u/Visual_Guidance3953

▲ 3 r/TOEFL

How accurate is Magoosh scoring vs ETS for TOEFL iBT 2026 (Speaking/Writing)?

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing for the TOEFL iBT (2026 edition) and using Magoosh full-length tests. I’m trying to understand how close their scoring is to ETS, especially for speaking and writing. I usually get around 4/5 in the speaking interview tasks and around 3-4/5 on email and academic discussion tasks in Writing section on Magoosh. As a non-native speaker, I’m not aiming for a 5 in each specific task, but I do want a realistic sense of where I stand. That said, I’m a bit worried that Magoosh might be, more lenient for the Speaking section and perhaps more stricter for the Writing section, than the actual ETS grading.

Has anyone (specially non-native speakers) used both Magoosh and official ETS practice tests (or taken the real exam)? Did you notice any difference in how speaking and writing were scored? I’d prefer not to spend extra money on ETS practice tests just to gauge this, so I’d really appreciate any insights. Thanks in advance!

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u/Visual_Guidance3953 — 5 days ago
▲ 1 r/TOEFL

TOEFL iBT ETS Practice Test Mic Error on Mac – Anyone Found a Fix?

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to use the ETS free full-length practice tests and the interactive sample for TOEFL iBT, but I keep running into an issue during the microphone check.

Right before the part where you’re supposed to record a paragraph, I get this error message: “The microphone check was unsuccessful. Please check with the administrator for assistance.”

I’m using macOS, and I’ve already checked the following:

  • Pop-up windows are set to Allow
  • JavaScript is enabled
  • Microphone access is set to Allow in browser settings

Despite all that, it still doesn’t work. Has anyone else faced this issue and found a fix? Would really appreciate any help!

Thanks in advance 🙏

u/Visual_Guidance3953 — 8 days ago