The GRE General Test, administered by ETS, is accepted for master's and doctoral programmes worldwide and by many business schools. Indian test-takers can take it at a test centre or at home, year-round.
Advisory Note
Official Portal
Official website: https://www.ets.org/gre.html
Official Portal
Application portal: https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register.html
GRE at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | GRE General Test |
| Conducting body | Educational Testing Service (ETS) |
| Level | National |
| Mode | Test centre or at home (computer-delivered) |
| Frequency | Year-round |
| Exam date | Year-round (book a slot) |
| Registration | Open year-round |
| Official website | https://www.ets.org/gre.html |
GRE Important Dates
| Event | Date / Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Open year-round on ets.org | Open |
| Test dates | Choose any available slot | Year-round |
| Score validity | 5 years | — |
Dates last checked by CollegeDarbar on 16 October 2026. Always confirm on the official website before applying.
GRE Eligibility Criteria
- ETS sets no minimum qualification or age requirement.
- A valid passport is required as ID for test-takers in India.
- Universities set their own score requirements.
GRE Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 task (Analyse an Issue) | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 27 (2 sections) | 41 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 27 (2 sections) | 47 minutes |
| Total | 55 including the writing task | About 1 hour 58 minutes |
Verbal and Quant are scored 130–170 each (260–340 combined); Analytical Writing is scored 0–6 in half-point steps. You can retake once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period.
GRE Syllabus
- Verbal: reading comprehension, text completion, sentence equivalence.
- Quant: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis.
- Analytical Writing: one 'Analyse an Issue' essay.
How to Apply for GRE
GRE Application Fee
Third-party sources report different India fees; check the current fee on the ETS GRE India fees page before booking.
Colleges Accepting GRE
GRE Preparation Tips
- Use the free official POWERPREP practice tests.
- Plan your test at least two months before application deadlines to allow a retake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources
- [GRE General Test – ETS](https://www.ets.org/gre.html)