Question 1

My microphone isn't picking up sound. How do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

This is the most common issue before the Speaking section. Here's how to fix it by browser:  Chrome: Click the 🔒 lock icon in the address bar → Site settings → Microphone → Allow.  Safari (Mac): Safari menu → Settings for This Website → Microphone → Allow.  Safari (iPhone/iPad): Settings app → Safari → scroll down to your site → Microphone → Allow.  Firefox: Click the microphone icon in the address bar → Remove block → Reload the page.  After allowing access, click "Test Microphone" on the test screen and speak — you should see the green waveform animate. If it still doesn't work, try a different browser. Chrome gives the most reliable microphone access.

Question 2

The test timer froze. Will I lose my answers?

Accepted Answer

No — your answers are saved automatically every 30 seconds to our servers. If the timer freezes:  1. Do not close the tab. Wait 10–15 seconds — it often resolves itself. 2. If frozen for more than 30 seconds, do a hard reload (Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows, Cmd+Shift+R on Mac). 3. Log back in — your session should resume from where you left off. 4. If you were in the middle of the Speaking section, your recording up to that point is preserved.  If you believe time was unfairly lost, contact support with your test session ID (visible in your dashboard) and we will review and add time credit.

Question 3

The audio isn't playing during Listening questions.

Accepted Answer

Audio issues are usually caused by browser permissions or device settings:  1. Check that your device volume is not muted and is turned up. 2. Ensure no other application is using audio output exclusively (e.g., a video call app). 3. In Chrome, click the 🔒 lock → Site settings → Sound → Allow. 4. Try using headphones — some laptop speakers auto-mute when a headphone jack is detected incorrectly. 5. If audio still doesn't play, try Chrome in Incognito mode (Ctrl+Shift+N / Cmd+Shift+N) to rule out extension conflicts.

Question 4

My screen went blank mid-test. Did I lose my progress?

Accepted Answer

Your progress is automatically saved. If the screen goes blank:  1. Wait 5 seconds — the page may be auto-recovering. 2. Press F5 or Cmd+R to reload. 3. Log back into your account — your test will show as "In Progress" in your dashboard. 4. Click "Resume Test" to continue from your last saved point.  All question answers submitted before the blank screen are retained. Speaking recordings are saved upon completion of each response.

Question 5

I upgraded but my test credits haven't appeared.

Accepted Answer

Credits appear within 60 seconds of a successful payment. If it has been longer:  1. Hard-refresh your dashboard (Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R). 2. Log out and log back in — the session refresh often resolves it. 3. Check your email for a payment confirmation from Stripe. If you received it, your payment was successful and credits will appear within 5 minutes. 4. If you do not have a confirmation email, check your spam folder.  If the issue persists after 10 minutes, email support@englishtestpractice.com with your registered email address and we'll manually activate your credits within 1 hour.

Question 6

Is my payment secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use Stripe — the same payment infrastructure used by Amazon, Shopify, and Google. Your card details are never stored on our servers. Stripe is PCI DSS Level 1 certified (the highest level of payment security certification) and all transactions are protected by 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption.  We can see only the last 4 digits of your card number for support purposes. We cannot access your full card details under any circumstances.  Additionally, our site uses HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate and undergoes regular security audits.

Question 7

What is your refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Full refund within 7 days of purchase if you haven't completed a full mock test.  To request a refund: 1. Email support@englishtestpractice.com from your account email, or include it in the message. 2. Tell us which pass you bought and the reason for the refund. 3. Refunds go back to your original payment method within 5–10 business days.  If a test was interrupted by a technical problem on our side, contact us and we will fix it.

Question 8

Can I use the same account for both TOEFL and IELTS tests?

Accepted Answer

Yes. One account gives you access to both TOEFL and IELTS practice tests. You purchase test packs separately for each exam, but they all appear in the same dashboard under the TOEFL and IELTS tabs.  Your profile, score history, and billing are shared across both exam types. There is no need to create separate accounts.

Question 9

Can I retake a specific section if I didn't do well?

Accepted Answer

Our mock tests are designed to replicate the full real exam experience, so individual section retakes are not available. Once you complete all four sections of a test, the full test is marked as completed.  However, you can purchase additional test packs to practice again. If you want to focus on a specific skill, our Score Analysis page (/results/[id]/analysis) breaks down every question category so you can identify exactly where to improve before your next attempt.

Question 10

How long do I have to complete a test once I start?

Accepted Answer

Each section has its own countdown timer: - TOEFL Reading: 30 minutes - TOEFL Listening: 29 minutes - TOEFL Writing: 23 minutes - TOEFL Speaking: 8 minutes  - IELTS Listening: 30 minutes - IELTS Reading: 60 minutes - IELTS Writing: 60 minutes - IELTS Speaking: ~14 minutes  You can take breaks between sections. The timer only runs while you are actively in a section. If you close your browser during a section, the timer pauses and you can resume within 24 hours.

Question 11

How accurate are the AI scores compared to the real exam?

Accepted Answer

Our AI scoring system is calibrated against real ETS and IELTS scoring rubrics. Based on internal testing with students who have taken both our mock tests and the real exam, our predicted scores are within ±0.5 bands of the actual result in over 85% of cases.  For Speaking and Writing, our AI uses Claude (Anthropic's language model) and OpenAI Whisper for transcription. These models are trained on thousands of scored samples across all band levels.  For Reading and Listening, scoring is exact — answers are either correct or incorrect, so our scores match ETS/IELTS scoring perfectly for these sections.

Question 12

Are the tests updated for the latest exam format?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our TOEFL tests follow the January 2026 format with all updated task types: Complete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Write for an Academic Discussion, Listen and Choose a Response, Listen and Repeat, and Take an Interview.  Our IELTS tests follow the current Academic format with all four sections: Listening (4 recordings), Reading (3 academic passages), Writing (Task 1 graph + Task 2 essay), and Speaking (3-part examiner-style interview).  We update test content whenever ETS or IELTS officially announces format changes.

How can we help you today?