Text-to-speech

When the test taker activates text-to-speech (TTS) mode via the Read Aloud button on the System Toolbar, speakable units (i.e., chunks of content that can be read) become active. When the test taker selects a TTS speakable unit, the unit’s text is read by the system’s TTS engine.

In TTS mode, most user interface elements are disabled, with the exception of navigational elements (e.g., the Back and Next buttons in the system toolbar). When a test taker navigates to another item or screen in TTS mode, TTS turns off.

Use the Text-to-speech button at the top of the page to see how TTS affects demo and example content throughout the guide.

To view alternative presentations and styling, use the Change Theme and Read Aloud buttons in the upper-right of the screen.

Speakable Units

TTS speakable units have the following states.

  • Default. Present when TTS mode is off. There is no visual indicator of speakable units.
  • Active. Present when TTS mode is on. Speakable units are surrounded by a dark blue #032855 border. (Note that there is no hover state.)

Special Interactions

Inline-choice dropdowns

A sentence or paragraph containing an Inline-choice dropdown behaves in the following way when selected in TTS mode:

  • If the test taker has made a selection, it is read along with the rest of the sentence or paragraph.
  • If the test taker has not made a selection,
    • The sentence or paragraph is read up to the dropdown.
    • Pause 1s.
    • The dropdown opens automatically.
    • Each option in the dropdown is read in sequence, with a 0.5s pause between options.
    • The dropdown closes automatically.
    • The rest of the sentence or paragraph is read.

Number line, grid-based, and graph-based response types

To better align with the TTS behavior of static grids and graphs, which are contained a single speakable unit, number line, grid-based, and graph-based response areas are also contained in a single speakable unit, including: