{"id":1970,"date":"2025-11-04T11:28:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T11:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/?post_type=faqs&#038;p=1970"},"modified":"2025-11-04T11:28:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T11:28:51","slug":"how-many-times-can-the-gre-be-taken","status":"publish","type":"faqs","link":"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/faq\/how-many-times-can-the-gre-be-taken\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Times Can the GRE Be Taken?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The GRE General Test can be taken <strong>up to 5 times within any continuous 365-day (12-month) period<\/strong>, with a mandatory <strong>21-day gap<\/strong> between attempts. This applies whether testing at a center or at home. Scores remain valid for <strong>5 years<\/strong> from the test date, and you may choose which scores to send via <strong>ScoreSelect<\/strong>\u2014most recent, all, or any specific set. ETS enforces these limits to balance preparation opportunities while maintaining test integrity, making strategic retakes key for improving from <a href=\"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/faq\/is-getting-a-300-on-gre-hard\/\"><strong>300 to 320+<\/strong> <\/a>in competitive U.S. Master\u2019s\/PhD admissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Official ETS Retake Policy: 5 Times Per Year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ETS allows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Maximum 5 attempts<\/strong> in 365 days, even if a score is canceled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>21-day minimum wait<\/strong>\u2014e.g., test on Jan 1, next possible on Jan 22.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No lifetime cap<\/strong>\u2014after 12 months, the cycle resets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you test on January 1, February 1, March 1, April 1, and May 1 (all 21+ days apart), your next attempt must wait until after January 1 of the following year. This prevents burnout while encouraging focused improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GRE at Home vs Test Center: Same Retake Rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both formats follow identical limits. The <strong>GRE at Home<\/strong> option\u2014available 24\/7 in most countries\u2014offers scheduling flexibility but still counts toward the <strong>5-test annual cap<\/strong>. Proctoring is live, with strict ID and room checks. International students in India, China, or remote areas benefit from home testing, avoiding travel, but must plan retakes around the 21-day rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cost and ScoreSelect: Managing Multiple GRE Attempts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each attempt costs <strong>$220 USD<\/strong> (or regional equivalent\u2014\u20b922,550 in India). Fee reduction vouchers are available for eligible U.S. residents. After each test, use <strong>ScoreSelect<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>On test day<\/strong>: Send 4 free score reports (or none).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Later<\/strong>: Pay $30 per additional school per score set.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Top scorers often retake 2\u20133 times\u2014e.g., 305 \u2192 315 \u2192 325\u2014sending only the best via <strong>ScoreSelect Most Recent<\/strong> or <strong>Any<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to Retake the GRE: Strategy for Maximum Gain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Retake if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>+5\u201310 points<\/strong> are feasible (common with 50\u2013100 focused hours).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section imbalance<\/strong>\u2014e.g., 165Q\/145V \u2192 aim for 160V.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Target program averages<\/strong> exceed your score (MIT CS: 328+).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoid retaking for &lt;3-point gains. Use ETS PowerPrep diagnostics to predict improvement. Most see <strong>+10\u201320 total<\/strong> on second attempts with targeted prep (Magoosh, Manhattan Prep).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exceptions and Special Cases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GRE Subject Tests<\/strong> (Math, Physics, Psychology): Separate from General Test\u2014same 5\/year rule applies independently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disability accommodations<\/strong>: Extended time doesn\u2019t affect retake limits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Score cancellation<\/strong>: Still counts as an attempt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, you can take the GRE <strong>5 times per year, every 21 days<\/strong>, with full control over sent scores. Plan smart\u2014most need only 1\u20132 tries to hit <strong>320+<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","faq-categories":[],"class_list":["post-1970","faqs","type-faqs","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Many Times Can the GRE Be Taken? | The Entry Pass<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How many times can the GRE be taken? Up to 5 times in any 12-month period, once every 21 days. Scores valid 5 years. 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This applies whether testing at a center or at home. Scores remain valid for 5 years from the test date, and you may choose which scores to send via ScoreSelect\u2014most recent,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faqs\/1970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faqs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/faqs"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"faq-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theentrypass.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faq-categories?post=1970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}