, separate room for volume control, hearing aid without Bluetooth/WLAN |
| Writing disability | 25–100% extra time, laptop/PC without assisting features, a note taker who writes down what is dictated |
| Dyslexia | 25–100% extra time in accordance with the doctor's note |
| ADHD / ASD | 25–100% extra time, aids to increase concentration (stress balls, fidget toys), a low-stimulus area if possible |
| Speech impairment | 25–50% extra time; the degree of impairment is taken into account when grading spoken performance |
In cases of severe hearing impairment or complete deafness the SPEAKING module can be omitted, and a corresponding certificate is issued.
The three criteria and the process
- An accommodation must satisfy three conditions together: the performance must remain assessable, exam parity must be maintained, and any unfair advantage must be eliminated.
- Modifications must not affect the content of the exam; only the administration and the presentation of the materials are adapted.
- The exam centre is required to inform candidates about these rules and about how to notify their needs at registration.
- Every decision is individual, put in writing, signed, and cannot be altered during or after the exam; it is archived with the results for ten years.
- Needs the exam centre only learns about during or after the exam cannot be taken into account — which is why the moment of registration matters.
- The exam centre covers the costs of an extra invigilator, a separate room or technical equipment; sign language interpreters and assistants appointed by the participant are excluded.
The exam centre is required to keep the information you provide confidential.
Official sources
The exam rules and figures in this guide were checked against the official sources below.
Related guide
Practise at your own pace
Work through the tasks at your own speed on Zertifly and see exactly where you stand in each module before the exam.