Language exams you can take at home: what to check first

Taking a language exam at home sounds easy, and sometimes it is. Three of the exams on our list offer a home option: IELTS, the TOEFL iBT and the HSK. Before you book, check that the result will be accepted and that your setup is ready.

Updated · 5 min read

Bu rehberi Türkçe okuyun

اقرأ هذا الدليل بالعربية

Leer esta guía en español

Ler este guia em português

16Word: the free English level test — A1 to B2 in about 8 minutes, no account needed

The three exams with a home option

ExamLanguageOther ways to take itResults
IELTSEnglishTest centreBand 0–9
TOEFL iBTEnglishTest centreScore 1–6
HSKChinesePaper or computerLevels 1–9

See the official information for IELTS, TOEFL and HSK.

Check that it will be accepted

This is the key step. Being able to take a test at home does not mean that your university, employer or immigration office accepts that version. Read the requirement closely, and ask if it does not say. A result that nobody accepts is the most expensive kind.

What to prepare at home

Each exam publishes its own technical and room rules, so read them before you book. As a general checklist:

  • A reliable computer and internet connection, tested at the same time of day as your exam.
  • A quiet room where nobody will come in.
  • Identification that matches your registration exactly.
  • A trial run of the software, if the exam offers one.

When a centre is the better choice

  • Your connection or home is unreliable.
  • The organisation reading your result does not mention the home version.
  • You perform better away from home.

Preparing is the same

The language is the same wherever you sit. Take a free level test in English or Chinese, and read our guides to IELTS, TOEFL and the HSK.

Practise from home, every day

Five minutes and 16 words a day, in a path built for your level.

Keep exploring

Every exam below has its own preparation page on 16Word.

The other language exams

More guides on language exams

Related guides and free level tests

Language exams at home: frequently asked questions

Which language exams can I take at home?

Among the exams we cover, IELTS, the TOEFL iBT and the HSK offer a home option.

Are home exams accepted by universities?

It depends on the university, so check its requirement.

Are home exams accepted for visas?

It depends on the country. Check the official immigration page.

Is the home version easier?

None of the official information we read says so. Pick the setting in which you work best.

Can I take other exams at home?

We found no home option on the pages we read for the other exams on our list.

Was this guide useful?

Official sources

Keep going