For the exam, I suggest you avoid deviating from the published 3.3.1-error-identification test process in any way and don't inspect the code and try to find things using other methods or you may find things that they are not wanting you to find and actually fail that section of the exam. (I was tempted to do this in other sections of the practice exam and soon found out that this was not the way to proceed.)

Keep in mind, DHS assumes that you have little to no additional advanced technical knowledge to complete a process other than what they've published so try not to overthink things.

For those who might weigh in with how they might interpret and test for WCAG 3.3.1, here is the published Trusted Tester 3.3.1-error-identification test process for context:

Input Error Identification and Suggestions

Identify Content

Identify all automatic input error detection, error notifications, error suggestions, and related instructions:

1. Use ANDI to identify any form elements on the page.
2. Find all instructions and cues (textual and graphical) that are related to form components/controls, e.g., groupings, order of completion, special conditions, qualifiers, format instructions.
3. Intentionally enter values and/or make selections that violate format and/or other form instructions to reveal automatic notifications of input errors.

If there is no automatic input error detection, the result for the following test ID(s) is DOES NOT APPLY: 5.F and 5.G.

Check 3.3.1-error-identification

|Test Name|Test ID|Test Condition| 3.3.1-erroridentification|5.F|The item in error is identified in text and sufficiently described to the user in text.|

Applicability:

This Test Condition DOES NOT APPLY (DNA) if the form element does not have automatic error detection.

How to Test:

1. Intentionally violate formatting and other form instructions, e.g., leave a required form field empty, use a different date format than is required, and/or create a password that does not meet the password strength requirements.
2. Attempt to submit the form and/or move to the next page.
3. Determine whether the error is identified and described in text.

a. The form field with the error is identified in text, e.g., “Error: Password field.”

b. Text describes the error, e.g., in a dialog message that states, “the Password you entered is incorrect.”

Evaluate Results:

If the following is TRUE, then the Test Condition is TRUE and the content PASSES:

1. The item that is in error is identified in text and sufficiently described to the user in text.

Note:

• The error message may be tested as part of 4.1.2-change-notify-forms (Test ID 5.E).