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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Candidates can appear for GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12 months or 365 days period. Other than this, there is no any rule to appear in the Graduate Record Examination.

The GRE Subject Test evaluates the candidates’ ability in Mathematics, Physics and Psychology subjects. It is a computer based test. Generally, the GRE Subject Test is required for getting admission to specialised courses/technical programmes. The GRE Subject test is primarily held three times a year in September, October and April months. The total duration of the GRE Subject test is 2Hrs and 50 minutes and candidates are required to appear for only one of the subjects from the list mentioned below:

• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

If you do not want to take the GRE exam. You can take GMAT instead. GMAT is a popular choice for business programs. Many universities around the world now prioritize a student’s overall profile such as academic performance, work experience, and LOR, over standardized test scores.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.
  
  

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

In short, GMAT is expensive than GRE exam 2025.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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 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. 

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. 

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.

Here are some important topics of GRE syllabus

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.

Difficulty level of GRE exam totally depends on your knowledge. In genral, Graduate Record Examination is considered moderately difficult. It tests college level vocabulary and school level math concepts in tricky ways.

The ideal score depends on the university you are targeting for admission. You have to get 320 or above out of 340,  for getting easy admission in to the top universities worldwide. Keep in mind that score equal to or above 75 percentile is considered good enough to apply for admission.

A GRE score in the 90th percentile indicates that the test-taker has scored above 160 in both the Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning sections. A score above the 90th percentile is considered strong and significantly enhances the chances of admission to reputed universities.

The validity of the GRE score is 5 years from the date of the test.  Students can use this score for the next 5 years to get admission to graduate and business schools. For example,  if you took the GRE exam on September 17, 2020, your scores would be valid through September 17, 2025 but not on September 18, 2025.

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.

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.

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.

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 up to four days before the test date. However, it is depends on slot availability. A rescheduling fee applies, and you must complete the process through your ETS account or by phone with GRE services.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

Since it is November 2025 and you are planning for 2026, here is your reality check:

• If your deadline is in January: Start TODAY. You are late. You will need to study intensively (every day).

• If your deadline is in March: Start this week. You have just enough time to study comfortably.

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. 

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.

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.