GRE Exam Dates 2026: Complete Schedule & Registration Guide

GRE General Test is available year-round with daily appointments at test centers and 24/7 availability for at-home testing throughout 2026. You can schedule a test for any day of the year based on availability. GRE Subject Tests are offered in three specific two-week windows: September 8-21, 2025; October 13-26, 2025; and April 20 - May 3, 2026. The General Test can be taken once every 21 days, up to 5 times within any rolling 12-month period. Register at least 2 days before for test center tests or 24 hours before for at-home tests.

GRE General Test costs $220 worldwide (except China at $231). In India, the fee is ₹22,000. GRE Subject Test costs $150 worldwide (₹14,500 in India). The test fee includes the complete exam, sending scores to up to 4 graduate institutions free of charge, ScoreSelect option to choose which scores to send, and your official score report. Additional services include: rescheduling or changing test center ($50), additional score reports beyond the first 4 ($30 each), and phone registration service ($15 additional). Cancellations made 4+ days before test receive 50% refund; no refund for cancellations within 4 days of test date.

Register for the GRE at ets.org/gre by following these steps: (1) Create an ETS account with your personal information, (2) Select your test type (General or Subject), (3) Choose test delivery method (center or at home for General Test only), (4) Pick your test date and location, (5) Provide educational background and score recipient information, (6) Upload a clear photo of your valid passport or accepted ID, (7) Review all details and pay the fee via credit/debit card, and (8) Receive email confirmation with test details. The entire registration process takes approximately 15-20 minutes. You can also register by phone for an additional $15 fee. Have your passport and payment method ready before starting registration.

Yes, the GRE General Test at home is available 24/7 in all locations where GRE is offered (except Iran). The at-home test is identical to the test center version with the same content, timing, scoring, and acceptance by graduate programs. You'll be monitored by a human proctor via webcam throughout the entire test. Requirements include: a desktop or laptop computer (not tablet or mobile device), working webcam and microphone, stable internet connection, quiet private room with closed door, desk cleared of all materials, and valid ID. Appointments are available as early as 24 hours after registration. Note that GRE Subject Tests are NOT available at home—they must be taken at authorized test centers only.

For fall 2026 graduate program admissions with typical December 2025 or January 2026 deadlines, take the GRE by August-October 2025. This timeline provides 8-12 weeks for focused preparation, 10-15 days for score delivery to institutions, and 2-3 months buffer for potential retakes if needed (remember the mandatory 21-day wait between attempts). Taking the test 4-5 months before your earliest application deadline eliminates stress during application season and ensures you have backup options. If you're targeting highly competitive programs where you want your best possible score, consider taking your first attempt even earlier (June-July 2025) to allow maximum flexibility for score improvement through retakes.

GRE scores are valid for 5 years from your test date. For example, if you take the GRE on January 15, 2026, your scores remain valid until January 14, 2031. This extended validity period means you can take the test early in your undergraduate career and use the scores years later for graduate applications, giving you maximum flexibility for career planning. You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to 5 times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days). With ScoreSelect, you can choose which scores from the past 5 years to send to graduate programs, allowing you to present your best performance.

A valid, unexpired passport is required for most international test takers and is strongly recommended for all test takers as it's universally accepted at all test locations worldwide. For US citizens testing in the US, a government-issued driver's license with photo and signature is also accepted. The name on your ID must match your ETS account registration exactly—even small differences in spelling or name order will result in being turned away on test day without refund. Your ID must be government-issued, include a recent recognizable photo, include your signature, and be in Latin characters. Photocopies, expired IDs, temporary IDs, and ID cards without photos are NOT accepted under any circumstances.

Yes, you can reschedule or cancel your GRE test through your ETS account, but fees and deadlines apply. Rescheduling or changing your test center costs $50 if done more than 4 days (96 hours) before your scheduled test date and time. No rescheduling is permitted within 4 days of your test. For cancellations, you'll receive a 50% refund if you cancel more than 4 days before your test; no refund is provided for cancellations within 4 days of test date. To reschedule, log into your ETS account, find your scheduled test, and select the reschedule option. You'll pay the $50 fee and can choose a new date from available appointments. The rescheduling process is instant for available slots.