He Took the TOEFL Online Test and Scored 108. Here’s His Experience

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an English proficiency test attempted by students who intend to study abroad. When the pandemic forced students to stay indoors and their TOEFL exams had to be canceled, ETS came up with a solution – the TOEFL online test. Since then, thousands of students have appeared for the exam (which hasn’t changed much since).

Similar in content, format, and on-screen experience of the TOEFL iBT test taken at the test center, this test can be taken by students at home and is monitored by a human proctor online.

While ETS says that the two tests are very similar, Philip has a different story to tell. Read on to find out what he said.  

Who is Eligible for the at-home TOEFL?

The test is available in all the countries where TOEFL is normally conducted, except for Mainland China and Iran.

As long as students meet the equipment requirements for the test and have a room that provides an acceptable environment, they are eligible to give the exam.

Equipment requirements:

If you have a Windows desktop or laptop, can install the ETS Test Browser and are able to add the ProctorU extension to your browser, you can take the TOEFL at home.

Since the installation and set-up procedure for these applications is the same as the GRE at Home test, we recommend you go through this blog to read about it in detail.

“Installing the ETS Test Browser & and ProctorU program was fairly easy for me”

One of the major differences between the TOEFL Home Edition and the traditional TOEFL iBT test is that, at home, you will not be allowed to use earphones or headphones. If you want to give the exam, you’ll need an internal or external microphone and speakers.

“I used external speakers so I could hear better during the Listening and Speaking sections”

You will require an in-built camera or a webcam to show your room to the proctor before starting your test, and a mirror or your phone camera to show them your screen.

Environment requirements:

Since the test takes about three hours to complete, ETS asks that you-

1. Find a quiet room and make sure nobody else will enter while you’re giving your exam.
2. Sit in a comfortable chair, and place your desktop, your keyboard, your ID proof, and transparent writing material on an otherwise empty desk.
3. Remember that ETS is allowing students to use only a whiteboard or a transparent sheet, and an erasable marker for taking notes during the exam. So, order your writing materials well in advance, and start practicing with them at least 15 days before the test.

At the end of the test, your proctor will ask you to erase all your notes in front of them.

And since they’ll look at your writing material even before you begin the test, we suggest you don’t attempt to write anything on it ahead of your exam. No cheating!

How do I register for the at-home TOEFL?

Once you’re sure your computer and your room meet the testing requirements, you can create an ETS account for the TOEFL iBT test.

The TOEFL registration procedure is this:

1. Go to the “My TOEFL” homepage, select “Register”, and then “Find Test Centers”.
2. On the “Find Test Centers and Dates” page. Select the option for the “Special Home Edition” test and make the standard payment of $180.
3. Within a day, ProctorU will send you a log-in link, along with instructions to create an account and select the date and the time for your test.

The TOEFL Registration slots are available around the clock every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at least up until June 30th, 2020.

You can get an appointment as early as 24 hours after you have registered!

What to expect on the at-home TOEFL test day?

The night before your exam, collect all the appropriate materials and prepare the room where you will test.

As you do this, watch the At Home Testing with ProctorU Video to make sure you’re following all the ETS guidelines properly.

Also, keep your ID proof handy; you’ll have to show it to your proctor before starting the test.

“I had 2 transparent sheet papers, but then my proctor told me I could use only one” 

On test day:

1. Log in to your Proctor account 15 to 20 minutes prior to your scheduled time, and wait for the proctor to join in.
2. Now, even though the proctor is expected to appear about 5 minutes after your appointment begins, we have heard that some students have had to wait a bit longer. Consequently, your testing experience will depend majorly on your proctor.
3. Once your proctor is online, you will be asked to complete a few authentication steps, show your ID, review the exam rules, and give access to your computer screen.
4. The proctor will do checks on your PC to see if any other software is running.
5. Then, they will look at your screen and take a 360-degree view of your room.

The entire procedure will take about 10 to 15 minutes.

“The proctor checked my room, my tabletop surface, and even took a look under my desk. After that, I was asked to put my phone away.”

After that, your proctor will ask you to launch the ETS Test Browser, enter a password, and begin your test.

What is the experience of at-home TOEFL like?

The TOEFL iBT test and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition test are not very different from each other.

The only differences are one-on-one proctoring, the restriction on headphones, and the different writing material.

Even the breaks are the same – you get 60 seconds between each section, and a 10-minute break after the Listening section.

“Once I was done with my break, I had to wave my hands to attract the attention of the proctor. Then, they logged me in and restartsed my test.” 

One of the primary concerns students have about taking a three-hour-long test is what would happen if there’s a glitch in their internet connection.

“I disconnected when there were only 6 minutes left for the Listening section to end. I lost connection with my proctor and the ETS Test Browser shut itself. But then another proctor came online, re-did all the checks, and started my test again. I didn’t lose any test time at all!”

As you can see, no system is perfect. But ETS and ProctorU are doing everything they can to make your testing experience seamless.

So, in case you face any issues talking to the examiner, you can open the ProctorU chat-box to get in touch with them. And if that doesn’t work, you can always reach out to the TOEFL Customer Service.

Should I take the at-home TOEFL test?

It’s incredible how quickly ETS came up with the home edition of TOEFL, finding an alternative for test-takers who’ve been planning to study abroad.

“For Reading, I did a lot of dense reading. While Speaking, I wrote down templates and used them during the test. For Writing, I saw it’s better to edit only after I had finished writing the entire essay. I did my TOEFL preparation for about 5 weeks using Magoosh and a few YouTube videos. I scored 108!”

Even though you have to figure out the test set-up on your own, taking the test from the quiet comfort of your home is worth it. So, if you have been preparing for the exam and have the needed equipment, room, and a speedy internet connection, go for it!

“Frankly, it’s not very different from the TOEFL online test (TOEFL iBT) you take at the test center. This is a fair deal.”

But in case you don’t have the proper technical equipment, materials, and testing room, we suggest you wait it out. 

Tips to prepare for the TOEFL Home Edition test?

Your strategy to prepare for TOEFL online test doesn’t have to be any different than the General TOEFL test prep plan, since both the exams have the exact same pattern.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for TOEFL at-home test-

1. Reading tip. The questions appear para-wise. So read the 1st para, answer its questions, read the 2nd one, answer its questions, and so on.
2. Listening tip. Draw a flow chart. Start at the beginning. Write one word for each key point – topic, 1st person’s opinion, 2nd person’s argument, conclusion. Connect lines where necessary.
3. Speaking tip. Record yourself speaking. Check if you’re pausing a lot, or if you’re saying ‘umm’, or ‘oh’ often. Work on eliminating this.
4. Writing tip. Have a standard structure – Introduction, Problem, Solution, Benefits, Drawbacks, and Conclusion. Write one para for each heading. Practice using the TOEFL Writing Sample Questions here.
5. Final tip. For study sources, refer to the official ETS test prep material first.

Can I reschedule or cancel my at-home TOEFL test?

Yes. You can use your ProctorU account to reschedule the test for free! You can do this well in advance before your chosen test date and time.

The cancellation policy requires you to cancel your exam at least 4 days in advance. This will ensure that you receive half of your original test fee from ETS.

Still not sure if you want to take the TOEFL Special Home Edition test? You can read more about the TOEFL exam pattern, syllabus, and scoring here.

And in case you have any more questions, feel free to drop a comment or reach out to us. We are here to help. Stay home, stay safe.