TOEFL iBT Home Edition: El TOEFL Desde Casa

Have you just received confirmation that you need to validate your English level with the TOEFL and you have little time to do it? If so, you need to familiarize yourself with the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. In this article we tell you what it is, who takes it, how to register and much more about the TOEFL from home.

What Is the Home Edition?

The TOEFL ibT Home Edition is the same TOEFL iBT test with the only difference that, instead of forcing you to go to an official test center, you can complete it at home.

This TOEFL iBT option was born in 2020 as a response to the lockdowns that were experienced around the world. From that moment ETS (the company that owns the exam) was able to create an exam that was possible from any computer. It is currently a globally accepted exam.

Who Accepts the TOEFL iBT Home Edition?

The TOEFL iBT is accepted by more than 11,500 institutions worldwide. By volume of acceptance it is the world leader. Nevertheless

What happens with the TOEFL iBT Home Edition? At the time of writing, ETS does not publish specific data about the Home Edition. On its official website it specifies that “Home Edition is still a TOEFL iBT test, scores can be accepted and used in the same way as the test center version”. In fact, it is accepted in practically identical form to the exam center version. However, we recommend 2 checks:

Click on the link and check and to see if the institution you are interested in accepts it.
Go to the website of the university you want to apply to and look at their admissions policy. If it determines that you must get the default TOEFL iBT X score and unless you specifically exclude the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, the home version is accepted.

Here are 3 examples for you to see:

Arizona State: explicitly states that it does not accept the Home Edition.

NYU: explicitly states that it accepts it

Harvard Business School: talks about the iBT, so it includes the iBT Home Edition

How to Enroll for the Home Edition?

In this blog you will find an article in which we explain in detail the registration process for the TOEFL exam. However, here are the steps you need to complete:

Register at ets.org
Log in and access the “My Tests” section.
Click on the option “TOEFL Home Edition”.
Verify your email address to receive all your communications.
Verify your time zone in the “Change My Time Zone” zone.
Finally, “Register For This Test”.

Technical Requirements for Taking the TOEFL iBT From Home

Te recomendamos que revises SIEMPRE la página oficial de ETS por si existen nuevas actualizaciones. No obstante, te hemos preparado un resumen de lo más significativo:

Technical
1. Equipment: see this link for more details
  1. You must use a computer (laptop or desktop). Phones and tablets are not valid.
  2. Only one monitor can be used. If you have more than one screen, they must be disconnected.
  3. Operating systems: Mac® and Windows®.
  4. Browsers: Chrome™ or Firefox®.
2. Software for the test
  1. You will need to download ETS Secure Test Browser to your computer
  2. Run the “ProctorU Equipment Check“. This command helps ETS validate that your team is ready for test day. Do this and don’t stop until you get validated. To avoid problems, complete this process days before your test date.
  3. Make sure that your antivirus and firewalls do not interfere with the proper functioning of the testing software.
3. Speakers and Microphone
  1. Speakers:
    - Allowed: internal and/or external speakers.
    - Not allowed: headphones or earphones of any kind
  2. Microphone:
    - Allowed: any type of internal or external microphone that is not part of equipment that includes headphones.
4. Camera:
  1. Allowed: internal or external. Must allow you to give a 360 view of the room if you are required to do a verification.
Environment
1. Privacy
  1. You must be alone in the room with the doors closed at all times
  2. You cannot do the examination in a public place
2. Location
  1. Your computer (including keyboard) must be located on a table.
  2. The location of your computer must be constantly facing the door to verify that it is kept closed
  3. The table and its surroundings must be free of the following objects: telephones (except for when required for ckecking), cameras, notes, notes and books
  4. You must be seated in a chair at all times. No beds, couches or anything other than a chair are acceptable
  5. You are not allowed to have food or drink during the exam.
3. Attire
  1. Ears and eyes must remain in full view during the entire exam. Religious attire is permitted as long as the ears are visible. Masks are not permitted.
  2. Dress appropriately during your exam as you will be observed by the examiner and your photo will be shared with the institutions receiving your scores.
  3. Smartwatches are also not allowed.
4. Note-taking materials
  1. Paper notes are not allowed
  2. In order to take notes, the use of the following is allowed
    - Whiteboard using erasable marker pen
    - A sheet of paper inside a protective plastic sheet on which to write with an erasable marker
    - At the end of the exam you must show the examiner that all notes taken have been erased.

In addition to this summary of requirements, here is a link to a video showing everything you will need to do on the day of the test.

When Do You Receive Your TOEFL iBT Home Edition Scores?

Once the test is over, these are the dates you should keep track of:

Receipt of your scores: within 4 to 8 days after your test. You will receive an email from ETS informing you that your scores are available in your account.
Receipt of your transcript: You will receive your transcript 2 days after you access your scores in your ETS account.
Receipt of your scores by your application centers: As an applicant, you have 4 free designations for ETS to send your scores. Es decir, tus notas pueden ser enviadas a 4 instituciones sin que te suponga ningún coste. Respecto al tiempo que tarda cada institución en recibir tu certificado de notas depende del método por el que lo reciban (Data Manager o Server Feeds). El plazo oscila entre 4 y 10 días laborables.

Why Should You Take the TOEFL From Home?

Después de leer este artículo con detenimiento supongo que te estarás haciendo la siguiente pregunta ¿Por qué debería tomar el TOEFL iBT Home Edition y no recurrir a un centro de examinación? Desde EPIC siempre, que sea posible, recomendamos a nuestros alumnos que realizan la versión desde casa por 2 motivos principales:

Velocidad: habitualmente cuando quieres matricularte para la versión Home Edition sueles tener disponibilidad en un plazo de 2 a 3 días. Cuando hablamos de recurrir a centro autorizado el tema se complica. Los plazos son mayores y las ofertas de horas mucho más restrictivas. Si tienes prisa para rendir el TOEFL la versión de casa es mejor opción.
Accessibility: depending on where you live, you will not have a center near you, so in terms of costs (travel) the iBT Home Edition provides you with an access point regardless of where you are.
Concentration: This last point is a matter of controversy and will always depend on the center. However, there is a fairly widespread complaint among students who take the exam in official Spanish schools. Schools are usually noisy and a little chaotic, so they tend to have a negative impact on the student’s concentration. So if you need tranquility and silence to perform at the highest level, opt for the Home Edition

We hope this article has answered your questions. If you have any questions about your preparation, please contact us and we will be happy to explain how EPIC Prep can help you achieve your goals.