Five blind students joined their peers Saturday to sit the national college English test in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, where test papers in Braille were used for the first time.

 

本周六，吉林长春举行的全国大学英语考试中，五名盲人学生与同学一起参加了考试，此次考试首次使用了盲文系统。

 

The five students, from Changchun University's School of Special Education, were given test papers in Braille in a separate classroom away from other students. Their test lasted 195 minutes instead of the standard 130 minutes, as it takes longer to read and write in Braille.

 

In a classroom next door, three other visually impaired¹ -- but not totally blind -- students were given large-font test papers and 169 minutes to answer with the help of magnifying lenses and reading lamps.

 

"All the visually impaired students were put in well-lit classrooms on the first floor and provided with power cords, bottled water and snacks," said Li Meng, an exam official with Changchun University.

 

Two teachers, one of whom knew Braille, stood by in case the students needed help, he said.

 

For Luo Qian, a senior student majoring in acupuncture² and massage³, Saturday's test was a dream come true.

 

"If I pass the test, I will be one step closer to graduate school," said Luo, from central China's Hunan Province. She stayed up until after midnight revising for the test over the past few weeks.

 

Luo said she dreamed of becoming a teacher to help disabled children in her hometown earn their own living.

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