Often those who have accessibility audits feel like the audits are a costly affair and ask if there’s a cheaper way to approach them. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are very technical in nature, and it can take years to fully learn and master the testing process for each success criterion. While WCAG is indeed technical, there are several testing procedures that are simple, quick, and can be performed by anyone with basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and development knowledge.
You don’t need to be an accessibility ninja to run the tests outlined in this article. Each of these checks takes only a few minutes but can significantly move the accessibility needle. Remember—making your website or web app WCAG compliant is important but ensuring it is truly usable by all users is the ultimate goal.
It’s possible for a site to be technically WCAG compliant yet still not usable. The accessibility tests in this article are chosen for their simplicity and the ease with which feedback can be implemented, ensuring your product or service becomes more usable and inclusive.
1. Keyboard Navigation Test
Why it matters: Many users rely on keyboards instead of mice due to motor disabilities, visual impairments, or personal preference. Screen reader users, people with tremors, and those using alternative input devices all depend on proper keyboard functionality.
How to test:
- Unplug your mouse or ignore it completely
- Press the Tab key to move through all interactive elements on your page
- Use Shift+Tab to move backwards
- Press Enter or Space to activate buttons and links
- Use arrow keys to navigate within menus or form controls
What to look for:
- Can you reach every interactive element?
- Is the tab order logical and intuitive?
- Are focus indicators clearly visible?
- Do all buttons and links work with Enter/Space keys?
2. Skip Links Test
Why it matters: Skip links allow keyboard and screen reader users to bypass repetitive navigation and jump straight to main content. Without them, users must tab through dozens of navigation items on every page visit.
How to test:
- Load your homepage and press Tab once
- Look for a “Skip to main content” or similar link (it may be hidden until focused)
- Press Enter to activate the skip link
- Verify that focus moves to the main content area
What to look for:
- Does a skip link appear when you first press Tab?
- Does it actually skip the navigation when activated?
- Is the skip link text clear and descriptive?
3. Link Text Test
Why it matters: Screen readers often present users with lists of all links on a page. Vague link text like “click here” or “read more” provides no context about the destination or purpose.
How to test:
- Scan your page for all links
- Read each link text in isolation, without surrounding context
- Check if the purpose is clear from the link text alone
What to look for:
- Avoid generic phrases like “click here,” “more,” or “read more”
- Ensure link text describes the destination or action
- Make sure identical link text leads to the same destination
- Consider adding context for screen readers when needed
4. Content Resize Test
Why it matters: Users with visual impairments often need to zoom in to read content comfortably. Many people also prefer larger text sizes for better readability.
How to test:
- Use your browser’s zoom function (Ctrl/Cmd + Plus) to zoom to 200%
- Navigate through your entire page at this zoom level
- Check that all content remains visible and functional
What to look for:
- Does all text remain readable without horizontal scrolling?
- Are buttons and interactive elements still accessible?
- Does content overlap or disappear?
- Can you complete all major tasks at 200% zoom?
5. Content Reflow Test
Why it matters: When users zoom in or view content on narrow screens, content should reflow naturally. Poor reflow can make content impossible to read or cause important elements to disappear.
How to test:
- Zoom your browser to 400% (or set browser text size to largest setting)
- Resize your browser window to 320px wide (mobile size)
- Scroll through your content both vertically and horizontally
What to look for:
- Content should reflow to fit the viewport without horizontal scrolling
- No content should be cut off or hidden
- Text should remain readable and not overlap
- All functionality should remain available
6. Page Title Test
Why it matters: Page titles are the first thing screen reader users hear when loading a page. They’re also crucial for navigation, bookmarking, and understanding browser tab content.
How to test:
- Look at your browser tab titles for each page
- Navigate through different sections of your site
- Check that each page has a unique, descriptive title
What to look for:
- Each page should have a unique title
- Titles should be descriptive and specific
- Include your site name consistently
- Put the most important information first
- Keep titles concise but informative
7. Video Captions Test
Why it matters: Captions benefit deaf and hard-of-hearing users, but they’re also valuable for people in noisy environments, non-native speakers, and anyone who prefers reading along with audio content.
How to test:
- Play any videos on your site with sound turned off
- Enable captions if available
- Watch the entire video relying only on captions
What to look for:
- Are captions available for all video content?
- Do captions accurately represent all spoken content?
- Are non-speech sounds described when important?
- Are captions properly timed and readable?
- Can users easily turn captions on and off?
8. Heading Structure Test
Why it matters: Screen reader users rely on heading structure to navigate content quickly. Proper heading hierarchy creates an outline that helps all users understand content organization.
How to test:
- Use a browser extension like “Web Developer” or “Accessibility Insights”
- Generate a heading outline of your page
- Alternatively, scan visually for heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
What to look for:
- Is there exactly one H1 tag per page?
- Do headings follow a logical hierarchy (H1→H2→H3, not H1→H3)?
- Are headings used for structure, not just styling?
- Do headings accurately describe the content that follows?
9. Focus Indicators Test
Why it matters: Focus indicators show keyboard users which element currently has focus. Without clear focus indicators, keyboard navigation becomes impossible or extremely difficult.
How to test:
- Navigate your site using only the Tab key
- Observe each focusable element as you tab through
- Try this on different browsers and devices
What to look for:
- Is there a clear visual indicator on every focusable element?
- Are focus indicators easily distinguishable from the background?
- Do focus indicators have sufficient color contrast?
Are focus indicators visible on all interactive elements?
10. Color Contrast Test
Why it matters: Poor color contrast makes text difficult or impossible to read for users with visual impairments, color vision differences, or anyone using their device in bright lighting conditions.
How to test:
- Use a free tool like WebAIM’s Color Contrast Checker
- Test your main text colors against background colors
- Check button colors, link colors, and important UI elements
- Test both normal and large text sizes
What to look for:
- Normal text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1
- Large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold) should have at least 3:1 contrast
- Interactive elements should meet the same standards
- Don’t rely on color alone to convey important information
Conclusion
These 10 accessibility tests represent the foundation of inclusive web design. While they don’t cover every aspect of accessibility, they address the most common barriers that affect millions of users daily. The beauty of these tests lies in their simplicity—anyone can perform them without special training or expensive tools.
Remember that accessibility is not a one-time checklist but an ongoing commitment to inclusive design. As you implement these tests into your workflow, you’ll start to notice accessibility considerations naturally becoming part of your design and development process.
Start with these basics, but don’t stop here. Consider conducting regular accessibility audits, involving users with disabilities in your testing process, and staying current with accessibility guidelines and best practices. Every step you take toward better accessibility makes the web more welcoming and usable for everyone.
The investment in accessibility pays dividends beyond compliance—you’ll create better user experiences, reach wider audiences, and build products that truly serve all users. Begin with these 10 tests today, and take your first concrete steps toward a more accessible web.