How to create accessible tests and exams

General Information

• Offer a mock exam so you and your students can try out the functions and familiarise yourselves with the interface.
• Give important information at the beginning of a test or examination, e.g. about time limits or clues to question types. This can be done by using the Section descriptions in a test, for instance.
• When setting the task, you should state the type of question (choice interaction, text interaction, etc.) and indicate if several answers can be given.
• The Upload interaction, which enables a file to be uploaded, can be a good alternative for non-accessible question types in some scenarios.
• Activate Comments at question level so that an alternative answer in text form is possible. This is important for drag-and-drop tasks (e.g. order interactions), as these cannot be operated by using the keyboard and are not accessible for blind people.

Time limit

Avoid time limits wherever possible. However, if it is necessary to set a time limit, it is possible to extend the processing time as compensation for disadvantages as follows:

• Add time at the beginning of the exam (possible via Exam control) OR
• Independent exam: Create an additional learning group and a copy of the test content and course element test with extended access time

Media in tests and exams

Inserting media via text editor

Add images, audio, and videos to the task and answer options via Text editor. If you integrate media, make sure you have alternative texts for images and subtitles/transcripts for audio and videos. You can find further information in the OPAL manual under What to consider when using media.

Keep in mind that the alternative text and the picture description should not contain the solution or simplify the task. If in doubt, make the alternative text and image description (not shown in the visible interface) accessible to everyone and describe the image directly in the task.

Question types that are based on images

Some question types are based on pictures. Those include hotspot interactions, graphic match interactions and drawing interactions. They cannot be completed by blind people or people with visual impairments.

Offer alternatives either by using a different question type or by using the comment field of the question, which allows your students to give answers in text form. For such question types, you will need to add alternative text and a picture description to the task.

Extended content and functions

In tests and exams, you can integrate formulas and 3D objects as well as your own CSS and JavaScript files or generate diagrams and function graphs at runtime. The accessibility for extended content and functions cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, you should try out tests and examinations with your students in advance to identify problems and barriers at an early stage.

Question types

Some question types can have different obstacles and should be tested with students if necessary. The following list shows the available question types and, if relevant, the known barriers. It is by no means exhaustive as accessibility also depends on the specific content.

Question type		Accessibility
	Choice Interaction (Single and Multiple choice)	Basically accessible to all users.
	Extended Text Interaction	Basically accessible to all users.
	Text Entry Interaction	Not accessible for blind people, as the information fields are not labelled (gaps).
	Match Interaction	Not accessible for blind people and people with impaired mobility. Can only be accessed with a mouse and complex gestures, not with a keyboard.
	Matrix Interaction	This may be difficult to use for blind people as the table is not labelled and the radio buttons/checkboxes are not labelled as well.
	Graphic Match Interaction	Not accessible for blind people, people with visual impairments and people with impaired mobility. Can only be operated with a mouse and complex gestures, not with a keyboard, the graphics are not perceptible.
	Order Interaction	Not accessible for blind people and people with impaired mobility. Can only be accessed with a mouse and complex gestures, not with a keyboard.
	Hotspot Interaction	Not accessible for blind people, people with visual impairments and people with impaired mobility. Can only be operated via mouse. The graphics are not perceptible.
	Hottext Interaction	Not accessible for blind people, people with visual impairments and people with impaired mobility. It is not perceptible whether a word/group of words is selected or not. Furthermore, the keyboard focus is not retained when a word/group of words is selected.
	Inline Choice	This may be difficult to use for blind people, as the interactive elements are not labelled as selection fields (select).
	Upload Interaction	Basically accessible to all users.
	Drawing Interaction	Not accessible for blind people, people with visual impairments and people with impaired mobility. Can only be operated with a mouse.
	Programming Interaction	Basically accessible to all users.
	Drawing Molecules Interaction	Not accessible for blind people, people with visual impairments and people with impaired mobility. Can only be operated with a mouse.

Notes on drag-and-drop-questions

Concerns the question types Match Interaction, Order Interaction and Graphic Match Interaction.

• These question types cannot be operated by using the keyboard
• There is no alternative mouse operation to drag and drop (no simple pointer gestures)
• The answer options are not perceptible for blind people (e.g. via the screen reader)

Possible Alternatives

• Simplify the question and use the choice interaction
• Use matrix interaction
• Enable the comment field for an alternative answer as free text

All alternatives must be accessible. If the alternative with a comment field is used, it can help blind people to add the answer options to the question as a list. The task should remain clear and easy to understand for all participants.