The six useability principles

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which list correctly names the six useability principles?

A Accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency, error tolerance, engagement, ease of learning

B Accessibility, alignment, contrast, balance, space, text formatting

2. A school app offers a text-to-speech option for students with low vision. Which principle does this feature support?

A Accessibility

B Engagement

3. A banking app asks 'Are you sure you want to send $5000?' before confirming a transfer. Which principle is this?

A Efficiency

B Error tolerance

4. A new student opens a timetable app and a short guided tour shows them where everything is. Which principle is this?

A Effectiveness

B Ease of learning

5. A food delivery app lets you reorder your usual meal in two taps. Which principle does this feature best show?

A Efficiency

B Accessibility

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Accessibility		AUndo lets users recover from a slip, so it matches error tolerance. Ease of learning is about how quickly new users pick up the interface.
2Error tolerance		BOne-tap reorder button on the home screen
3A feature that lets users finish a common task in fewer steps, saving time and effort (efficiency)		CShort guided tutorial shown on first login
4A feature that helps new users learn the interface quickly without a manual (ease of learning)		DWhether people with a wide range of abilities and needs can use the interface, for example through screen reader support or adjustable text size
5Feature: progress badges and streak rewards. Principle: Effectiveness		EBadges and rewards keep users interested and motivated, so they match engagement, not effectiveness. Effectiveness is whether users can complete tasks accurately and completely.
6Feature: an undo button after deleting a file. Principle: Ease of learning		FHow well the interface prevents mistakes and helps users recover from them, for example with an undo button or a confirmation prompt

Definitions

useability principles

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

feature: alt text on images principle: _____________

feature: search returns the right result principle: _____________

feature: one-tap checkout, fewer steps principle: __________

feature: confirm box before deleting principle: _______________

feature: tutorial for first-time users principle: ________________

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A App review: canteen app

B Alt text -> efficiency

C Undo -> error tolerance

Question 2

A Principle: efficiency

B Task: pay for lunch

C Old way: 6 taps, new: 2

D Fewer taps = less efficient

Question 3

A Principle: effectiveness

B Task: book a tutor

C Booking fails = effective

Question 4

A Feature: onboarding tour

B Principle: error tolerance

C New users start quickly

Question 5

A Feature: animated game badges

B Principle: error tolerance

C Users can recover from slips

Answer Key

The six useability principles

Section A: Quick Questions

A — Accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency, error tolerance, engagement, ease of learning

A — Accessibility

B — Error tolerance

B — Ease of learning

A — Efficiency

Section B: Match the Pairs

Accessibility → Whether people with a wide range of abilities and needs can use the interface, for example through screen reader support or adjustable text size

Error tolerance → How well the interface prevents mistakes and helps users recover from them, for example with an undo button or a confirmation prompt

A feature that lets users finish a common task in fewer steps, saving time and effort (efficiency) → One-tap reorder button on the home screen

A feature that helps new users learn the interface quickly without a manual (ease of learning) → Short guided tutorial shown on first login

Feature: progress badges and streak rewards. Principle: Effectiveness → Badges and rewards keep users interested and motivated, so they match engagement, not effectiveness. Effectiveness is whether users can complete tasks accurately and completely.

Feature: an undo button after deleting a file. Principle: Ease of learning → Undo lets users recover from a slip, so it matches error tolerance. Ease of learning is about how quickly new users pick up the interface.

Section C: Definitions

useability principles — Six criteria for judging an interface: accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency, error tolerance, engagement and ease of learning. Each feature of a design can be matched to one of them.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

feature: alt text on images
principle: accessibility

feature: search returns the right result
principle: effectiveness

feature: one-tap checkout, fewer steps
principle: efficiency

feature: confirm box before deleting
principle: error tolerance

feature: tutorial for first-time users
principle: ease of learning

Section E: Spot the Error

B — Alt text lets screen reader users understand images, so it supports accessibility, not efficiency. Line 2 should be 'Alt text -> accessibility'.

D — Efficiency is about completing a task with minimal time and effort. Fewer taps make the task more efficient, so the line should say 'more efficient'.

C — Effectiveness means the user can complete the task correctly. A booking that fails is not effective. It should read 'Booking works = effective'.

B — An onboarding tour helps new users learn the interface, so it matches ease of learning. Error tolerance is about recovering from mistakes.

A — Error tolerance needs a feature that prevents or recovers from mistakes, like a delete confirmation. Animated badges relate to engagement, so line 1 should be 'Feature: confirm on delete'.