GRE Test Dates
GRE test dates and registration guide. The GRE is offered year-round at testing centers and online at home. Learn how to pick the best date for your applications.
🎓 GRE Exam: Complete guide to Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test dates. See schedules for all available years, registration deadlines, and key dates. Administered by ETS.
Click a year above to see the complete GRE schedule with exam dates, registration deadlines, and countdown timers.
About the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Applicants to graduate school (master's, PhD, MBA). About 350,000 take the GRE annually. Increasingly optional at top US programs; still required at many international universities and US PhD programs.
The GRE is 1 hour 58 minutes since 2023 (cut nearly in half from the old 3:45 format). Three sections: Verbal Reasoning (40 min), Quantitative Reasoning (47 min), Analytical Writing (30 min, one essay). Section-level adaptive — the second Verbal/Quant section's difficulty adjusts based on the first.
GREscoring & score release
Scoring: Verbal: 130-170. Quant: 130-170. Writing: 0-6 in half-point increments. Top-tier PhD programs typically expect 165+ in your quant-heavy or verbal-heavy area depending on field.
Score release: Multiple-choice scores appear on screen at the end of the test (unofficial). Official scores are available in your ETS account 8-10 days after the test.
How to register for the GRE
Register through ETS GRE Registration. The GRE is offered year-round at Prometric test centers and at home (with monitoring). Register 2-4 weeks in advance for preferred dates.
Recent GRE changes
September 2023: GRE cut from 3h45m to under 2 hours. Removed Analytical Writing "Argument" essay (now just one essay), removed unscored research section, faster score release.
GRE preparation timeline
2-4 months of focused prep is typical. Magoosh, ETS PowerPrep (free, official), Manhattan Prep are common resources. Adaptive practice tests are key.
GRE Test Dates
GRE test dates and registration guide. The GRE is offered year-round at testing centers and online at home. Learn how to pick the best date for your applications.
Related
GRE FAQ
When is the next GRE test date?
The schedule above shows all GRE dates with live countdowns. Past dates are grayed out; the days-until badges show the next available date. ETS typically announces dates 6-12 months ahead.
How long is the GRE exam?
The GRE is 1 hour 58 minutes since 2023 (cut nearly in half from the old 3:45 format). Three sections: Verbal Reasoning (40 min), Quantitative Reasoning (47 min), Analytical Writing (30 min, one essay). Section-level adaptive — the second Verbal/Quant section's difficulty adjusts based on the first.
What is a good GRE score?
Verbal: 130-170. Quant: 130-170. Writing: 0-6 in half-point increments. Top-tier PhD programs typically expect 165+ in your quant-heavy or verbal-heavy area depending on field.
How much does the GRE cost?
$220 worldwide (2025), with some country-specific variations. Register through ETS at www.ets.org/gre.
How long should I prepare for the GRE?
2-4 months of focused prep is typical. Magoosh, ETS PowerPrep (free, official), Manhattan Prep are common resources. Adaptive practice tests are key.
Can I reschedule my GRE test date after registering?
Most testing organizations allow date changes for a fee, with deadlines 1-4 weeks before the test. Check ETS's policy at www.ets.org/gre.