MathJax

Bluebook implements MathJax AssistiveMML technology to:

  • Display mathematical content, such as expressions, equations, and inequalities elegantly in browsers.
  • Provide students who use screen readers access to off-screen accessible MathML and Nemeth braille support with refreshable braille displays.
  • Access a variety of accessibility features via menus attached to the MathJax content to assist students with low vision and students that need highlighted rendering.

College Board assessments have been tested with a variety of screen readers and operating systems. Some assistive technologies and operating system versions vary and may require the MathJax Accessibility feature to be activated. College Board does not prohibit students from activating any of the accessibility features and users have discretion to activate the features and settings to cater to their needs. 

Typically, users of assistive technology will only need to set the preferred MathJax setting once (e.g., during practice with the testing device) and will only need to make changes at their discretion. 

Initial MathJax Set Up:

The MathJax menu can be accessed by:

  • Focusing on the math object with the keyboard, press the Space bar, and then choose Accessibility > Activate from the menu.
  • Or right-click on the math object and choose Accessibility > Activate from the menu.

Note for NVDA users (Windows): 

  • College Board recommends installation of the Access8Math add-on for older versions of NVDA. 
    • The Access8Math add-on will allow users to access the MathML without activating the Accessibility feature from the MathJax menu.
    • The add-on can be downloaded from the NVDA add-on page at https://addons.nvda-project.org/addons/access8math.en.html.
    • If users of NVDA have any challenges navigating through the Assistive MathML with the Access8Math add-on the MathJax can be reset to the default by choosing Math Settings > Reset to defaults in the menu. This setting will need to be activated for each new question in an exam.
    • Without the Access8Math add-on, some earlier versions of NVDA will only announce ”clickable math” when encountering the MathML content. 
    • Users with older versions of NVDA may need to activate the Accessibility feature from the MathJax menu initially by following the directions above.

Note for JAWS users (Windows):

College Board recommends users of the JAWS screen reader access math content with the default MathJax settings.

  • College Board ACO has observed that activation of the MathJax accessibility menu may prohibit rendering of the MathML through the JAWS virtual cursor.

Note for VoiceOver users (macOS):

  • Depending on your macOS version VoiceOver users must activate the Accessibility feature from the MathJax menu initially by following the Initial MathJax Set Up.
  • Set the Grouping behavior to Standard in the VoiceOver Utility for optimal VoiceOver cursor navigation within Bluebook.
    • Accessibility > VoiceOver > Open VoiceOver Utility > Navigation > Grouping Behavior > Standard.

Note for spoken content Text-to-Speech users (macOS):

  • Spoken content users may activate the Accessibility feature from the MathJax menu initially by following the Initial MathJax Set Up
  • In a typical scenario, spoken content text-to-speech users would only need to set MathJax settings to their preference once (e.g., during practice) and not manipulate any of these settings again.
  • The College Board recommends users of Spoken Content use MacOS12 or MacOS 14. It is observed that Spoken Content on MacOS13 does not function in Bluebook as it does with other operating system versions

Note for ChromeVox users (Chromebook):

  • The MathJax Accessibility feature must be activated before ChromeVox can correctly announce MathJax expressions.
  • Activate the Accessibility feature from the MathJax menu by following the Initial MathJax Set Up
  • If MathJax Accessibility is not enabled, ChromeVox users may experience:
    • ChromeVox announcing long error messages before reading the math problem or repeating the problem twice. 
  • Make sure MathJax Accessibility is enabled before starting the test session. This might mean that a proctor or educator should load an example of MathJax content, activate Accessibility using the Initial MathJax Set Up instructions, and then sign out of the application before the student signs in and begins their test.

Note for Select to Speak Text-to-Speech users (Chromebook):

  • Users of Select to Speak must activate the Accessibility feature from the MathJax menu initially by following the Initial MathJax Set Up
  • Select to Speak will read out accessibility enabled MathJax expressions if users press the Search key while highlighting the math object.
  • Note: If Select to Speak does not appear to be working as intended, it is recommended to restart the application.

Note for Narrator Text-to-Speech users (Windows):

  • Microsoft Narrator reads MathJax expressions best when MathJax's Accessibility feature is activated and with the keyboard using the user-defined Narrator key (Caps Lock or Insert) and the arrow keys.

Note for Text to Speech users with Microsoft Magnifier (Windows 10 and higher):

  • Currently, Microsoft Magnifier reading is not recommended for accessing MathJax expressions.
    • MathJax expressions are largely ignored by the text to speech feature within Magnifier. 
    • When the MathJax accessibility menu is activated, Magnifier’s text to speech may read out the simpler numerical portions of the expression, i.e., integers, but the full meaning of the expression cannot be understood. 
    • Reading from mouse cursor, keyboard focus, and linearly from start of page yield the same result.

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