TOEFL Home Edition Experience – Pros, Cons, and Unexpected Issues

1. Why I Chose the Home Edition

• I believed I could prepare better for the home edition rather than a test center.

• Concerns about distractions at test centers, especially noise from other test-takers.

• Negative reviews of my local test center reinforced my decision.

• Despite online horror stories, I assumed the bad experiences were rare.

2. Check-In and Initial Impressions

• Proctor had a heavy accent, making communication difficult at first.

• Proctor strictly followed a script, making troubleshooting harder.

• My system passed all ETS hardware and internet checks.

3. Listening Section Issues

• A recurring, distracting "thump" sound every 4–5 seconds throughout the test.

• Had to call the proctor, which took time and caused anxiety.

• Restarted the test before the first listening passage, but the issue persisted.

• Managed to adjust to the noise but lost concentration initially.

• Proctor interrupted mid-listening with unclear instructions, causing further distraction.

4. Speaking Section

• The same audio issue continued but did not majorly affect my performance.

• Surprisingly, I was satisfied with my speaking score.

5. Writing Section and Technical Crash

• ETS Secure Browser crashed right after I started the integrated writing task.

• Error message mentioned network issues, but my internet was fine.

• Proctor instructed me to reinstall the software, causing more delays.

• Thankfully, the test restarted at the beginning of the writing section.

6. Key Takeaways

• Expect technical issues, whether at home or at a test center.

• Proctors are mainly there for security, not technical support.

• ETS software has notable bugs despite the high test fees.

• If I had to retake the test, I would choose a test center and prepare for background noise.

7. Final Thoughts

• Despite the stress, my experience wasn’t as bad as some horror stories online.

• Received my results in a week; reading and listening scores were available immediately.

• If you’re undecided between home and test center, weigh the risks carefully.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.

Shared by r/ToeflAdvice