---
title: "What's new in assessment on macOS"
description: "Use Automatic Assessment Configuration on macOS 27 to precheck device state, control accessibility, customize system UI, and lock down exam processes."
shoutout: "Unofficial, made with love by Superwall - the best way to monetize your apps."
category: "Business & Education"
---

# What's new in assessment on macOS


[Watch on Apple Developer](https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2026/230/)

Use Automatic Assessment Configuration on macOS 27 to precheck device state, control accessibility, customize system UI, and lock down exam processes.

## TL;DR

- Automatic Assessment Configuration on macOS 27 adds precondition checks for hardened exam devices, including SIP, MDM enrollment, single signed-in user, account type, Lockdown Mode, and iCloud Private Relay.
- Assessment apps can allow or restrict built-in accessibility features per approved accommodations; allowing a feature does not turn it on, it only permits use if the user already enabled it.
- New system-experience controls let apps selectively expose the Menu Bar, Apple menu items, menu extras, Dock, input technologies, Finder, and Open/Save access to allowlisted files and directories.
- Runtime lockdown can limit execution to the assessment app, explicitly allowlisted participant apps, and essential system processes, while blocking Shortcuts and Automator user scripts.

## Framework scope and requirements

Automatic Assessment Configuration helps education and certification apps create a locked-down testing environment on macOS 27. The session focuses on new controls for validating the Mac before an exam, shaping the allowed system experience, managing accessibility accommodations, and limiting process execution during an assessment.

Apps that use the framework need the restricted Automatic Assessment Configuration entitlement, requested through the Apple Developer portal. Assessment parameters are configured through an AEAssessmentConfiguration object.

- Use the framework's APIs rather than building parallel lockdown behavior.
- Drive app state from the framework's session transition callbacks rather than assuming begin/end calls take effect immediately.
- Retest full exam workflows on each macOS beta and file Feedback for regressions.

## Precondition checks before starting an exam

Precondition checks let an assessment app refuse to start until the device satisfies required security and deployment conditions. These checks are intended to ensure the Mac is in a hardened, tamper-resistant state and that Apple privacy or security features do not interfere with assessment infrastructure requirements.

- Require System Integrity Protection to be enabled.
- Require the Mac to be MDM enrolled.
- Require only a single signed-in user account.
- Require a specific account type, such as a standard account.
- Require Lockdown Mode and iCloud Private Relay to be disabled.

### Configure assessment preconditions

Creates an assessment configuration that requires SIP, MDM enrollment, a single standard user account, and disables Lockdown Mode and iCloud Private Relay for the session.

```swift
import AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration

func makeAssessmentConfiguration() -> AEAssessmentConfiguration {
    let configuration = AEAssessmentConfiguration()
    configuration.allowLockdownMode = false
    configuration.allowPrivateRelay = false
    configuration.requiresSIP = true
    configuration.requiresManagedDevice = true
    configuration.requiresSingleUser = true
    configuration.requiresUserAccountType = .standard
    return configuration
}
```

## Accessibility controls for approved accommodations

macOS accessibility features remain an important part of equitable assessment delivery. By default, currently enabled accessibility features continue to work during an assessment session, even though the Menu Bar and Dock are hidden.

The framework lets apps decide which accessibility features remain available. This is useful because some features can be customized with user-generated content, so an assessment provider may allow only the features tied to approved accommodations. Setting an accessibility property to true does not enable that feature; it only permits it to be used if enabled by the user.

- Allow required accommodations instead of treating accessibility as an afterthought.
- Restrict features that are not approved for the current student or assessment.
- If a restricted feature is running when the session begins, the system can quit it and prevent relaunch during the session.

### Allow most accessibility features while blocking Switch Control

Permits selected built-in accessibility features while preventing Switch Control from being used during the assessment.

```swift
import AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration

func makeAssessmentConfiguration() -> AEAssessmentConfiguration {
    let configuration = AEAssessmentConfiguration()
    configuration.allowsAccessibilityVoiceOver = true
    configuration.allowsAccessibilitySwitchControl = false
    configuration.allowsAccessibilityAlternativeInputMethods = true
    configuration.allowsAccessibilityBackgroundSounds = true
    configuration.allowsAccessibilityHoverText = true
    configuration.allowsAccessibilityLiveSpeech = true
    configuration.allowsAccessibilitySpokenContent = true
    configuration.allowsAccessibilityVoiceControl = true
    configuration.allowsAccessibilityZoom = true
    return configuration
}
```

## Customize the macOS assessment experience

Assessment apps can tailor how students interact with macOS during a session. The framework can expose a filtered Menu Bar and Apple menu, allow specific menu extras, disable input methods that may reveal answers, show a filtered Dock, and constrain Finder or Open/Save panel access to approved locations.

Menu extras are not forced on by the configuration; allowed extras remain available only if already present in the Menu Bar. Finder appears as a Dock anchor, but it is not accessible unless explicitly added as a participant.

- Allow only necessary Menu Bar items, such as Battery, Clock, or Volume.
- Filter the Apple menu, including hiding all configurable items except About This Mac by using an empty allowlist.
- Disable Dictation, AutoFill, structural input, and the emoji picker when they could reveal spelling, reference data, symbols, or composition hints.
- Use allowedDirectoriesAndFiles to constrain Finder and standard Open/Save panels to designated files or directories.

### Allow a filtered Menu Bar and Apple menu

Shows the Menu Bar while limiting visible menu extras and Apple menu contents.

```swift
import AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration

func makeAssessmentConfiguration() -> AEAssessmentConfiguration {
    let configuration = AEAssessmentConfiguration()
    configuration.allowsMenuBar = true
    configuration.allowedMenuBarItems = [ .battery, .clock, .volume ]
    configuration.allowedAppleMenuItems = [ .sleep ]
    return configuration
}
```

### Restrict input helpers and file access

Prevents selected input technologies and limits Finder/Open/Save access to an allowlisted directory.

```swift
import AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration

func makeAssessmentConfiguration() -> AEAssessmentConfiguration {
    let configuration = AEAssessmentConfiguration()
    configuration.allowsDictation = false
    configuration.allowsAutoFill = false
    configuration.allowsStructuralInput = false
    configuration.allowsEmojiKeyboard = false
    configuration.allowedDirectoriesAndFiles = [ URL(fileURLWithPath: "~/Documents/") ]
    return configuration
}
```

## Restrict application and script execution

The framework can restrict the runtime environment so nonessential user processes are stopped when the assessment begins. This helps reduce risks from apps or background processes that might capture the screen, log keystrokes, transmit data, or otherwise interact with the exam environment.

When allowOnlyParticipantsToRun is enabled, only the main assessment app, explicitly allowlisted participant apps, and essential system processes may run. The session also shows blocking user script execution so Shortcuts and Automator actions are stopped and cannot execute during the secure exam.

- Explicitly allowlist participant apps needed by the assessment workflow, such as Finder when file access is required.
- Use runtime restrictions only for what the assessment actually requires; unnecessary restrictions can degrade the test-taker experience.
- Validate behavior with real assessment workflows, not only isolated API checks.

### Limit running apps and block user scripts

Restricts process execution to the assessment app, allowlisted participants, and essential system processes, while blocking Shortcuts and Automator scripts.

```swift
import AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration

func makeAssessmentConfiguration() -> AEAssessmentConfiguration {
    let configuration = AEAssessmentConfiguration()
    configuration.allowOnlyParticipantsToRun = true
    configuration.allowsUserScriptExecution = false
    return configuration
}
```

## Resources

- [Automatic Assessment Configuration](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/AutomaticAssessmentConfiguration)

## Related Sessions

- [Secure your apps with App Attest](https://wwdc.ai/2026/201)

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