communicATor

Online certification and standardized exams play an important role in education and career advancement. They are often used to validate skills, support professional growth, and open doors to new opportunities. For many people, certifications help with career progression or a transition into a new field. For others, standardized exams are gateways to further education such as earning a GED, completing college entrance exams like the SAT, or fulfilling licensure and credentialing requirements.

Overall, the shift to online examinations has expanded access to people of all backgrounds. However, that shift also introduces new barriers for people with visual impairments. When exam platforms are not designed with accessibility in mind, they can cause frustration, fatigue, and sometimes, failure. Unfortunately, inaccessible exams often prevent people with visual impairments from pursuing jobs, positions, or educational pathways for which they are qualified.

Common Usability Pitfalls During an Online Exam

Our work uncovers recurring accessibility and usability issues in these online testing platforms. Even when platforms technically meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2), real-world use can reveal significant obstacles. Some of these common issues include: visually dependent instructions, lack of helpful keyboard shortcuts, and missing question headers.

During a recent user test, our participant struggled with navigating pop-ups and dialogue boxes because the keyboard shortcuts she typically uses were not functioning the same way in the exam. To solve this, exam developers could add simple instructions to the beginning of their exam that explain what keyboard shortcuts are enabled and how to use them. While many people are used to troubleshooting these types of issues, these simple instructional additions could save them valuable time and energy during a high-stakes exam.

How Our Work at CIDE Addresses These Issues

At CIDE, our accessibility testing process combines expert analysis with real user experience. A team member first reviews online exam materials to identify WCAG 2.2 issues to address with the exam software developer. This includes examining how content is structured, how controls are labeled, and identifying any broken code.

We then conduct usability testing with a participant who uses screen reading software such as JAWS for Windows. During this simulated exam, we observe how the participant approaches each part of the exam – where they hesitate, what strategies they use, and what obstacles slow them down or cause confusion. We ask each user to talk through their thoughts as they go through the exam so that we can ask the appropriate follow-up questions that reveal the usability issues beyond accessibility compliance. After the test, we take the time to make sure our client understands the usability issues we’ve identified and make actionable changes.

This combined approach allows us to move beyond theoretical compliance and understand real-world impact. By centering users in the testing process, we help identify practical improvements that make certification exams more usable, equitable, and respectful of diverse ways of interacting with technology. Some of the incredible companies we’ve worked with include Aspen Publishing, Pearson, CompTIA, APA Psych Board, and more. If you are a test publisher, an exam developer, or an interested user testing participant, please reach out to [email protected] to work with us or learn more.

By Sarah Walker