Introduction
Nexam is designed to offer an accessible experience that meets WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 Level AA standards, as well as the Quebec government standard SGQRI 008 3.0. The platform supports several accessibility tools commonly required in academic environments, including Lexibar, Jaws, NVDA, WordQ, Speechify, Antidote and browser-integrated screen readers. This document explains how Nexam supports these tools and describes the optimal conditions for using them during a monitored exam.
Accessibility Principles in Nexam
The participant interface is structured to be usable with a keyboard, readable by screen readers and compatible with speech synthesis tools. Focus order is logical, interface components expose accessible names and status messages are programmatically conveyed to assistive technologies. Accessibility testing was carried out with NVDA, VoiceOver, Lexibar, WordQ and several text-to-speech tools such as Edge Read Aloud and Speechify.
Compatibility with Accessibility Tools
Screen Readers
Screen readers like Jaws and NVDA can be used during an exam. Nexam’s semantic structure allows users to navigate pages, instructions and questions with the keyboard, and ARIA roles make it easier for screen readers to announce actions, states and messages.
Speech Synthesis and Read-Aloud Tools
Tools such as Speechify, WordQ, Lexibar or the built-in readers in Edge and Chrome work with Nexam. Exam instructions and questions can be read aloud without interfering with the exam session.
Writing Assistance
Word prediction tools like Lexibar and WordQ can be used in short-answer and long-answer fields. The long-form text editor provides its own set of shortcuts, which are documented in an accessibility icon within the editor.
Keyboard Navigation
The entire platform can be navigated with a keyboard. Focus is always visible, and essential interactions can be completed without a mouse.
Zoom, Contrast and Layout
Text and interface elements can be enlarged for easier reading. The contrast meets Level AA requirements, and animations are limited to what is necessary.
Constraints Related to Monitored Exam Settings
Certain monitoring features, such as screen capture and webcam capture, cannot be modified. These modules do not prevent the use of accessibility tools, but they maintain a stable and controlled environment to protect exam integrity. The exam experience is designed for desktop computers, and mobile accessibility tools are not part of the scope evaluated for exam writing.
Reduced Motion and Visual Comfort
Nexam limits the use of animations to preserve interface clarity, especially during the exam. Some animations appear before entering the exam and help users understand how to share their screen and confirm that their setup is ready. These animations are short, simple and designed to support comprehension without adding unnecessary distraction. When the Reduce Motion accessibility setting is enabled in the operating system, these animations are automatically removed. This gives a more stable experience for users sensitive to visual movement while keeping the necessary guidance during preparation. On macOS, this setting is found under System Settings, Accessibility, Display.
Recommendations for Users
Use a computer that meets the institution’s technical requirements.
Test any accessibility tools in the preparation environment provided by Nexam before the exam.
Communicate any accommodation needs to the institution before the exam.