Reading and Writing Accommodations

Text-to-Speech (Embedded) 

The Bluebook testing app includes an embedded text-to-speech (TTS) tool for students who require reading assistance and have an approved accommodation for embedded TTS. 

Key Information:

• This built-in tool eliminates the need for external technology, reducing configuration issues and provides a more standardized experience across different devices.
• No configuration required.
• Embedded TTS is available for all digital AP Exams (fully digital and hybrid digital).
• Students may still use their own third-party screen reader.

Reading Accommodations 

Students who require reading assistance (or students who use a human reader for paper tests) may be approved to:

• take the digital AP Exam using the embedded TTS tool in Bluebook or their own screen reading software; or
• test with a human reader using a digital exam. 

AP coordinators and SSD coordinators should work with students to determine whether they need to test using embedded text-to-speech or screen reader software, or if they need to test with a human reader. 

Writing Accommodations 

Students who require writing assistance may be approved to: 

• take the digital AP Exam using their own voice recognition (speech-to-text) software, if approved for dictation; or
• test with a writer/scribe using a digital AP Exam. 

AP coordinators and SSD coordinators should work with students to determine whether they need to test with a writer/scribe or using voice recognition (speech-to-text) software.

• To use a writer/scribe for a digital AP Exam, the school must submit a request and the student must be approved for an accommodation of writer/scribe for digital tests. Note that if a student is approved for writer/scribe for digital tests, they’ll test with a writer/scribe for the entire exam (fully digital or hybrid digital).
• For hybrid digital AP Exams, because Section II uses a paper free-response booklet, students might need a writer/scribe to assist them during Section II.
• To use voice recognition (speech-to-text), the student must be approved for the accommodation of dictation.