Starting a test and navigating the test driver interface with a keyboard

Some candidates with disabilities rely solely on keyboards to navigate their tests. In the Surpass test driver, candidates with accessibility requirements can use the keyboard to start their test and navigate through it.

When taking a test in Surpass, you can navigate through interactive elements on the screen using Tab. By selecting Shift and Tab you can navigate to the previous element. You can select answers or elements using Enter.

This article explains how to navigate the test driver with a keyboard.

Table of Contents

Starting a test

The specific keyboard shortcuts needed to start a test are detailed in the tables below.

Enter Keycode

The Enter Keycode screen is where you enter your unique keycode to access your test.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Entry field	alphanumeric characters	Inputs unique keycode.
OK	Space or Enter	Validates keycode.
System Check	Space or Enter	Opens System Check dialog.
Preferences	Space or Enter	Opens Preferences panel.
Close (SecureClient only)	Space or Enter	Closes SecureClient.
Download test to take later (SecureClient only)	Space or Enter	Downloads test to take later.

System Check

You can check your system is working correctly before starting a test in the Surpass test driver. This includes checking your audio and video settings.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Audio	Space or Enter	Opens Audio tab.
Audio > Audio Player	Read ‘Audio Player’ in Navigating the Surpass media and audio players with a keyboard.	Navigates audio player.
MP4 Video	Space or Enter	Opens MP4 Video tab.
MP4 Video > Media Player	Read ‘Media Player’ in Navigating the Surpass media and audio players with a keyboard.	Navigates media player.
Internet	Space or Enter	Opens Internet tab.
Internet > Start	Space or Enter	Starts internet speed test.
Internet > Check again	Space or Enter	Restarts internet speed test.
Microphone (SecureClient only)	Space or Enter	Opens Microphone tab.
Microphone > Record	Space or Enter	Records audio clip.
Microphone > Play	Space or Enter	Plays audio clip.
Microphone > Pause	Space or Enter	Pauses audio clip.
Microphone > Stop	Space or Enter	Stops audio clip.
Close	Space or Enter	Closes System Check dialog.

Preferences

You can change the colour preferences of your test in this menu. Read Setting up colour preferences in the test driver for more information.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
More/Less Options	Space or Enter	Opens additional colour settings.
Colour Scheme	Space or Enter	Selects colour scheme.
Contrast	shift + ←→ or ↑↓	Adjusts contrast by +/- 10. Use shift to adjust contrast by +/- 1.
Audio Settings (SecureClient only)	Space or Enter	Opens local audio settings.
OK	Space or Enter	Confirms selection.
Cancel	Space or Enter	Close Preferences panel.

Confirm Details

You must confirm your details before you can start your test.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Confirm	Space or Enter	Confirms details.
Cancel	Space or Enter	Returns to Enter Keycode screen.

Agree to Terms

You must agree to terms before you can start your test.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Expand	Space or Enter	Expands and contracts the Agree to Terms dialog.
I accept these terms	Space	Checks box to signify agreement.
Confirm	Space or Enter	Confirms agreement. The I accept these terms checkbox must be selected.
Exit	Space or Enter	Returns to Enter Keycode screen.

Sound Recording Test

If your test contains Audio Capture questions, you must test your microphone by recording a short audio clip in the Sound Recording Test. You cannot start your test if your microphone settings are unsatisfactory.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Record	Space or Enter	Records audio clip.
Play	Space or Enter	Plays audio clip.
Pause	Space or Enter	Pauses audio clip.
Stop	Space or Enter	Stops audio clip.
Confirm	Space or Enter	Finishes audio test.

Navigating the test driver interface

The specific keyboard shortcuts needed to start a test are detailed in the tables below.

Main interface

The functionality contained in the Surpass test driver ensures that candidates will always receive the best and most reliable test experience possible. Candidates can seamlessly navigate their tests and interact with the test driver and question content in either a web browser or a secure, locked-down application.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Timer	Space or Enter	Switches between Total Test Time Remaining and Section Time Remaining, if the test uses timed sections.
Finish Test	Space or Enter	Finishes test (opens Finish Test dialog).
Section Tabs	Space or Enter	Opens section.
Item Breadcrumbs	Space or Enter	Opens item.
Close Toast Messages	Space or Enter	Closes toast message, for example ‘This page requires scrolling.’
Preferences	Space or Enter	Opens Preferences panel.
Section Review	Space or Enter	Opens Section Review panel.
Information Page	Space or Enter	Opens an Information Page.
Comment	Space or Enter	Opens the Leave a comment dialog.
Flag/Unflag	Space or Enter	Flags/unflags item.
Start the test	Space or Enter	Starts the test (if the first item is an Introduction Page).
Back	Space or Enter	Return to previous item.
Next	Space or Enter	Go to next item.

Preferences

You can change the colour preferences of your test in this menu. Read Setting up colour preferences in the test driver for more information.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
More/Less Options	Space or Enter	Opens additional colour settings.
Colour Scheme	Space or Enter	Selects colour scheme.
Contrast	shift + ←→ or ↑↓	Adjusts contrast by +/- 10. Use shift to adjust contrast by +/- 1.
Audio Settings (SecureClient only)	Space or Enter	Opens local audio settings.
OK	Space or Enter	Confirms selection.
Cancel	Space or Enter	Close Preferences panel.

Section Review

You can use Section Review  to view detailed information on the status of items in a section. 

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Lock/Unlock	Space or Enter	Locks/unlocks Section Review panel in place.
Close	Space or Enter	Close Section Review panel.
Filter	Space	Checks corresponding box to filter by Unattempted, Attempted, or Flagged items.
Clear	Space or Enter	Clears all filters, if any are applied.
Item Breadcrumbs	Space or Enter	Opens item. NOTE: Focus moves back to the main interface when an item is selected.

Leave a comment

You can leave comments on items for feedback purposes.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Entry Field	alphanumeric characters	Inputs comment.
Remove Comment	Space or Enter	Removes current comment.
Cancel	Space or Enter	Exits the Leave a comment dialog.
Save	Space or Enter	Saves comment.

Confirm Finish Section

You must confirm you have answered all questions in the section before advancing to the next section.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Yes I would like to finish this section	Space or Enter	Moves onto next section.
No I would like to return to this section	Space or Enter	Exits the Confirm Finish Section dialog.

Break

If enabled, you can take breaks during a test. During the break, the test timer is paused and you cannot view or interact with the test content. Scheduled breaks occur automatically at the end of sections and can be cancellable (meaning you can return to the test at any point) or mandatory (you must wait until the break timer expires before returning to the test).

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Start Break	Space or Enter	Starts break.
Resume Test	Space or Enter	Resumes test.
Yes/No	Space or Enter	Confirms details.

Confirm Finish

You must confirm you have answered all questions and that you are ready to finish your test before doing so.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Cancel	Space or Enter	Exits the Confirm Finish dialog.
Finish	Space or Enter	Finishes test.

Test Feedback

If enabled, at the end of a section or a test you can view a summary of your performance.

Functionality	Action	Description
Focus	Tab	Navigates between elements.
Zoom In	Ctrl + +	Zooms in.
Zoom Out	Ctrl + -	Zooms out.
Reset Zoom	Ctrl + 0	Resets zoom to 100%.
Exit Test	Space or Enter	Exits the test.
Summary Tabs	Not accessible	Not accessible. Only the first tab can be accessed.
Item Breadcrumbs	Space or Enter	Opens item.
Preview Item > Show/Hide Feedback	Space or Enter	Shows/hides feedback.
Preview Item > Close	Space or Enter	Closes item.
Preferences	Space or Enter	Opens Preferences panel.
Print	Space or Enter	Opens local print options.