GRE Eligibility 2023 for General & Subject Test: Check Age Limit, Qualification & Minimum Score

GRE Eligibility Criteria: If you're curious about the necessary educational prerequisites for the GRE, it's important to note that the GRE Exam does not have specific eligibility criteria. As a result, the GRE test is open to all interested candidates. However, it's worth mentioning that since the GRE is primarily used for master's degree admissions, candidates typically need an undergraduate degree in the relevant field of study.

GRE exam eligibility Age requirement

Universities abroad do not have an upper age limit to pursue education. Hence, there is no GRE age limit set by ETS - the conducting body of the GRE exam. In other words, since there is no GRE exam age limit any candidate irrespective of his/ her age can register for the GRE exam.

GRE exam eligibility Qualification Requirement

GRE exam qualification: There is no mandatory qualification required to appear for the GRE exam. However, since the GRE is an assessment test for admission to graduate courses, candidates are expected to have successfully completed their undergraduate programmes to go ahead with their GRE test. Candidates should note that not all programmes and universities require candidates to have a GRE score for admission to their graduate programmes. Whether a candidate requires his GRE scores as part of the application process is entirely at the discretion of the university and the course he is pursuing.

GRE exam eligibility 2023 ID Requirements

Currently, only valid Indian passports in original with your name, photograph and signature are being accepted as your primary ID. There are no exceptions to this policy. Hence, it is important for candidates to keep their valid Indian passports during the GRE registration process and carry them to the GRE Test Center for Identification Verification purposes. No other documents are being accepted as part of the GRE eligibility criteria. 

GRE exam eligibility 2023 GAP Years

Candidates often drop a year or two to prepare for competitive exams or in general prepare to go abroad. Hence, gap years do not affect your eligibility to take the GRE exam.

GRE exam eligibility 2023 Re-attempts

As it is clearly mentioned on the ETS website, candidates are only eligible to take the GRE exam 5 times in a rolling year and with at least 21 days of cooling off period. These 21 days can be utilized to prepare better and close any gaps there might be in the GRE preparation strategy.

GRE exam 2023 eligibility Accommodation

GRE test takers in need of assistance during the test (accommodation) are required to approach the authorities and apply for an accommodation-friendly test centre before going ahead with the registration process. Candidates eligible for GRE accommodation would hear back from ETS in a matter of weeks and they can go ahead with their GRE test booking. 

GRE exam 2023 eligibility Nationality

Candidates belonging to all nationalities are open to take the GRE exam. There is no eligibility restriction on the nationality of the GRE test taker. 

GRE exam 2023 eligibility GRE Home Edition

In response to the ongoing pandemic, COVID-19, ETS (Educational Testing Service) in their endeavour to make the GRE exam more accessible has launched the GRE at Home facility, where students can take the GRE exam from the safety of their homes. However to be eligible to take the GRE from home - candidates are required to have the mandatory system requirements in place as mentioned on the official website and below:

GRE at Home: System Requirements

Here we are providing the GRE at Home requirements that are mandatory to have on the test date. 

Computer Requirements

• Desktop or laptop computer; You cannot use a tablet, Chromebook or mobile device
• Approved operating system, which must be licensed. Unlicensed or test-mode versions are not permitted
• PC: Windows® operating system, versions 10 or 8
• MAC®: Mac OS X® 10.5 or higher (10.13 High Sierra is recommended)
• Chrome™ or Firefox® browser
• Multiple monitors or dual screens are not permitted

Speaker Requirements

• Use an internal or external speaker to hear the proctor
• Headsets or earphones are not allowed

Microphone Requirements

• Use an internal or external microphone that is not part of a headset to communicate with the proctor

Camera Requirements

• Can be a built-in camera in the computer or a separate webcam
• The camera must be able to be moved to show a 360-degree view of the room, including your tabletop surface, before the test

GRE at Home Requirements: System

• Download and install the ETS Secure Test Browser on the computer you will use for the test. To fully install the browser, run the file after downloading it. Close the browser once you see the following message: "Success! You have installed the ETS secure test browser"
  • Download the Windows version. If you receive an error message, please follow these troubleshooting steps (PDF)
  • Download the Mac version
• Run the ProctorU Equipment Check from the computer you will use for the test. If you fail the equipment check, you must fix any issues before test day. Live ProctorU representatives are available to help
• Computer firewalls and security applications can interfere with the test delivery software. If you experience this issue, you may need to disable or reconfigure your applications before the test

GRE at Home Requirements: Environment and Testing Space

Privacy Requirements

• You must be alone in a room with no one else entering during the test
• You cannot take the test in a public space such as a park, internet cafe or restaurant
• You must close all doors in the room before beginning the test

Tabletop and Seating Requirements

• Your computer and keyboard must be on a desk or other tabletop surface
• Position your table and chair so the door to the room will be visible to the proctor. The proctor may require you to do this at check-in
• The tabletop and surrounding area must be clear of all items not approved for use during the test, including cell phones (except when used for check-in), cameras, notes and study materials. The furniture and décor in the room do not need to be removed
• You must sit in a standard chair; you may not sit or lie on a bed, couch or overstuffed chair
• Food and drink are not allowed during the test

Clothing and Appearance Requirements

• Your ears must remain visible throughout the test, not covered by hair, a hat or other items. Religious headwear is permitted if your ears remain visible during the test
• Face masks may not be worn during check-in or any part of the GRE at-home testing session
• You must be dressed appropriately for your test. You will be monitored via camera by the proctor, and your photo will be shared with institutions that receive your scores
• Avoid wearing such items as jewellery, tie clips, cuff links, ornate clips, combs, barrettes, headbands and other hair accessories

Note-taking Materials

• You may not take notes on regular paper, for security purposes
• You may use one of the following:
  • One small desktop whiteboard with an erasable marker
  • One sheet of paper inside a transparent sheet protector, with an erasable marker. Pencils and pens are not permitted
• At the end of the test, you will need to show the proctor that all notes have been erased

GRE 2023 eligibility Test Center

As part of GRE eligibility guidelines, candidates are required to carry their own face masks and hand sanitisers to the GRE test centers to be eligible to appear for the exam.

In this section, we are going to be talking about the minimum GRE eligibility criteria required for admission to top universities in the world.

It is a common misconception that most universities teaching MBAs only accept GMAT scores. Universities teaching MBA in Canada don’t ask for only GMAT scores, GRE scores are also widely accepted in Canada. So if you are aiming to pursue MBA in Canada, make sure you have appeared for either of the two exams. Check out the list of universities accepting GRE scores in Canada.

Along with many other countries, the UK also accepts GRE scores for MBA courses in their universities. The reason why the number of colleges accepting GRE scores is less is that PGD courses take the primary spot in being the popular choice. Check out the list of universities accepting GRE in the UK. Apart from GMAT, many American B-schools also accept GRE scores for admission to MBA courses. GRE scores are usually required for MS courses, but the trends are now changing. A lot of American B-schools are now accepting GRE scores. Check out the list of universities accepting GRE in the US.

One important thing to know about the GRE fee is that it enables candidates to send their scores to four colleges or scholarship programs as part of the fee package. Candidates who have opted for the computer-delivered GRE results will be asked to select the score receivers at the test centre. In case candidates opt for the paper-delivered GRE format, they will be asked to select four score-receiving colleges on their admission ticket during registration. If a college of choice is not listed, candidates can ask the administrator at the test centre for the list of unlisted institutions. After the test, candidates can order Additional Score Reports for $27 per college.

There are basically two types of GRE tests:

GRE General Test

The GRE General Test takes into account verbal reasoning, quantitative ability, and analytical writing skills. Most universities accept the general test score and usually a majority of students opt for this test. It takes place all around the year and candidates can choose the date of taking the exam at their convenience.

GRE Subject Test

The GRE Subject Test measures the candidate’s achievement in a particular subject area. These tests are conducted for the following subjects, Biochemistry (Cell and Molecular Biology), Biology, Chemistry, Literature (English), Maths, Physics, and Psychology. The exam is conducted on a fixed date for everyone like an entrance exam. This test is required for specialized courses.

Related to GRE Eligibility 2023

GRE Registration: There are multiple ways to register for the GRE test. Popular ways through which aspirants can register for the GRE exam are online and over the phone. Apart from this, aspirants can also register through mail or even by fax. For booking a slot for the GRE test candidates would require a debit or credit card to pay the registration fee of US$228 and have a valid passport or Aadhar Card during the registration process. 

Ways to Register for GRE Test

• GRE Online Registration
• GRE Phone Registration
• GRE Mail Registration
• GRE Fax Registration

How to register for GRE online?

Candidates are required to follow the below-mentioned steps to register for GRE via the online method. 

• Candidates need to create an ETS account on the official website: https://www.ets.org/mygre 
• Select the type of GRE exam they want to take – the GRE General or GRE Subject Test.
• Select the date when they want to appear for the GRE Exam and find the nearest test centre.
• Give their academic details.
• Proceed ahead and pay the GRE registration fee of $228.

How to register for GRE over the Phone?

Candidates can call the Regional Registration Center (RRC), which is ‘Prometric’ located in Gurgaon, Haryana. The phone number is 91-124-4147700. The call must be made at least two business days before your preferred test date. A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test centre address will be provided to you when you make the call for registration. You can make the payments online through JCB, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or Visa credit or debit card. As mentioned, other methods of registering for your GRE Exam include mail and Fax.

GRE at Home: ETS Launches GRE at Home during COVID-19

In response to the ongoing pandemic COVID-19, ETS - the conducting body of GRE - Graduate Record Examinations has decided to launch the GRE General Test at home in locations where the computer-based format of the GRE test was earlier available, for the convenience of students wanting to take the GRE test during the pandemic to be able to study abroad. The same is yet to launch in mainland China and Iran. The GRE General Test home edition has been started in response to GRE Test Centres being temporarily shut due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and local restrictions. However, candidates need to make sure that they meet the system equipment requirements and have a test conducive environment pre-determined by ETS before registering for the GRE test. You can read in detail about the GRE at Home, as you read along.

GRE 2023 eligibility: GRE accepting universities in the USA for MS: Candidates looking to perform well in their GRE test would be required to follow a solid GRE Preparation strategy to achieve their desired goal. Read on to unlock the GRE study plan to score well in your next GRE exam.

Similar to other exam prep, you can choose to study on your own or join a coaching centre to prepare for the GRE exam. The decision lies entirely to you, as you need to see whether you have enough time and resources for both. Newer methods of studying are gaining popularity, like GRE preparation online. It includes both self-studying and coaching class methods. You join a virtual classroom and you learn in the comfort of your home. To choose the best method how to prepare for GRE you first need to look at your criteria and decide accordingly. Read: Best Books and Resources to Prepare for GRE 

Top 10 GRE Preparation Tips

A lot of students are confused and ask, How to study for the GRE? We are going to dive right in and discuss the best GRE study material for them. Study abroad expert, Rachael Brandt writes the top 10 Tips and Tricks for the GRE, which are

1.     Plan ahead
2.     Know what you're getting into
3.     Take lots of practice tests
4.     Start studying vocabulary
5.     Focus on your subject
6.     Don't ignore the other subject
7.     Use good materials
8.     Know question types
9.     Keep an error log
10.   Plan on taking the exam twice

Effective GRE Preparation Strategies

The first section on the GRE is always the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section. This section comprises two analytical writing tasks -- an analysis of an issue task and an analysis of an argument task. These two tasks are timed separately and you get 30 minutes to complete each task. This section is followed by two Verbal Reasoning sections, two Quantitative Reasoning sections, and an unidentified unscored section, either a Verbal Reasoning section or a Quantitative Reasoning section. For students to master the section-wise preparation for GRE, we have Subhajit Bandyopadhyay, Academics - Head (Emeritus) writing about the Section-wise Preparation Tips for GRE for our readers - a must-read.

Also, Read

• GRE vs GMAT: Which Exam Should You Take?
• FAQs for GRE Exam 2023

What is the eligibility for the GRE exam?

Who can take the GRE test?

Given the pandemic, is the GRE test available to test takers at home?

When are the scores available to the candidates appearing for the GRE test?

Is one month enough for GRE preparations?

What is a good GRE score?

Can I take the GRE without studying?

How many hours of study are required for the GRE exam?

What is the highest GRE score?

Is GRE easy for Indian students?

Is GRE difficult?