TOEFL iBT · Task guide 7 · 4 min read
TOEFL iBT test day and Home Edition: what to expect and how to prepare
How test day works for the TOEFL iBT at a test centre or at home: timing, no breaks, notes, Home Edition room and equipment rules, check-in and practical tips.
Two ways to take the same test
The TOEFL iBT can be taken in two ways:
- At an authorised test centre, on a computer there.
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition, on your own computer at home, watched by a live human proctor.
ETS says Home Edition is the same TOEFL iBT test you would take at a test centre, just taken at home. Test appointments are available up to six days a week, and you can retake the test as often as you like, but not more than once in a three-day period. For the latest information, see ETS's Home Edition page.
Check with your university that it accepts the version you plan to take.
How long test day takes
ETS says the test takes just under two hours, and you should plan for about two and a half hours in total, including around 30 minutes for check-in. There are no scheduled breaks, so use the toilet and have a drink before you start.
You must attempt at least one Reading question, one Listening question, one Speaking task and one Writing task. Otherwise, none of your sections are scored.
Notes and materials
You may take notes.
- At a test centre: scratch paper and pencils are provided.
- At home: use a small whiteboard, or a blank sheet of paper inside a clear sheet protector, with an erasable marker.
Mobile devices are not allowed during the test. At a test centre they are stored with your personal items. At home, your device must be stored after check-in; ETS's Home Edition rules say any additional phones, apart from the one used as a second camera, must be turned off and placed behind you, out of reach. Writing assistance software is not allowed.
Home Edition: your space
According to ETS's rules and guidelines:
- Use a private, quiet room. No one else may enter.
- Use a standard chair and a desk or table. Clear the surface completely.
- Close all doors and cover windows. Your main door must be visible on camera.
- Use a desktop or laptop, not a tablet, phone or hybrid device, and use one screen only.
- Plug your computer in and close every program except the test.
Home Edition: check-in
Before the day:
- Download the TOEFL Test App and run the equipment check 48 hours before your test, as ETS advises.
- Complete identity verification with the IDVaaS app, if it applies to you, no later than 48 hours before your test. ETS recommends doing it as soon as possible.
- Read the Home Edition rules.
- Practice setting up your phone or tablet as a second camera before test day.
On the day, you start from your order confirmation email or your account dashboard. You wait in a virtual room, connect the second camera, go through proctor-assisted identity checks and show a room scan of the walls, corners, the area under your desk and your whole workspace.
Home Edition: behaviour during the test
- Stay seated and stay visible. Keep your hands in view.
- No talking or reading aloud, except in the Speaking section.
- No breaks, unless a break has been approved as an accommodation.
- No headphones or earbuds. Remove watches and accessories. Wedding rings and religious headwear (ears visible) are allowed.
- If you have technical trouble, ETS lists real-time proctor support, reconnection attempts and saving your progress among the ways it helps.
The full list is on ETS's Home Edition rules and FAQ. Read the current version before your test, because rules may be updated.
A sensible preparation plan
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Weeks before | Learn each task type; practice each section separately |
| One week before | Do a full timed run, with no breaks |
| At least two days before | Home Edition: equipment check, identity check (ETS says as soon as possible, and no later than 48 hours before) and second camera practice |
| Day before | Prepare ID, clear the room or confirm the route to the centre; sleep well |
| Test day | Eat, drink, log in or arrive early |
Exam tip: do your full timed practice run at the same time of day as your real booking, in the same room if you are testing at home. Familiar conditions reduce stress.
At the end of the test
You will see unofficial Reading and Listening scores. Official scores appear in your ETS account about three days after your test date. See our scores guide for what to do next.
Fees and booking
Fees depend on your country, and extra costs apply for services such as rescheduling. Check the current figures on the ETS registration fees page before you book.
Key points
- The same test can be taken at a test centre or at home with a live proctor.
- Allow about two and a half hours; there are no scheduled breaks.
- Home Edition needs a private room, one screen, a second camera and identity checks.
- Do the equipment and identity checks early.
Back to the TOEFL hub for practice tests and the other guides.