Skip to content
Checked against official ETS / TOEFL sources on 29 July 2026

TOEFL iBT Home Edition Guide

Home Edition is the same redesigned TOEFL iBT as the test center version. You take it on your own computer with a live human proctor through the TOEFL Test App. Since 21 January 2026 the order is Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking. Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive. Scores use a 1-6 band scale first.

~2 hoursETS says allow about two hours; base sections total ~90 minutes without directions
R → L → W → SSection order since 21 January 2026
1-6 bandsPrimary scale in 0.5 steps, plus transitional 0-120 overall
3 daysOfficial score posting for tests on/after 21 Jan 2026

Test format

Order is Reading → Listening → Writing → Speaking. Reading and Listening are multistage adaptive. Writing and Speaking are linear. There is no scheduled break. Samples below show the new task types. Use ETS materials for authentic items.

Reading format

Auto-scored · mapped to 1-6 band

Time~30 minutes
ItemsAbout 50 items (adaptive)
PaceMultistage adaptive

In each ~70–100 word academic paragraph, an intact first sentence is followed by text where the second half of every second word is missing. Restore all 10 incomplete words; the ETS 2026 blueprint targets three such texts, while ETS says adaptive item totals can vary.

Complete the Words (practice)

Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph. Urban gardens can turn unused rooftops into productive green spaces for city residents. Research sh_ _ _ that gr_ _ _ roofs red_ _ _ summer he_ _ and enco_ _ _ _ _ local fo_ _ production. Wit_ _ _ _ nearby pl_ _ _, many resi_ _ _ _ still stru_ _ _ _ to buy fresh vegetables near home during long work weeks. Planners now treat rooftop soil and rainwater systems as basic city infrastructure. Cooler roofs also cut energy use when air conditioning demand peaks in July and August across dense neighborhoods. Answer key (missing halves): ows / een / uce / at / urage / od / hout / ots / dents / ggle → shows / green / reduce / heat / encourage / food / Without / plots / residents / struggle

Practice only · ETS Overview: ~70–100 words; intact first sentence; second half of every second word deleted (exactly 10 blanks), shown as letter slots. Not a vocab MCQ.

Skim everyday texts for purpose, detail, inference, and informal language. Background knowledge is not required.

Sample · 3 questions (official: 2–3) · notice · 15–150 words

Campus Bike Hub — Spring lockers Lockers open 24 March–15 June. Bring student ID to claim a free locker key at the desk (Building C lobby). Helmets required on campus paths. No overnight parking of e-scooters inside the hub. Questions? bikehub@campus.example

Q1What is the main purpose of this notice?

Q2Where do students get a locker key?

Q3What can you infer about e-scooters?

Answer main idea, detail, vocabulary, inference, and rhetoric questions on short academic passages.

Sample · 5 of 5 questions · ~200-word expository text

Seed Banks and Food Security Modern agriculture depends on a relatively small number of crop varieties. That concentration makes harvests efficient, but it also creates risk: if a disease or climate shock hits a widely planted variety, food supplies can fail across large regions. Seed banks were created to reduce that risk by storing diverse plant genetic material for future use. A seed bank is a controlled facility that keeps seeds cold and dry so they remain viable for decades. Scientists catalog each sample by species, origin, and traits such as drought tolerance or disease resistance. When breeders need a trait that disappeared from commercial fields, they can request stored seeds and cross them into new varieties. International cooperation matters because pests and weather do not stop at borders. Shared collections let countries rebuild crops after disasters and research plants that grow in harsher conditions. Some facilities also store tissue samples or frozen genetic material when ordinary seeds do not keep well. Critics note that storage alone is not enough—farmers must also keep growing diverse crops in fields—but seed banks remain a key backup when local varieties are lost.

Q1What is the passage mainly about?

Q2According to the passage, seed banks keep seeds

Q3In the passage, the word “viable” is closest in meaning to

Q4Why does the author mention international cooperation?

Q5What can be inferred about relying on few crop varieties?

Best practices

  • Stage 1 sets Stage 2 difficulty. A harder second module does not mean you failed.
  • Drill Complete the Words and daily-life texts, not only long old-style passages.
  • You cannot freely skip or jump between adaptive stages the way some linear practice apps allow.
Checklist0%

Before you register

Confirm your school accepts TOEFL iBT, then confirm Home Edition is allowed. Content and scoring match the test center. Visa rules are a separate check.

1. Acceptance

Ask about TOEFL iBT and delivery mode

Most schools treat Home Edition like the test center. Still confirm in writing, especially if the admissions page still lists only the old 0-120 scale.

2. Score target

Get 1-6 and comparable 0-120 requirements

For tests on/after 21 January 2026, you get 1-6 section and overall bands. During the transition, the report also shows a comparable overall 0-120. Use the school's published rule. Do not invent your own conversion.

3. Timing

Leave room for score posting and retakes

Official scores show in your ETS account three days after the test. You cannot retake more than once in any three-day period. Check live Home Edition availability and the registration deadline in your ETS account before planning around a date.

4. Fees and ID

Check country fee and ID list in your ETS account

Test fees vary by country. Check the fee in your ETS account before you pay. Extra score reports and reviews have separate USD service fees. Your account name must match your ID exactly. Select your country on the official ID requirements page before test day.

Australian visas: Home Edition is not accepted by the Department of Home Affairs. For visa use, book TOEFL iBT Australia at an authorised test centre and confirm current DHA rules before you pay. University admissions rules can differ from visa rules.

At-home setup and test rules

If your equipment fails the requirements on test day, you typically cannot test, and ETS does not give a refund or free reschedule. Rehearse on the same computer, network, and room you will use for the appointment.

Technical requirements

ComputerDesktop or laptop only. Tablets and phones cannot be the test device.
Operating systemWindows 11+ or Mac OS X 10.13+ (licensed). Unlicensed or test-mode systems are not allowed.
Display and inputOne monitor and one keyboard. Disconnect extra displays.
AudioInternal or external speakers and microphone. No headsets or earphones. No headset mic.
WebcamMovable camera for a 360-degree room scan, including the desktop surface and under the desk.
SoftwareInstall the TOEFL Test App and pass Equipment Check, including bandwidth. Re-run checks on the same weekday and time as your appointment when you can.
Second cameraWhen your dashboard says a second camera applies, use a charged phone or tablet (iOS 12+ / Android 8+) on stable internet, plugged in and propped about an arm's length away. The view must include your screen, keyboard, mouse or trackpad, both hands, and side profile.
Blocked toolsDisable screen sharing, remote access, writing assistants, and spell-check tools before launch (examples: Zoom, TeamViewer, Grammarly).

Official launch flow

1
Register and choose Home Edition

Create or sign in to your ETS account and select Home Edition. Check the live deadline for your appointment: ETS's general online rule says regular registration closes seven full days before the test and express registration closes two days before for a fee.

2
Run Equipment Check

Pass every check on the exam computer. Fix failures before test day.

3
Prepare the room

Private room, door closed, clear desk, standard chair, door visible to camera, computer plugged in. Cover transparent walls or windows that expose the space.

4
Join via the TOEFL Test App

Start from your confirmation email or My TOEFL Home. Enter the waiting room, then complete ID check, room scan, and a final equipment check with the live human proctor in the TOEFL Test App. The proctor monitors you by webcam and chat.

5
Finish in one sitting

No scheduled breaks. Stay in camera view for the full session.

Room and conduct rules

Photo IDPhysical, original, valid government ID with photo and signature. Name must match the ETS account (accents aside). Digital or phone IDs are generally not accepted. Confirm your country's list on the ETS ID page.
Alone in the roomNo other person may be seen or heard. No public spaces.
NotesOne small whiteboard, or one blank sheet of paper inside a transparent protector, with an erasable marker only. Erase and show both sides when the proctor asks at the end.
AppearanceEars and face visible. No mask. Remove jewelry and accessories (wedding or engagement rings OK). Religious headwear OK if ears remain visible.
ConductNo food or drink. Do not talk out loud to yourself outside Speaking. Stay in the camera frame. No unauthorized materials. No unscheduled breaks.
Security riskShared or heavily reused devices and locations can trigger extra ETS review. Rule breaks can cancel scores with no refund.
Do not start if Equipment Check fails. Failed tech on test day usually means you lose the fee with no free reschedule.

Scoring and CEFR mapping

For tests on or after 21 January 2026, each section and the overall score use a 1-6 band scale in 0.5 steps. Overall is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band. During a roughly two-year transition, reports also show a comparable overall 0-120 score (midpoint of the matching range).

Move the slider to preview the official ETS CEFR mapping for each 1-6 band range. Confirm your school's cutoff in writing.

B24-4.5Upper intermediate
BandApprox. CEFRWhat it signals
6C2Highest reported band
5-5.5C1Advanced academic readiness
4-4.5B2Upper intermediate
3-3.5B1Intermediate
2-2.5A2Elementary
1-1.5A1Beginner

Results, MyBest, reviews, and retakes

Build your application timeline around score posting, free reports, and review limits.

Unofficial Reading and ListeningAt the end of the test you see unofficial Reading and Listening scores.
Official scoresFor tests on/after 21 January 2026, official scores post in your ETS account three days after the test.Older pre-redesign tests used a longer ~4-8 day posting window.
Score validityTwo years from the test date.
MyBest scoresMyBest takes your highest section scores from valid tests in the last two years, then averages those best sections for overall MyBest.Not every school accepts MyBest. Confirm before you rely on it.
Free score reportsUp to four free score reports if you add the recipients in your ETS account by 10 p.m. on the day of your test.
Score reviewYou can request Speaking and/or Writing review within 30 days for a fee. Reading and Listening are not reviewable. You cannot request a review if you have already requested that scores be sent to an institution or agency.Fees page (USD): Speaking or Writing US$80; both US$160. Additional score reports US$29 each.
Cancel and reinstateAfter unofficial Reading and Listening, you can cancel all scores. There is no fee refund. You can reinstate within 60 days for US$20.
RetakesUnlimited lifetime attempts, but not more than once in any three-day period, even after a cancel. You also cannot book within three days of an existing appointment.

Final checklist

Complete these on the computer and network you will use for the real Home Edition appointment.

Before registration

Technical rehearsal

Immediately before starting

Start only when Equipment Check and room rules are clean. A delayed start beats a forfeited fee.

Frequently asked questions

Is TOEFL iBT Home Edition the same test as the test center version?

Yes. ETS says Home Edition uses the same content, scoring, and recognition as the test center TOEFL iBT. You take it on your computer with a live remote proctor. Still confirm each school's policy in writing.

What changed on 21 January 2026?

TOEFL iBT moved to multistage adaptive Reading and Listening, new task types mixing academic and daily life, section order Reading → Listening → Writing → Speaking, primary 1-6 bands, and about two-hour timing. The independent essay is gone.

How long is the redesigned TOEFL iBT?

Allow about two hours to complete the test. Base section times total about 90 minutes and do not include directions.

How does the 1-6 score relate to the old 0-120 scale?

Section and overall scores use 1-6 in 0.5 steps. During the transition, reports also show a comparable overall 0-120. Use the score on your report. Do not invent DIY conversions for applications.

When do official TOEFL scores arrive?

For tests on or after 21 January 2026, official scores post in your ETS account three days after the test. Unofficial Reading and Listening scores appear at the end of the test.

Can I wear a headset for Home Edition Speaking?

No. Home Edition requires speakers and a microphone that are not part of a headset. Ignore headset prompts on screen. Speak clearly into your allowed mic while staying in camera view.

What happens if my equipment fails on test day?

If you cannot meet technical requirements, you typically cannot test and do not get a refund or free reschedule. Pass Equipment Check on the same device and connection before the appointment.

How often can I retake TOEFL iBT?

You may retake as often as you want across a lifetime, but not more than once in any three-day period. That limit still applies after you cancel scores, and you cannot book within three days of an existing appointment.

Does every university accept MyBest scores?

No. MyBest is optional for institutions. Some programs want a single test date only. Confirm MyBest acceptance and whether they read 1-6 bands, comparable 0-120, or both.

Is there still an independent essay?

No. Current Writing uses Build a Sentence, Write an Email (7 minutes), and Write for an Academic Discussion (10 minutes, effective responses at least 100 words). Train those tasks, not the retired independent essay.

Can I use Home Edition for an Australian visa?

No. ETS states Home Edition scores are not currently accepted by Australia's Department of Home Affairs. For visa purposes, book TOEFL iBT Australia at an authorised test centre and confirm current DHA rules before you pay.

Official sources

Use current ETS pages and PDFs for fees, ID rules, and Home Edition check-in. Access check: 29 July 2026.

TOEFL iBT test contentTOEFL iBT test overview PDFTOEFL iBT 2026 test blueprint and specificationsTOEFL teacher FAQ PDFTesting options (center vs home)TOEFL iBT Home EditionAt-home equipment requirementsAt-home test dayHome Edition checklist PDFUnderstand TOEFL scoresTOEFL feesTOEFL iBT Bulletin PDFID requirements by locationTOEFL for Australia (visa notes)

Related guides

Compare other at-home English pathways, then book support when you are ready.

iTEP Academic-Plus at-home guide

Format, setup, scoring, and checklist for iTEP Academic-Plus Virtual Testing.

IELTS Online

At-home IELTS Academic option, format notes, and acceptance caveats.

TOEFL Speaking practice course

Listen-repeat, interview drills, and timed speaking practice paths.

Contact us today for TOEFL iBT Home Edition support.

Get Started