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At Home Testing Equipment Check Support

Learn how to resolve issues and get help if your equipment check has failed for the at home tests for GRE®, Praxis®, SLS or TOEFL® tests, when taking them on a computer with Mac® OS or Windows®. Get troubleshooting tips to help resolve failures with your webcam, microphone, network, system and other equipment when testing at home.

Trying to check-in to begin your session?

Up to 15 minutes before your scheduled test time, select the “At Home Check-In” link in your registration account or the link in your test appointment confirmation email to begin the check-in process.

  • If the ETS Secure Browser or TOEFL Test App is already installed, it will launch to begin your check-in with your test details on screen.
  • If the ETS Secure Browser or TOEFL Test App is not installed, the Install-Checker page will guide you to complete the installation and proceed to check-in.

You have a 30-minute window after your scheduled test time to check-in. If you haven't checked in within this timeframe, your test will be canceled, and your test fee will not be refunded.

Launching the ETS Secure Browser or TOEFL Test App directly, will prompt the equipment check. To begin the check in process for your test session, close the browser and select the link from your ETS account or confirmation email.

When to run your equipment check

  • You should complete the Equipment Check before your test appointment to help ensure you’ll have the best at home testing experience.
  • If possible, you should run the Equipment Check with the same network connectivity conditions as your future test appointment to simulate the bandwidth demands you’ll experience on test day. It is recommended to do this between a week and 48 hours prior to your scheduled start time.

Need to run your equipment check? Follow these steps first

For GRE, Praxis, CLEP, or Parapro, assessments, download the ETS Secure Browser by selecting one of the links below.

For TOEFL, download the TOEFL Test App by selecting one of the links below.

Then run the file to complete the installation. While in the browser, click the Equipment Check button to confirm that your equipment is ready for test day.

Once you open the ETS Secure Browser, you’ll be brought to this welcome screen. From here, you can run the Equipment Check.

 

Welcome screen
testing your equipment

After completing the Equipment Check, you'll see if you have passed or failed any checks. Failed checks will show a red triangle, with tips to help resolve the issue.

 

Equipment check pass
Equipment check fail

After you are done with the Equipment Check and you are intending to begin your At-Home testing session, select “Choose Assessment to Proceed” for next steps.

  • CLEP users will be prompted to log in if your scheduled start time is about to begin.
  • Praxis, GRE, and ParaPro users will be directed to their registration account or to use the link within their confirmation email to begin their check-in process.

 

equipment pass state

Once you open the TOEFL Test App, you’ll be brought to this welcome screen. From here, you can sign in or run the Equipment Check.

 

Welcome screen

Selecting “Go To Sign In” leads to below page.  Once the proper credentials are entered, you would be routed to a page where you can begin to check-in to start your Home Edition test if it is 15 minutes prior to your scheduled start time. Any earlier and the “Start Test” will be disabled.

 

toefl sign in page

Selecting Run Equipment Check will automatically test your equipment and upon completion, you'll see if you have passed or failed any checks. Failed checks will show a red triangle, with tips to help resolve the issue.

 

Equipment check pass
Equipment check fail

After you are done with the Equipment Check and you are intending to begin your At-Home testing session, select “Go To Sign In” for next steps.

What to do if your equipment check has failed

If your equipment has failed the equipment check, follow these steps to resolve the issue and try running the check again.

 

Using Microsoft® Windows

  • Make sure that the desired webcam device is enabled in the Control Panel > Device Manager > Cameras
  • Windows 10 users: Make sure “Allow access to the camera on this device” and ”Allow apps to access your camera” are both turned ON in Start > Settings > Privacy > Camera
  • Windows 11 users: Make sure “Camera Access” and “Let desktop apps access your camera” are both turned ON in Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera

  • Make sure that the desired audio device is enabled in the Control Panel > Device Manager > Sound video and game controllers
  • Windows 10 users: Make sure “Allow access to the microphone on this device” and “Allow apps to access your microphone” are both turned ON in Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone
  • Windows 11 users: Make sure “microphone access” and “Let desktop apps access your microphone” are both turned ON in Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone

  • Monitor width or height Adjust your Display Resolution so that both the width and height match or exceed the minimum values specified in the failure message.
    • You can access the Display Resolution by selecting Start > Settings > System > Display or by searching for “Display Resolution” from the Windows menu.
  • Monitor count – Only one monitor is allowed during the test. Make sure that any additional monitors are disconnected or disabled.
  • CPU core count – Failure message: “The CPU chip on your computer system motherboard does not meet the minimum requirements to take this exam.”
    • What to do: You’ll need to use a different computer to take the test.
  • RAM size – Failure message: “Memory installed on your computer does not meet the minimum requirements to take this exam.”
    • What to do: You’ll need a different computer to take the test unless you can add sufficient RAM (hardware memory) to this computer.
  • RAM usage – Failure message:Computer memory usage is above the maximum threshold to take this exam.”
    • What do to: Try shutting down all unnecessary applications to reduce your memory use.
  • Operating system – Failure message: “Your computer’s operating system does not meet the minimum requirements to take this test.”
    • What do to: You’ll need a different computer to take the test unless you can upgrade your operating system to one of the required versions.

  • Try moving closer to your Wi-Fi device/router to improve your internet connectivity.
  • Reboot your Wi-Fi device/router, if possible, and recheck.
  • If other users share your internet service, see if they can reduce their usage to improve your bandwidth.
  • Try connecting to the internet using ethernet (with a cable to your router) instead of using Wi-Fi.
  • Use an alternate source/service provider for your internet connectivity.

Failure message: “The Equipment Check has detected restricted applications running on your computer.”

Running applications such as remote access, screen sharing, image capturing or virtual systems on your computer while taking the exam is strictly prohibited. If one of these applications is detected at any time while you’re testing, your exam will automatically be terminated, you won’t be able to test and won’t receive a refund.

What to do:

  • Make sure all applications are closed so they are not running before or while taking the exam.
  • Ensure applications aren’t in sleep mode or scheduled to restart during your test.
  • If any applications can’t be turned off for the entirety of your test appointment, fully disable or uninstall these applications ahead of your exam day.

 

Using Mac OS®

  • Choose Apple® menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  • Click Camera and turn access to the camera on for the ETS-RP-PROD app in the list.

  • Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  • Click Microphone and turn access to the microphone on for the ETS-RP-PROD app in the list.

  • Monitor width or height  Adjust your Display Settings so that a value higher than the minimum value specified in System Results column is selected in the computer Display Resolution.
    • You can access the Display Resolution setting by choosing Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Displays in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) When your Mac is connected to an external display, click its name on the right to set options.
  • Monitor count – Only one monitor is allowed during the test. Make sure that any additional monitors are disconnected or disabled.
  • CPU core count – Failure message: “The CPU chip on your computer system motherboard does not meet the minimum requirements to take this exam.”
    • What to do: You’ll need a different computer to take the test.
  • RAM size – Failure message: “Memory installed on your computer does not meet the minimum requirements to take this exam.”
    • What to do: You’ll need a different computer to take the test unless you can add sufficient RAM (hardware memory) to this computer.
  • RAM usage – Failure message: “Computer memory usage is above the maximum threshold to take this exam.”
    • What to do: Try shutting down all unnecessary applications to reduce your memory use.
  • Operating system – Failure message: “Your computer’s operating system does not meet the minimum requirements to take this test.”
    • What to do: You’ll need a different computer to take the test unless you can upgrade your operating system to one of the required versions.

  • Try moving closer to your Wi-Fi device/router to improve your internet connectivity.
  • Reboot your Wi-Fi device/router, if possible, and recheck.
  • If other users share your internet service, see if they can reduce their usage to improve your bandwidth.
  • Try connecting to the internet using ethernet (with a cable to your router) instead of using Wi-Fi.
  • Use an alternate source/service provider for your internet connectivity.

Failure message: “The Equipment Check has detected restricted applications running on your computer.”

Running applications such as remote access, screen sharing, image capturing or virtual systems on your computer while taking the exam is strictly prohibited. If one of these applications is detected at any time while you’re testing, your exam will automatically be terminated, you won’t be able to test, and you won’t receive a refund.

What to do:

  • Make sure all applications are closed so they are not running before or while taking the exam.
  • Ensure applications aren’t in sleep mode or scheduled to restart during your test.
  • If any applications can’t be turned off for the entirety of your test appointment, fully disable or uninstall these applications ahead of your exam day.

Additional support

If you were unable to resolve your issue, select here to get redirected to the support page and use the Need Help icon to connect with a technical support agent with a 24/7 Live Chat.

Equipment requirements and other at home test information

If you’re looking for at home testing equipment requirements, test day information or how to register, cancel or reschedule your test, visit the links below.

 

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