Keyboard Navigation for Testing

All tests can be navigated by using a computer keyboard.

Note: Make sure your device settings have accessibility options enabled. For example, in the settings for a Mac, you need to enable options that allow the Tab key to advance focus on websites.

For most questions:

  1. Use the Tab key to navigate between areas.
  2. Use Shift + Tab to navigate backwards.
  3. Use the space bar to select an answer.
    1. You can also use the A/B/C/D/E or 1/2/3/4/5 keys to select an answer choice from a question with five or fewer choices.
  4. Use Enter (Return on a Mac) to complete the answer. Press once to select the arrow button, and then press again to submit the answer.

For drag-and-drop questions:

  1. Use the Tab key to navigate to your selection.
  2. Pick up your selection with the space bar.
  3. Tab to navigate to the correct position.
  4. Use the space bar to release the item.

For the Calculator tool:

See the Desmos® website: www.desmos.com/accessibility

Shortcut keys for test tools

To print these shortcuts: Test Navigation Keyboard Shortcuts

For Windows and Chrome shortcuts, use alt and the indicated keystroke. For Mac shortcuts, use option and the indicated keystroke.

 

Tool

  Keystroke

Result
Toolbar

[Alt or Option] and T

Brings keyboard focus to the Toolbar area
Close tools [Alt or Option] and X Closes all tools that are open
General Tools:
Zoom*

[Alt or Option] and + or

Magnifies or minimizes display
Highlighter [Alt or Option] and H Toggles the Highlighter on or off
Erase Highlight [Alt or Option] and E Toggles the Eraser on or off
Line Reader

[Alt or Option] and L

Toggles the Line Reader on or off
Notepad

[Alt or Option] and N

Toggles the Notepad on; turns the Notepad off when working outside the Notepad
Answer Eliminator

[Alt or Option] and A

Toggles the Answer Eliminator on or off
Mathematics Tools:
Calculator

[Alt or Option] and C

Opens/closes the Calculator (if available for that question; closes only if focus is not in the text-input area) or navigates back to the Calculator if it is already open
Ruler

[Alt or Option] and R

Toggles the Ruler on or off

To move, use arrow keys; to rotate, use L (left) and R (right)

Protractor

[Alt or Option] and P

Toggles the Protractor on or off

To move, use arrow keys; to rotate, use L (left) and R (right)

Miscellaneous:
Text-to-Speech

No shortcut; use T to focus the Toolbar, and then use Arrow keys and Spacebar

Note: You will only find text-to-speech tools if you have selected Text-to-Speech when setting up your test

Reset [Alt or Option] and Z Selects the Reset button for the question

*When using a Chromebook on a Chrome browser, the keystroke for Zoom is [Ctrl] and [Alt] and + or .

Keystroke summary

 

Key In a Question  In a Toolbar In the Calculator
Tab key. Navigates to all parts of screen (everything that is in the Tab order); Shift and Tab moves in reverse order   Moves out of the Calculator; use the arrow keys or number keys to actually enter items
Upward, downward, backward, and forward keys.   Use the arrows to navigate between tools Arrows move to all Calculator buttons and within number display
Sapcebar key. Selects currently focused answer option for drag-and-drop question, picks up and drops the answer Selects the tool in focus Selects the button in focus

Enter key. or Return key.

Moves to the arrow button (first press), and then submits the answer (second press) Selects the tool in focus Can be used in place of the “=” sign in the calculator; however, using Enter/Return may cause you to accidentally submit an answer
Escape key.     Clears the display