GRE test dates and registration (2026)

There are no fixed GRE test dates

If you came here expecting a calendar of set exam days, you can stop looking for one. According to ETS, the test owner, the computer-delivered GRE General Test is offered year-round rather than on a handful of national dates (information current as of 24 June 2026; always confirm what is bookable for you on ets.org). That is the single most useful fact on this page, because it changes the question from "when is the next test date" to "which date do I want."

You have two delivery options, both year-round:

• At a test center. The GRE runs at Prometric and other ETS-authorised centers on most days, subject to seat availability. Popular centers in large cities can fill up in busy application months, so the date you want is not always guaranteed close in.
• GRE at Home. The same test, taken on your own computer and monitored by a live human proctor, is available around the clock on most days. Because it is not constrained by a room full of seats, at-home slots are often easier to find at short notice.

In practice this means you are choosing a date and time that fits your schedule, not slotting into a fixed national sitting the way some other admissions tests work. The trade-off is that availability, fees, and the exact rules can shift, so treat anything below as a guide and confirm the current position on ets.org before you plan around it.

How to register for the GRE

Registration is handled entirely through your ETS account. Per ETS, the steps are broadly as follows (again, current as of 24 June 2026, and worth confirming on ets.org because the flow is occasionally updated):

1. Create or sign in to your ETS account. This is the same account that later holds your scores, so use a name that exactly matches the ID you will bring on test day.
2. Choose how you want to test: at a test center or at home. The booking flow differs slightly between the two, and the at-home option will check that your equipment and environment meet the requirements.
3. Pick an available slot. Search by date and, for centers, by location. If your preferred date or center is full, look a little wider or consider the at-home option.
4. Pay the test fee to confirm the booking. We have not quoted a figure here because fees vary by region and change over time; check the current amount on ets.org.

One honest piece of timing advice: in the busy run-up to application deadlines, the most convenient dates and the most popular centers go first. If you already know roughly when you want to test, it is worth registering early to lock in the slot rather than assuming something will be free later. You can usually reschedule for a fee if your plans change, but it is easier to start from a confirmed booking.

Retake rules and how long scores last

Because there is no fixed exam day, retaking is also flexible, within limits set by ETS. As of 24 June 2026 the rules are:

• Once every 21 days. You can retake the GRE General Test after a 21-day gap from your previous sitting.
• Up to 5 times in any rolling 12-month period. The window is continuous, not a calendar year, so it counts back across the previous twelve months from each new attempt.
• Scores are valid for 5 years from your test date, which gives you a reasonably wide window to apply.

ETS also offers a feature called ScoreSelect, which lets you choose which test dates' scores you send to each program rather than being forced to share every attempt. That matters for planning: an early, lower-stakes attempt is less risky when you can decide later whether a school ever sees it. We have summarised these rules rather than reproduced them, so confirm the current detail, including any program-specific score-reporting nuances, on ets.org.

The flexibility cuts both ways. The 21-day gap means a quick reattempt is possible but not instant, so a failed sitting two weeks before a deadline can leave you stranded. That is exactly why the timing in the next section matters.

When should you take the GRE?

Since you control the date, the right approach is to work backwards from your applications rather than forwards from today. Find your earliest program deadline, then plan to test with a buffer in front of it. A practical target is to sit the GRE around 6 to 8 weeks before your earliest deadline.

That buffer does two jobs:

• It leaves room for one retake. With the 21-day rule, a six-to-eight-week cushion means a disappointing first score still leaves time for a second attempt before the deadline.
• It lets score reports arrive in time. Official scores take some time to be processed and sent to programs, so testing the week before a deadline is cutting it fine even if the sitting goes perfectly.

Before you commit to a real date and fee, it is worth knowing roughly where you stand. The honest way to find out is to sit a free full-length mock before you book, under realistic timing, and see what you actually score rather than guessing. If the result is close to your target, book sooner; if there is a gap, give yourself more prep runway before you choose a date. Our readiness check can help you judge whether you are there yet, and if you are aiming high, the steps in how to get 320 in the GRE map out a realistic plan. It is also worth confirming early whether you even need the test for your programs, since some no longer require it: see is the GRE required.

At home or at a test center?

Both options deliver the identical test and the same scores, so this is about which environment suits you. Here is an honest comparison rather than a sales pitch for either.

GRE at Home saves you the travel and lets you test in a familiar room, often with more slots available. The cost is that you become responsible for the setup: a quiet, well-lit, private space, a computer that passes the equipment check, a working webcam and microphone, and a stable internet connection. You also need to be comfortable being monitored remotely for the full length of the exam. If your home is noisy, your connection is patchy, or interruptions are likely, it can add stress rather than remove it.

A test centerhands the logistics to someone else: the equipment, the connection, and a controlled room are all provided, which some people find calmer and more focused. The trade-offs are that you have to travel there, you are tied to the center's available dates and seats, and convenient slots can disappear in peak season.

There is no universally better choice. Pick the at-home test if you have a reliable, distraction-free setup and value the flexibility; pick a center if you would rather not manage the technology or you concentrate better away from home. Whichever you lean toward, check that the option, and your preferred date, is actually available to you on ets.org, since availability and the at-home requirements can change.

Frequently asked questions