GRE test dates work differently from the SAT, LSAT or MCAT: there’s no list of fixed dates. You can take the GRE General Test almost any day of the year, at a test center or at home, so the real questions are how to schedule it, what it costs, and how late you can test and still make your deadlines. Here’s everything for the 2026–27 testing year, checked against ETS.
Prepping for the GRE? Our GRE study plan is the place to start.
GRE Test Dates 2026–27
The General Test runs year-round, first come, first served. To see open dates, sign in to your ETS account and search seat availability for a test center or for at-home testing. Here’s how the two compare:
| Test center | At home | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Center opening hours, most days of the year | Around the clock, 7 days a week |
| Where | More than 1,000 locations worldwide | Your own computer, with a human proctor watching online |
| Booking | Popular dates and centers fill up; book early | Far more open slots |
| Same test? | Yes | Yes, identical content and scoring |
Register online at least two calendar days before the date you want (two business days if you register by phone). Fees and rules on this page come from the 2026–27 GRE Information Bulletin (PDF), which covers tests from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
GRE Subject Test dates 2026–27
The Subject Tests (Mathematics, Physics and Psychology) are the exception. They’re offered only in three two-week windows, at test centers and, on select dates, at home:
| Window | Dates |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Sept. 14–27, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 | Oct. 19–Nov. 1, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | April 19–May 2, 2027 |
A Subject Test costs $199, and you can retake one every 14 days. Both fall 2026 windows have now passed, so the next chance is April 19–May 2, 2027.
Test Center or At Home?
Both versions are the same 1 hour 58 minute test, and schools see no difference in your scores. The choice comes down to logistics.
Pick a test center if your internet is shaky, your home is noisy, or you’d rather not deal with equipment rules. Book early, because the dates you want fill first.
Pick at home if you need an odd hour or a date the centers don’t have. ETS’s at-home requirements are strict, and if you don’t meet them on test day you can’t test and get no refund. You need:
- a desktop or laptop running Windows or macOS (no tablets, Chromebooks or Surface Pro), with only its built-in screen and keyboard if it’s a laptop,
- a camera you can move to show the whole room, plus a microphone and speaker (headsets and earphones aren’t allowed),
- a phone or tablet as a second camera, propped up to show you and your desk from the side, and
- an erasable whiteboard or plastic transparency sheet for notes.
Verify your ID in ETS’s IDVaaS app at least 72 hours before an at-home test, or straight away if you book closer than that. Run the equipment check at the same time of day as your test, since bandwidth varies. Testing from Mainland China has separate rules on takethegre.cn.
How Much Does the GRE Cost?
Fees went up on August 1, 2026. These are the current figures from ETS’s fee page:
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| GRE General Test | $249 ($237.86 in China) |
| Score reports to 4 schools, chosen on test day | Included |
| Each additional score report | $40 |
| Rescheduling | $55 |
| Changing your test center | $55 |
| Analytical Writing score review | $60 |
| Score reinstatement | $50 |
| GRE Subject Test | $199 |
India has its own fee and payment options on the ETS India website. Viewing your scores and the GRE Diagnostic Service are free.
GRE fee reduction
A GRE Fee Reduction Voucher cuts the General Test to $100 and adds both POWERPREP PLUS practice tests and ScoreItNow! writing practice for free (a $110 value). It’s for U.S. citizens and resident aliens testing in the U.S. and its territories who are college seniors on financial aid or graduates with a FAFSA Student Aid Index of zero or less, unemployed and receiving unemployment benefits, or serving in the Peace Corps. Members of partner programs such as McNair, TRIO SSS and QuestBridge get vouchers through their program coordinator.
Canceling or Rescheduling the GRE
The deadline for both is four days before your test (10 days in Mainland China). For a Saturday appointment in the U.S., that’s the Tuesday before.
- Reschedule: $55, online in your ETS account or by phone. The new date has to be within a year of your original appointment.
- Cancel: you get half the test fee back, about $124.50. ETS keeps the rest.
- Miss the deadline or don’t show: you lose the whole fee.
A missed or canceled appointment doesn’t count against your retake limit, though.
When Do GRE Scores Come Out?
You see unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores on screen as soon as you finish. Official scores, including Analytical Writing, arrive in your ETS account 8–10 days after your test, and schools you named on test day get them at the same time, per ETS’s score page. Scores you send later are $40 per school. Scores stay reportable for five years.
How Often Can You Take the GRE?
Once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period. That counts tests where you canceled your scores. More on deciding whether to retake in how many times you can take the GRE.
How to Choose Your GRE Date
Work backward from your earliest application deadline. Scores take 8–10 days, and a retake has to wait 21 days. So the latest first attempt that still leaves room for one retake is about 31 days before your deadline. Two months out is safer, and it lets you decide on a retake without rushing.
For a December 15 deadline, for example, aim for a first test by mid-October. If you’re testing at a center, book a few weeks ahead to get the date and location you want.
Plan your prep before your date, not after. A couple of months is typical; our GRE study plan has 1-, 2–3- and 6-month schedules. Take a free official POWERPREP practice test first to see where you’re starting, and check what counts as a good GRE score for your programs.
GRE Test Dates FAQ
When are the GRE test dates for 2026-27?
The GRE General Test has no fixed dates. It runs year-round at test centers and around the clock at home, and you book any open slot in your ETS account. GRE Subject Tests are different: they run only in three two-week windows (Sept. 14–27 and Oct. 19–Nov. 1, 2026, and April 19–May 2, 2027).
How much does the GRE cost?
$249 everywhere except China ($237.86), effective August 1, 2026. That includes sending scores to four schools; each extra score report is $40. A GRE Fee Reduction Voucher brings the fee down to $100.
How late can I register for the GRE?
Online, up to two calendar days before your test date (two business days by phone). Popular test-center dates fill up, so book a few weeks ahead if you want a specific center.
When do GRE scores come out?
You see unofficial Verbal and Quant scores on screen when you finish. Official scores, including Analytical Writing, reach your ETS account 8–10 days later, and the schools you chose on test day get them at the same time.
Can I cancel or reschedule the GRE?
Yes, up to four days before your test (10 days in Mainland China). Rescheduling costs $55. Canceling gets you half the test fee back, not all of it. After that deadline, you lose the full fee.
Next Steps
Pick a target date, then book it in your ETS account. Start practicing with our free GRE practice questions, and for structured prep see the best GRE prep books and GRE prep courses. Testing at a center? Check what to bring to the GRE. Dates and fees can change, so confirm on ETS’s registration page before you book.