Registering for the GRE

Important Things to Remember When Registering for the GRE General Test

* If you have health-related needs requiring you to bring equipment, beverages or snacks into the testing room or to take extra or extended breaks, you need to follow the accommodations request procedures described in the Bulletin Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs (PDF).
* Take the test as soon as possible so your scores will be received in time to be considered with your application.
* Check the GRE® online registration system for the most up-to-date test center information.
* Not all test centers are open on all dates.
* Test centers fill up quickly, so early registration is recommended to get your preferred test locations and date selection.
* When registering, be sure that the spelling of your name exactly matches the name printed on the identification documents(s) you will present at the test center. If this information does not match, you will not be permitted to test and your test fee will be forfeited. There are no exceptions. See Identification Requirements.
* You are not allowed to transfer your registration to someone else.
* Your test fee entitles you to request that scores be sent to up to four graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors. You will be asked to designate your score recipients either when registering for the test or at the test center on test day.
* Late registration for the paper-based General Test is available if you register online. Late registration closes one week after the regular registration date. The fee for late registration is US$25.
* You will be given the option to register for the free GRE® Search Service on the day of your computer-based GRE General Test or when you register for the paper-based GRE General Test. You can also sign up separately at any time. The GRE Search Service matches prospective graduate students with participating graduate schools and fellowship sponsors. For more information, see GRE Search Service.
* You now have access to a new service, the ETS® Personal Potential Index (ETS® PPI). Introduced in July 2009, ETS PPI is a first of its kind web-based evaluation system that enables you to provide information from multiple evaluators to institutions about six personal attributes that are critical for success in graduate and professional school: knowledge and creativity, communication skills, teamwork, resilience, planning and organization, and ethics and integrity. As part of your GRE General Test fee, you will be able to send up to four ETS PPI evaluation reports. To learn more about how you can use ETS PPI to showcase your potential, visit the ETS PPI website.

Repeating the General Test

* It may be to your advantage to take the GRE General Test more than once if you think that the scores you obtained do not reflect your true abilities. If your scores seem unusually low in comparison with other indicators of your preparedness for graduate studies, you may want to consider taking the test again. Those considering repeating a test should be aware that large score * increases are unusual, and for some test takers scores will go down. Keep in mind that score reports will include test results obtained within the past five-year period.
* You may take the General Test (computer-based and/or paper-based) only once per calendar month and no more than five times within any 12-month period. This applies even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously.