Digital and E-Exams

Digital and e-exams have become an integral part of higher education. Whilst they offer many advantages, including flexibility, efficiency and new teaching opportunities, they can present significant challenges for students with impairments, chronic or mental illnesses. Accessibility is therefore an essential aspect of ensuring equal opportunities and enabling all students to participate fairly in examinations.

The following content will provide you with a basic understanding of accessible digital examinations in higher education. You will learn about the relevant legal requirements, the technical and didactical measures that enhance accessibility, and how to design examinations so that all students can participate on an equal footing.

As digital examination formats are constantly evolving, it is not possible to provide fixed step-by-step instructions. Instead, you will be provided with questions and information relating to accessibility and e-exams, which will help you to understand the principles of accessible e-exams and apply them to the current technical environment. This will provide you – as a lecturer, examination officer or university staff member – with guidance to develop your own solutions tailored to the specific situation. 

Note: The content is taken from the project ‘SHUFFLE – Hochschulinitiative digitale Barrierefreiheit für Alle’ and has been adapted.