We observe all valid regulations and safety precautions when delivering our language exams.

Please do not attend your test if you

  • feel unwell and have cold, fever, persistent cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or other flu-like symptoms
  • have been in contact in the last 14 days with any person suspected of being presently affected by Covid-19
  • are under a quarantine.

Contact us in advance to arrange a transfer or a refund. You will be asked to sign a Self-declaration on the exam day (see below).

Candidates coming from abroad

please see the latest Covid-19 updates on entering the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before registering for an exam with the British Council. We reserve the right to refuse entry to candidates who fail to present a valid proof that they comply with the valid requirements on entering the Slovak Republic.

Right to refuse entry

The Test Day Supervisor is delegated to make the decision to refuse entry to a candidate on the day of the test if the candidate shows symptoms of illness such as:

  • a persistent cough,
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,
  • a high temperature (usually 38°C or above - we might check your temperature with a  non-contact thermometer),
  • chills,
  • repeated shaking with chills,
  • muscle pain,
  • headache,
  • sore throat etc.

If one or more of the symptoms above are in place (especially a persistent cough and difficulty breathing) the test taker will be denied entry to the test room. If you are excluded from the test, you must leave immediately. Test takers under 18 years that have not been given permission to leave the test venue unaccompanied, will be escorted to a designated area until an adult comes to pick you up. Our staff will follow the British Council child protection policy and procedures when they proceed with this arrangement. 

Test Takers will be contacted regarding test day transfer or refund.

After your test

If you are diagnosed with Covid-19 within 14 days after you take your test, please report this to your test centre by email. This will help ensure we can communicate with other test takers and follow local health authority and government advice. 

Safety of the exam venue

All exams areas (including waiting areas) and public spaces connected to the exams area will be regularly cleaned. A daily cleaning checklist will be kept as a record.

All “high-touch” surfaces, including but not limited to desktops, chairs, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, mouse, scanner, headphones, desk partitions and elevator touch boards will be regularly cleaned. For computer delivered tests and speaking exams, equipment and the venue will be cleaned in between the sittings. Headphones will have disposable coverings covering the ear pieces.

Hand sanitiser and soap will be available at all test venues. 

Please bring your own stationary. Any personal belongings left behind after the test will be disposed of.

Personal protection equipment

Test Takers must wear their own FFP2 masks and optionally latex gloves, visors etc. during their exam sitting. British Council will not provide any personal protection equipment for Test Takers. Test Takers refusing to wear masks will not be allowed in the test room and will be eligible for a transfer or refund.

Test Takers will be required to remove their mask briefly for identification purposes and taking photos. They will be asked to take masks off and show the inside and outside of the mask before they put them back on. Please read the WHO guidelines on how to safely remove your mask. 

Please follow basic hygiene practices such as using hand-sanitiser provided on test day and regularly washing your hands.

Our staff will also wear FFP2 masks, visors and latex gloves during each exam sitting when in contact with others. Your Speaking Examiner will be wearing a FFP2 mask and the interview will be conducted from behind a see-through screen. 

Self-Declaration

All Test Takers will be required to self-declare that the points below are true:

  1. They are not currently under compulsory quarantine, stay-at-home order, medical surveillance or a self-quarantine order, as specified by the Slovak Government
  2. They do not have high temperature, persistent cough, difficulty breathing or other flu-like symptoms.
  3. They understand that in case they display any of those symptoms on the test day, they may be asked to leave the test venue and will not be able to complete the test.  
  4. They will observe any valid covid-19 travel restrictions or border-crossing restrictions when travelling to the test venue.
  5. They will contact the designated local Health Authority if they show symptoms of Covid-19 within 14 days of the test and inform the Health Authority that they have sat a test with the British Council so that all participants can be contacted if required.
  6. They are aware of the epidemic situation in Slovakia, they agree to participate in the exam session organised by the British Council and they will observe all the safety procedures at the exam venue. 

Test Takers are requested to use their own pens to sign the self-declaration form. The document will be provided at the registration point on the test day. Under 18 test takers need to have the form signed by their guardians.

Physical distancing measures

Whenever necessary, Test Takers arrival time at the test venue will be staggered. This way the risk of large gatherings in small spaces will be avoided.

We will not handle or touch Test Taker´s ID during the ID check even when wearing latex gloves. Test Takers will be asked to present all relevant pages/sides of the ID to the Venue Staff member when asked. Test Takers should stand in line maintaining recommended social distancing and approach the ID/mask checkpoint only when requested.

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