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TOEFL iBT · Home Edition

TOEFL iBT Home Edition (2026): Requirements, Rules and What to Expect

The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is the same test as at a test centre — same 2026 format, same scoring — taken on your own computer with a live human proctor watching online. Most people who fail on test day fail the setup, not the English: here is everything ETS requires, and what happens on the day.

A summary of ETS's rules as of 2 October 2026. If your setup doesn't meet them on test day you can't test, with no refund or free reschedule — check the ETS Home Edition requirements before you book.

Home Edition vs test centre

TOEFL iBT Home Edition compared with the test centre
Home EditionTest centre
Test and scoringThe same TOEFL iBT, same 2026 format (about 2 hours), same scores
When24 hours a day, 4 days a week; book at least 24 hours aheadCentre dates and times
EquipmentYour own computer, speakers, mic and cameraProvided
NotesWhiteboard or sheet in a sheet protectorProvided by the centre
FeeSet by country; ETS lists no separate home price — TOEFL fee by country

TOEFL Home Edition requirements checklist

  • Computer

    A desktop or laptop with one monitor and one keyboard. No tablets, phones or hybrid devices such as a Microsoft Surface.

  • Operating system

    Windows 11 or higher, or macOS 10.13 or higher, licensed (no test-mode versions).

  • Software

    The TOEFL Test App (Windows or Mac), installed from your TOEFL home dashboard, with its Equipment Check passed.

  • Audio

    Built-in or external speakers and a microphone that is not part of a headset. Headsets and earphones are not allowed.

  • Camera

    A webcam you can move to show the proctor the whole room, the desk and the area under it.

  • Second camera (if asked)

    A phone or tablet on iOS 12+ or Android 8+, charged, propped up, on a connection of at least 1 Mbps.

  • Room

    You alone, door closed and visible to the camera, no public place, walls clear of test material, a standard chair at a desk, computer on mains power.

  • Notes

    No paper notes. One small whiteboard with an erasable marker, or one sheet inside a transparent sheet protector — erased at the end on camera.

  • Check-in items

    Your ID and a phone or hand-held mirror to show the proctor your screen.

Run the Equipment Check in the TOEFL Test App between a week and 48 hours before your test (ETS equipment check). You can't wear masks, smartwatches or jewellery other than wedding and engagement rings; religious headwear is fine if your ears stay visible. No food or drink (ETS requirements).

Test day: check-in and rules

  1. You may need to verify your ID in advance with ETS's mobile app, at least 48 hours before your test time.
  2. Start check-in from 15 minutes before your appointment and no later than 30 minutes after it — miss that and the test is cancelled without a refund.
  3. In the virtual waiting room: connect the second camera if asked, show your ID, scan the room with your webcam, then pass a final equipment check. Your test timer starts only after that.
  4. A human proctor watches and records the whole session.

Not allowed during the test

  • Breaks of any kind (unless approved as an accommodation).
  • Talking or reading aloud, except in the Speaking section; looking away from the screen or leaving the camera's view.
  • Headphones or earbuds, other phones (switched off and behind you), smartwatches, notes and books.
  • Screen-sharing or remote-access software such as Zoom, Teams or TeamViewer — close it before you start.

Sources: ETS: at-home test day, Home Edition rules, Bulletin pp.6, 10.

Scores, rescheduling and where it's available

  • Unofficial Reading and Listening scores show at the end; official scores reach your ETS account about 3 days later and are valid for 2 years.
  • Reschedule or cancel at least 4 full days before the test (US$69 to reschedule; 50% refund if you cancel in time) — see TOEFL registration.
  • Available in every country on ETS's list except Iran, where TOEFL testing is paused (ETS notice). In mainland China, book the Home Edition on toefl.cn/at-home.
  • For Australian visas, the Bulletin says only tests taken before 21 January 2026 and TOEFL iBT Australia are currently approved.

Rehearse on your own computer first

The Home Edition is the 2026 test on your own screen. Try the same task types free in the browser — Complete the Words and Build a Sentence on the same screens as our full mock test — and practise speaking without headphones.

Try free TOEFL practice questions

More TOEFL guides

FAQ

Is the TOEFL Home Edition the same as the test centre?

Yes. ETS describes it as the same TOEFL iBT test, with the same scoring, taken at home with a live human proctor. It runs in the 2026 format: about two hours, Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.

Do universities accept the TOEFL Home Edition?

ETS says it has the same scoring and global recognition as the test-centre test, accepted by more than 13,500 institutions. If a specific programme matters to you, it is worth confirming with them.

Can I take the TOEFL Home Edition on a Chromebook or iPad?

No tablet or phone can be the test computer. ETS lists only Windows 11+ and macOS 10.13+ computers and provides the TOEFL Test App for those two systems only.

Can I use headphones in the TOEFL Home Edition?

No. Headsets, headphones and earbuds are not allowed. Use your computer's speakers and a microphone that isn't part of a headset.

Are there breaks in the TOEFL Home Edition?

No. The TOEFL iBT has no scheduled breaks, and at home a break invalidates the test unless it is an approved accommodation.

When can I take the TOEFL at home?

ETS lists the Home Edition as available 24 hours a day, 4 days a week, with registration at least 24 hours before your appointment. It is offered in every country on ETS's list except Iran, where testing is paused; mainland China uses its own Home Edition site.

How much does the TOEFL Home Edition cost?

The fee depends on your country; ETS's fee page does not list a separate home price. See our TOEFL fee by country table.

Sources

Read 2 October 2026. Where ETS pages disagree we follow the requirements and testing-options pages: Windows 11+ (an older FAQ says Windows 10), and "24 hours a day, 4 days a week" (a marketing page says "any day, anytime").