GRE Exam 2026: Registration, Exam Dates & Centres, Eligibility, Pattern, Result

There is no fixed eligibility announced by ETS for GRE 2026 exam. Anyone of any age or educational background can attempt GRE at their nearest exam center. There is a limitation on the frequency of appearing in exam.

ETS has not announced any change in GRE test format for the year 2026. Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning are three sections of GRE. Duration of GRE General Test is 1 hour and 58 minutes.

As mentioned to ETS, fee for the GRE General Test is INR 22,000 in India and INR 14,500 for GRE Subject Test. You need to pay additional fee may apply for services like rescheduling, canelling exam and for extra score report.

GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized computer based exam conducted by the by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Many top business schools in the world offer admission in Business programs on the basis of GRE Score. This test access the aptitude of a student for abstract thinking. Score equal to 160 or above is a good enough to get admission in various courses. There are two types of GRE tests.

1. GRE General Test
2. GRE Subject Test

Also, students can take the GRE exam at home.

ETS conducts the GRE General Test throughout the year. Students can choose a test date that suits them. ETS releases monthly test dates for all exam centres in India. Students do have the option to take the GRE at Home test as well.

According to ETS website, GRE exam fee is INR 22,000 for general test. INR 14,500 for subject test. GMAT exam fee is USD 300 (INR 25,643). 

In short, GMAT is more expensive than GRE exam 2026.

For Indian students, CAT is usually considered tougher in Math (Quant) and Logic (DILR). GRE Math is easier. However, GRE Verbal (English) can be harder because you have to learn very difficult vocabulary words.

GMAT test might be easy for those who prefer logical problems instead of Geometry as there are more Geometry questions in the GRE. In addition, Quantitative section is harder in GMAT in comparison to GRE. Verbal section in the GRE can be difficult for non native English speakers. Candidates can go back and forth in the GRE test, whereas in GMAT one doesn't have freedom to save and return to each section during exam. Decision to choose a test for studying abroad depends on various factors such as course requirement, university requirements, current level of preparation, comfort level with the exam pattern, etc.

According to the new format of GRE, the duration of Graduate Record Examination General test is less than 2 hours (1 hour 58 minutes). There will be 54 questions from verbal and quantitative reasoning sections. Also, your skills related to analytical writing will be assessed in this duration.

Note that: Duration of GRE subject test is 2 hours 50 minutes.

GRE Exam is just like an entrance exam for pursuing postgraduate (PG) level studies in universities around world. It assesses a candidate's verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. A good score on GRE is proof of impressive academic background. Scoring highly on GRE can increase chances of admission in your dream university.

Yes, you can take GRE Exam at home. For that, you need book a slot of Graduate Record Examination in advance. Also, you need to arrange a desktop or laptop computer, speaker to hear the proctor, a microphone, a webcamera and a working internet connection. GRE at Home Test is launched by the ETS during Covid-19 period. 

GRE exam cost is not same across world. It varies in different countries. In India, the fee is INR 22,000 for the General Test, which is less than in other countries. Note that, the registration fee for the Graduate Record Examinations depends on the country.

As of now, there is no change in the format of GRE questions. It is same like last year. Below, we have mentioned section-wise number of questions for different sections:

Understanding the scoring pattern of Graduate Record Examinations is an important part of your preparation. There is no negative marking in the GRE Exam. It means you don't need to worry about score deductions.

The difficulty of the second section in (Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning) depends on the performance in first section. GRE Analytical Writing measured on a scale of 0 - 6 in half-point increments.

Here is the section-wise range of GRE score:

According to the new format of GRE, the duration of Graduate Record Examination General test is less than 2 hours (1 hour 58 minutes). There will be 54 questions from verbal and quantitative reasoning sections. Also, your skills related to analytical writing will be assessed in this duration.

Note that: Duration of GRE subject test is 2 hours 50 minutes.

GRE Exam or GRE General Test duration is 1 hour 58 minutes. While the duration of GRE subject test is 2 hours to 2 hours and 50 minutes (Depending on subjects). Check the subject-wise duration:

• For Maths: 2 hours and 50 minutes 
• For Physics and Psychology: 2 hours. 

ETS recently reduced the duration of GRE General Test.

The official website of ETS (Educational Testing Service) is the only and best website to download is GRE Syllabus. From here, applicants can download the updated syllabus. This will help them to prepare well for the upcoming Graduate Record Examinations.

No, GRE syllabus is same for students across the globe. No matter whether you are taking test in India or in USA, syllabus will be same. ETS (the test maker) does not create country-specific versions. All test takers face questions from three sections of GRE Exam, which are Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and AWA section.

Yes, You Can take GRE at Home anytime suits you! ETS offers a convenient option that students can take Graduate Record Examination according to their schedule from comfort of your own home.

All you need to do is arrange all the hardware (Computer, speaker, camera and more) at your home. A human proctor will monitor your test through your computer's camera and microphone.

Students can book their GRE test dates once every 21 days. Up to five times within any continuous rolling 12 month period. The GRE at Home is available around the clock, 7 days a week, with appointments available as early as 24 hours after you register. However, candidates would need to meet the system and environment requirements to go ahead with booking their GRE exam dates. The GRE Subject Test dates are available three times a year, and candidates can book their GRE Subject Test dates as often as they are available. 

The GRE test or GRE General TEST is held throughout the year. However, a student can appear once every 21 days and maximum 5 times a year. The frequncy of GRE Subject Test is three times a year in April, September and October months. You can check the city-wise latest GRE Exam dates here at one click. 

You can reschedule your GRE exam for a different date or test center. Do this before four days before your actual GRE test date. You need to pay rescheduling fee applies.  New slots are subject to availability, so make changes early for the best options.

A GRE sample paper is helpful for students. Because, it gives you a clear idea of the GRE exam pattern, question types, and difficulty level. Also, it helps you practice time management, identify your strengths and weaknesses. Regular practice with sample papers also reduces the stress which you will feel on exam day and improves your chances of scoring higher.

Yes, absolutely! The most valuable and official GRE sample papers are available for free directly from ETS (Educational Testing Service), the creators of the GRE. Other than this, you can download it for free at GRE sample papers. Other than this, you can check other websites too. 

To download GRE Exam sample papers, you can visit official website of ETS. You can check other reliable websites also. You can download subject wise GRE question papers too. Practicing regularly will help you to understand exam patterns and question types.

90th percentile GRE score means you performed better than 90% of all students. For example, you get a score of roughly 162 in Verbal and 167 in Quant sections. So, you get 329 out of 340. You become part of the top 10% of students. 

On this score, almost all top universities can accept your admission.

Your GRE 2026 scores are valid for 5 years from your test date. After this period, ETS deletes your records. You cannot report expired scores to universities. If you need a score later, you must retake the exam.

Ideal GRE score depends on university you are targeting for admission. You have to get 320 or above out of 340 for easy admission. Most of top universities worldwide can accept this score. 

The GRE scores for General and Subject tests can be checked online. Generally, ETS declares the scores of the GRE General Test after 10 -15 days of the test. The official scores can be viewed in the ETS Account created by the aspirants at the time of registration.

Also, the result of the GRE Subject test is declared almost after five weeks after the test date. Candidates are informed through email, so they can check their ETS account and send the official score reports to the score recipients.

Check out steps to make GRE slot booking:

1. Visit ETS GRE website.
2. Log in to your ETS account. Else, create an account.
3. Select test type (General Test or Subject Tests).
4. Select GRE exam centre and dates.
5. Complete registration by making a payment.

Yes! As per the GRE Eligibility criteria, students from any educational background can appear in the exam. Here students need to keep in mind that without having a valid UG degree they can not apply for admission in Graduate, business and law course to study abroad. 

Log in to your ETS account. Start registering. Pick your city. Look at the calendar. It shows the dates. You dont have to pay to see. Check it whenever. It is free to look.

ETS conducts GRE in 47 Indian cities. It includes metro cities and TIER 2 cities. Students can select the exam centre located in their city in advance. Here is information about city wise GRE test centers in India. 

Yes, GRE registration is generally open year-round for the General Test. All you need to do is, select the suitable date of GRE and test centre. Your registration depends on slot availability at your chosen test center.

At the time of registration you just need to have a valid passport and no other document is required.

To appear in the Graduate Record Examinations, you need to complete the registration process first. ETS (Educational Testing Service) is the conducting body of GRE exam. Visit on the official website of ETS and use the GRE ETS login portal to create a new profile. 

You need to pay INR 22,000 as GRE Exam Fee and book the slot to appear at the exam centre. Always check the upcoming GRE exam dates before booking the slot.

Yes! As a primary ID proof, ETS ask valid passport of student at the time of GRE test registration. Make sure all the detailes mentioned on passport should be same on your GRE registeration page. Earlier, the ETS was accepting Aadhar Card as primary ID proof but after Arpil 15, 2023, Passport is the only valid and primary ID proof to complete the GRE exam registration. 

You need to register for the GRE subject test separately. Each GRE Subject Test requires a separate registration and fee. Your GRE General Test registration can not be used for subject test. If you are planning to take more than one subject, you must register individually for each test date and subject.

GRE exam is not for students who belong to any specific stream. Graduate Record Examinations is a popular standardized test. It is required for admission to graduate programs. Whether you are planning to pursue PG courses in psychology, economics, or other streams. Many universities accept GRE scores.

There is no minimum age required to appear for GRE exam. Students of any age can take Graduate Record Examinations. This exam is for getting admission for Master’s degree programs in various fields. It is suggested that appear for GRE only if you are going pursue PG course abroad.

There is no official eligibility for GRE exam. Students of any age and with any educational background can appear in the Graduate Record Examination. 

However, students who wish to pursue their Masters or other PG courses take the examination, so it is recommended that test-takers should have a valid UG degree. Unless there is no point in appearing in GRE exam.

No, the GRE is not typically required for pursuing postgraduate (PG) medical degrees abroad. In short, GRE is required for non-clinical post graduate programs.

Countries and universities usually have specific entrance exams. For example

• USA: Requires the MCAT (not GRE).
• UK: Requires exams like UCAT or PLAB exam.
  
  

Check out steps to make GRE slot booking:

1. Visit ETS GRE website.
2. Log in to your ETS account. Else, create an account.
3. Select test type (General Test or Subject Tests).
4. Select GRE exam centre and dates.
5. Complete registration by making a payment.

No, it isn’t difficult to make a GRE slot booking. It is a simple process and everyone who has some knowledge of computer and internet can easily book a GRE slot according to their schedule. Be flexible with date and time and make technical arrangements at the time of GRE slot booking. 

Avoid booking in last minutes. It can put you in stress. Also, there is a less chance that you get your preferred slot.

Applicants need to have a valid passport at the time of making slot for GRE exam. Ensure your name on the ETS account matches your passport exactly. Other than this, no other government photo ID will not be valid for GRE exam.

Yes, you can reschedule your GRE exam 2026 up to four days before the test date. It is depends on slot availability. A rescheduling fee applies. You must complete process through your ETS account or by phone with GRE services.

There is no negative marking in the GRE exam. This means you do not need to worry about deductions to your score for incorrect answers. We will not recommend random guessing. Difficulty level of your next question totally depends on your answer to present question.

GRE does not announce cut off score or passing marks. Universities across the world release minimum GRE score required for admission in their programs. Getting a high score increase the chances of getting admission in your required score. You can the university wise GRE passing score on the official website of university. 

The total GRE 2026 score ranges from 260 to 340. Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning each range from 130 to 170. Analytical Writing section is scored between 0 and 6.

Ideal GRE score depends on university you are targeting for admission. You have to get 320 or above out of 340 for easy admission. Most of top universities worldwide can accept this score. 

ETS uses a process called equating to adjust scores for small differences in test difficulty across dates. The Analytical Writing essay is graded by both a trained human reviewer and an AI e-rater for accuracy.

You see your unofficial scores immediately after finishing GRE 2026. Your full official report, including writing score, arrives in your account within 8 to 10 days. You will receive an email notification for this.

Indian students can use YouTube videos, official ETS books, and practice tests for preparation. It does not require expensive GRE coaching. You need a disciplined study plan and regular practice.

Start early so you can have luxury of extra time. Amount of preparation time for GRE depends on the proficiency of language and your study material. With 4 to 5 hours daily practice for 5 to 6 months is enough to prepare from scratch.

There are various GRE coaching institutes or publishers offering PDF of GRE prep to students. You can purchase them and download the PDFs. Cehck other free study materials that available online in PDF too.

You should focus on both the sections of GRE. Before you start preparing check your knowledge for both sections. If one or both are weak them prepare plan accordingly. But practice everyday.

At the time of GRE registration, students create their profile and select the test type. At last students pay GRE registration fees to complete the process. On the other hand, students select test centre, preferred date and time in the slot booking process. Slot booking process comes after completing the registration process of Graduate Record Examinations.

For the GRE at Home, you'll need a desktop or laptop (Windows or Mac OS only), not any separate OS. Other than this, a stable internet connection, a functional webcam and microphone and a quiet private room.

Note that tablets, Chromebooks, and mobile devices are not permitted. Always run the ETS system check beforehand.

Candidates are advised to complete their GRE slot booking early. In this way, they would be able to select their preferred date and time of taking the exam as per their wish. GRE slots could be filling up fast during the early days of the intake season, leaving test takers with a more limited number of test dates/test centres to choose from.

Start early. Take a practice test every two weeks at first. In the last month, do it more often. Maybe twice a week. This helps you build stamina for the long exam. Review the answers you got wrong. Don't take a test the day before the real exam, rest your brain.

The quantitative section of GRE exam has two 35-minute sections with 20 questions each. The test is adaptive. It means the difficulty of next question depends on the previous answer of students. Here are some pro tips to prepare for GRE Quantitative Preparation. These tips will be helpful for all test takers who want to score good in quant section.

1. Do not ignore Math fundamentals
2. Give due importance to the math topics
3. Refer to the Official Guide
4. Time Management
5. Practice GRE Quant Sample Papers

Start 3 to 4 months before your university applications are due. Take a diagnostic test first to establish a baseline. Then schedule your exam at least 2 months before your earliest application deadline to allow for retakes.

Simple Breakdown:

1. Learning: You need 3 months to learn the math and words.

2. Safety Net: You need 1 extra month just in case your first score is bad and you need to retake it.

Bottom line: Do not wait. Register for exam now to give yourself a deadline.

It is possible to cover the GRE syllabus in one month only if you have understood the basics information of Graduate Record Examination. Here is the 1-month GRE preparation plan.

1. Join a class. It is really stressful to cover the syllabus in one month without guidance.
2. Understand the GRE pattern and syllabus before you start the preparation.
3. Create study plan and dedicate 10 hours daily for the preparation.
4. Practice with different sets of GRE sample papers and identify your weakness.
5. Create Flashcards to remember the lessons

This one month plan can help you to improve your score and not to become topper.