Check Your Audio and Microphone Before Practice

Use the device you will practise on

Set up in a quiet place with a charged device and a stable connection. Close apps that may be using the microphone, and decide whether you will use the built-in microphone or a headset. An equipment check is most useful when it uses the same setup as your practice attempt.

Read the selected test’s equipment and timing instructions. Some practice modes need only audio playback; others need recording as well. Do not request microphone permission for a test that does not need it. Changing devices after a successful check is a reason to check again.

Check playback before recording

Play the test sound and confirm that you can hear it clearly at a comfortable volume. Check the device volume, browser tab mute and the selected output device if the sound is missing. A connected wireless headset can route sound somewhere unexpected.

Listen for enough clarity to understand speech, not just for any noise. Very high volume is not a substitute for a clear recording. If the test sound fails, resolve that problem before beginning a timed listening section. Follow the test’s replay restrictions during the actual attempt.

Record, then listen to your own sample

Allow microphone access when the browser asks. Speak normally for a short sample, then play it back. Confirm that the recording contains your voice, not only a visible timer or a moving indicator. Check that the start and end of the sample are audible.

If the sample is silent, check the browser’s microphone permission and the device’s selected input. If another app is using the microphone, close it and retry. Keep a headset microphone away from clothing and avoid breathing directly into it. Do not change several settings at once; make one change, then record a new sample.

Know what the status messages mean

A recording finishing is different from an upload finishing. Wait for the response’s saved or uploaded acknowledgement before moving on when the task requires it. If saving fails, use the retry guidance shown by the test rather than immediately starting another attempt.

Refreshing or leaving a page does not necessarily pause the timer. Check the current attempt’s instructions and use its resume option if needed. A pending assessment after submission is also separate from microphone permission: your response may already be saved while feedback is still being prepared.

Keep a short pre-start checklist

Repeat the check when you switch browser, headset or device, or when a sample no longer sounds right. Once playback and recording are confirmed, concentrate on the task instead of adjusting equipment during every response.

• Test sound is clear and the output device is correct.
• Microphone permission is allowed where required.
• Your sample contains clear speech from start to finish.
• You know the navigation and timing rules for the selected mode.
• You can distinguish recording, uploading, saving and assessment status.