GRE
Graduate Record Examinations
ETS says the GRE General Test is accepted at thousands of graduate, business and law schools worldwide; some programs make it optional, so check each program's own admission requirements. It is computer-delivered, at a test centre or at home, and since 22 September 2023 takes about 1 hour 58 minutes. ETS reports scores for five years after the test date.
Frequency
Year-round, 365 days a year (once every 21 days, up to 5 times in any rolling 12 months)
Duration
1 hour 58 minutes
Format
Computer-based
Score range
Verbal 130–170 and Quantitative 130–170 (1-point steps); Analytical Writing 0–6 (half-point steps)
Eligibility
Taken by applicants to graduate, business and law programs, each of which sets its own requirements; bring the required ID on test day
Conducting body
ETS (Educational Testing Service)
Registration fee
US$249 in most of the world from 1 Aug 2026 (US$231.30 in China; ₹25,522 in India); the final charge includes a 4% online service fee, plus local tax in some countries
Source: ETS (Educational Testing Service). Details here are for guidance only — fees, dates and eligibility change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
Verified against: ETS — GRE General Test fees (effective 1 Aug 2026); ETS India — GRE General Test fees (INR); ETS — GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27 (PDF); ETS — GRE General Test structure and timing; ETS — getting your GRE General Test scores; ETS — about the GRE General Test (who accepts it); ETS — GRE home (availability, test-optional programs).
Last verified: 29 September 2026.
Universities that accept GRE
Acceptance can differ by level and programme — confirm on the programme’s own page.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Stanford University
California Institute of Technology
Cornell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Duke University
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Related / Next steps
Guides that cover the GRE
9 min read
GRE Subject Tests Explained: When You Need Them and How They're Scored
What the GRE Subject Tests are — the three remaining tests (Mathematics, Physics, Psychology), the 200–990 score scale, the new percent-correct subscores, and how to check whether your graduate programs use them.
6 min read
GRE Guide for Indian Students
What the GRE is, who needs it, how the test is structured, and how to approach preparation — for Indian students applying to graduate programmes abroad, with ETS's official site as the place to check current fees and dates.
8 min read
GRE Waiver Trends for US Graduate Programs: Who Waives and How to Request It
How GRE waiver and test-optional policies work at US grad programs — common waiver criteria, department-by-department variation, and how to request a waiver the right way.
7 min read
GRE and GMAT for Postgraduate Admission at Asian Universities
Do you need the GRE or GMAT for a master's, PhD or MBA in Asia? Where the tests are required, accepted or optional across Japan, Singapore, Korea and beyond.
7 min read
GRE for Gulf Graduate Programs: Where It Is Used
Where the GRE is used for graduate (master's and PhD) admission at Gulf universities, why minimum scores vary by programme, and how to confirm each requirement on the official source.
9 min read
GMAT and GRE for Business Master's Programs in Asia
When business and management master's programs in Asia require, accept or waive the GMAT or GRE, how the two tests differ, and how to check each stated policy.
5 min read
Do You Need the GRE for Grad School?
How the GRE-optional and GRE-waived landscape for US graduate programmes works, why the policy varies by programme, and how to check each programme's current requirement before deciding.
6 min read
GMAT vs GRE for MBA
The GMAT Focus Edition and the GRE General Test for MBA applicants — what each test measures, which programs accept them, and how to decide which to take.
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