# GRE Exam Guide: What It Is, 2026 Dates, Fees and Scores > Learn how the GRE works, including 2026 exam dates, current fees, format, scores, retake rules and what students need to know before registering. - Page: https://testbuddy.ai/en/blog/gre-exam-guide-what-it-is-2026-dates-fees-and-scores - Last updated: 2026-08-13 --- The GRE is an admissions test used by many graduate, business, and law programs. In this guide, we explain **what the GRE is, how the test works, when it can be taken in 2026, how much it costs, how scoring works, and what students need to do to prepare**. The most important thing to know from the start is that there is no single GRE date for everyone. The **GRE General Test is available throughout the year**, while GRE Subject Tests follow specific testing windows. ## What is the GRE exam? The **GRE, or Graduate Record Examination**, is an admissions test commonly used for postgraduate programs. It is designed to measure skills that are useful across different academic subjects rather than knowledge from one specific university course. The GRE General Test assesses: - **Verbal Reasoning** - **Quantitative Reasoning** - **Analytical Writing** - Critical thinking and problem-solving skills GRE scores may be considered for admission to: - Graduate programs - Master's programs - Business schools - Some law schools Not every university requires the GRE. **Admission requirements depend on the individual institution and program**, so students should always check the rules for each course they plan to apply to. For a dedicated overview of the exam, students can also visit our [GRE test page](https://testbuddy.ai/tests/gre). ## GRE General Test vs GRE Subject Tests There are 2 main types of GRE exam. ### GRE General Test This is the standard GRE taken by most applicants. It tests general academic skills in: - Verbal Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning - Analytical Writing It does not focus on one specific university subject. ### GRE Subject Tests Subject Tests measure knowledge in a particular academic field. The currently available subjects are: - **Mathematics** - **Physics** - **Psychology** These tests are usually more relevant for students applying to programs where advanced knowledge of that subject matters. ## GRE exam format The current GRE General Test lasts approximately **1 hour and 58 minutes**. | Section | Questions / tasks | Time | |---|---:|---:| | Analytical Writing | 1 task | 30 minutes | | Verbal Reasoning 1 | 12 questions | 18 minutes | | Verbal Reasoning 2 | 15 questions | 23 minutes | | Quantitative Reasoning 1 | 12 questions | 21 minutes | | Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 15 questions | 26 minutes | The **Analytical Writing section always comes first**. After that, the Verbal and Quantitative sections may appear in either order. ## How the adaptive GRE works The Verbal and Quantitative parts of the GRE are **section-level adaptive**. This means: - The first section starts at a standard level of difficulty. - Performance in the first section influences the difficulty of the second. - Students can move between questions within the same section. - Answers can be changed before the section ends. - Questions can be marked for review. There is **no penalty for an incorrect Verbal or Quantitative answer**, so leaving questions unanswered generally provides no scoring advantage. An on-screen calculator is available during Quantitative Reasoning. ## What each GRE section tests ### Verbal Reasoning This section measures the ability to: - Understand written material - Identify relationships between ideas - Interpret meaning from context - Draw conclusions from a passage - Understand words and concepts It is not simply a vocabulary test. Students need to understand how language works inside arguments and passages. ### Quantitative Reasoning This section covers areas such as: - Arithmetic - Algebra - Geometry - Data analysis - Mathematical models - Quantitative comparisons The focus is on reasoning with numbers rather than advanced university-level mathematics. ### Analytical Writing Students complete **1 Analyze an Issue task**. The aim is to show that they can: - Develop a clear position - Support ideas logically - Organize an argument - Communicate effectively in written English ## GRE scores The GRE General Test uses separate score scales for each area. - **Verbal Reasoning:** 130 to 170 - **Quantitative Reasoning:** 130 to 170 - **Analytical Writing:** 0 to 6 Verbal and Quantitative scores increase in **1-point increments**. Analytical Writing increases in **0.5-point increments**. There is no universal GRE passing score. A score that is competitive for one graduate program may be less competitive for another. Students should compare their target score with the expectations of the specific universities and programs they want to enter. ## When are GRE scores released? Official GRE General Test scores are normally available **8 to 10 days after the test date**. This needs to be considered when choosing an exam date close to an application deadline. Students should allow time for: - Score processing - Sending scores to universities - The university's own processing time GRE scores remain reportable for **5 years after the test date**. ## GRE exam dates in 2026 The GRE General Test does **not have one fixed international calendar of exam dates**. Instead, students choose from available appointments when registering. ### GRE General Test dates The test is offered on a **continuous basis throughout the year**, subject to availability at the selected location. Available dates can vary depending on: - Country - City - Test center - Remaining appointment capacity Students therefore need to check the live registration calendar for their specific location rather than rely on one global list of 2026 dates. ### GRE at-home dates Where at-home testing is available, the GRE General Test can be scheduled **7 days a week, around the clock**, subject to appointment availability. The test itself is the same GRE General Test, but students complete it remotely under online supervision. ### GRE Subject Test dates in 2026 Subject Tests follow specific testing windows. For 2026, the relevant periods include: - **April 20 to May 3, 2026** - **September 14 to September 27, 2026** - **October 19 to November 1, 2026** Students taking a Subject Test need to plan around these windows instead of expecting the year-round availability of the General Test. ## GRE exam fees in 2026 GRE pricing changed on **August 1, 2026**. The current GRE General Test fee is: - **$249** in most areas of the world - **$231.30** in China - Separate local pricing applies in India Some locations may also apply taxes. This is important because older GRE pages or articles may still mention the previous **$220** fee. Other common charges include: - **$55** to reschedule the test - **$55** to change the test center - **$40 per recipient** for an Additional Score Report - **$50** to reinstate scores - **$60** for an Analytical Writing score review The GRE Subject Test fee is currently **$199** in most locations, with separate arrangements for India. ## Sending GRE scores to universities The GRE General Test registration fee includes score reports for **up to 4 graduate institutions or fellowship sponsors**. Additional reports cost **$40 per recipient**. Students can also use the GRE ScoreSelect option to control which test administrations are sent. Depending on when scores are ordered, options can include: - Most Recent - All - Any selected test administration Individual universities may have their own rules about which GRE scores must be reported, so students should check the admission policy of each program. ## Can the GRE be retaken? Yes. The GRE General Test can be taken: - **Once every 21 days** - Up to **5 times within any rolling 365-day period** This limit still applies if scores from a previous attempt were canceled. GRE Subject Tests follow a different rule and can generally be taken **once every 14 days**, subject to available testing windows. Retaking the GRE can make sense when there is enough time to identify weak areas and improve them before the next attempt. Repeating the exam without changing the study strategy is much less useful. ## Taking the GRE at home The at-home GRE follows the same General Test format, but students need to meet specific technical and testing-room requirements. The main test computer must be a: - Desktop computer - Laptop computer A tablet, Chromebook, or smartphone cannot be used as the primary testing device. Students also need: - A suitable camera - A microphone - A private testing environment - The ETS Secure Browser - A compatible second camera setup Since **January 5, 2026**, the at-home GRE requires a **second camera**, normally using a smartphone or tablet to provide another view of the testing area. For tests booked and scheduled from **March 31, 2026**, students may also need to complete the required identity verification process before test day. Anyone choosing the at-home option should check these requirements before booking rather than discovering a technical problem on the day of the exam. ## What identification is needed? The name used during GRE registration must match the identification presented for the exam. In general, students should expect to provide a valid government-issued identification document containing: - Their matching name - A recognizable photograph - A signature Requirements can vary by country. Checking the identification rules before registering is especially important if names appear differently across passports, national IDs, or registration accounts. ## How to prepare for the GRE GRE preparation should start with the actual structure of the exam. Students should work on: - Timed Verbal Reasoning questions - Timed Quantitative Reasoning questions - Analytical Writing practice - Full exam simulations - Reviewing mistakes by topic - Tracking performance over time The goal is not only to answer more questions correctly. Students also need to become comfortable with **timing, adaptive sections, question review, and the pressure of completing the test under exam conditions**. With [TestBuddy GRE practice](https://testbuddy.ai/practise/gre), students can practise with simulations and targeted exercises while tracking their progress and identifying weaker areas. It is possible to start for free and use performance data to make preparation more structured instead of relying only on repeated random practice. A useful study cycle is simple: 1. Complete a realistic practice session. 1. Review every error. 1. Identify the weakest topics. 1. Practise those areas specifically. 1. Complete another timed simulation. 1. Compare the new result with the previous one. This makes improvement measurable and helps students understand whether they are actually getting closer to the score required by their target programs. ## Official information used for this guide The exam structure, scoring system and section content are based on the [official GRE General Test information from ETS](https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/prepare/content.html). Current registration fees and additional service charges are based on the [official GRE fee information](https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register/fees.html). The 2026 General Test scheduling and retake rules are based on the [official GRE scheduling information](https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/schedule.html). Subject Test availability and testing windows are based on the [official GRE Subject Test scheduling information](https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/subject-tests/schedule.html). At-home testing requirements are based on the [official GRE at-home testing instructions](https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register/at-home-testing.html). Score availability, validity and reporting information are based on the [official GRE score information](https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/scores/get-scores.html). --- Source: TestBuddy — AI-powered study platform for university admission tests. 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