GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$220
Provider
ETS
Validity
5 years
Available
Global (USA focused)
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- There are no education, age, or experience prerequisites. ETS sets no minimum degree, and anyone who can meet the identification requirements may register.
- An ETS account registered under your exact legal first and last name as printed on the ID you will present, accents excluded.
- An original, physical, unexpired, government-issued photo ID bearing your signature. Digital IDs are refused everywhere except the Republic of Korea, where some are accepted.
- Payment of $249, or $231.30 in mainland China, effective August 1, 2026. India has separate pricing published on the ETS India site.
- For at home testing: a desktop or laptop running Windows 11 or higher or Mac OS X 11 or higher with a licensed operating system, the Chrome browser, the ETS Secure Browser, a speaker and microphone that are not part of a headset, a webcam that can show a 360-degree room view, and a smartphone or tablet on iOS 12 or Android 8 or higher for the mandatory second camera.
- For at home testing: a private indoor room where you are alone, doors closed, blinds drawn, a clear tabletop, and a standard chair. Public spaces, glass-walled rooms, beds, couches, and overstuffed chairs are all barred.
- Testing accommodations for a disability or health-related need must be requested from ETS Disability Services and approved before you register.
- Candidates with political asylum or refugee status, or who otherwise cannot meet the ID rules, must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity at least 7 days before registering and receive approval first.
Number of Questions
54 scored multiple-choice questions plus 1 essay task: 27 Verbal Reasoning questions across two sections (12 then 15) and 27 Quantitative Reasoning questions across two sections (12 then 15).
Duration
1 hour 58 minutes of testing time, with no scheduled breaks. ETS states that if you take an unscheduled break at a test center the clock keeps running, and unscheduled breaks are not permitted at all in the at home version.
Question Format
Reading Comprehension, multiple-choice select one answer choice (five choices), Reading Comprehension, multiple-choice select one or more answer choices (three choices, one to three correct, no partial credit), Reading Comprehension, select-in-passage, where you click a sentence that matches a description, Text Completion, one to five sentences with one to three blanks; three choices per blank when there are two or three blanks, five choices when there is one blank, Sentence Equivalence, one sentence with one blank and six choices from which you select two, with no partial credit, Quantitative Comparison, comparing Quantity A and Quantity B against four fixed answer choices, Quantitative multiple-choice, select one answer choice from five, Quantitative multiple-choice, select one or more answer choices, Numeric Entry, typing an integer or decimal into one box or a fraction into a numerator box and a denominator box, Data Interpretation sets, where several questions share one table, graph, or other data display, Analytical Writing, one Analyze an Issue essay typed in an ETS word processor with insert, delete, cut-and-paste, and undo but no spellchecker or grammar checker
Passing Requirement
There is no cut score. ETS states in its Guide to the Use of Scores that using cut scores, especially GRE scores as sole criteria, contradicts holistic admissions and recommends against the practice. Individual programs publish their own expectations, so the number you need depends entirely on where you apply.
How It Is Delivered
Computer-delivered at more than 1,000 ETS-authorized test centers in more than 160 countries, or at home on your own desktop or laptop through the ETS Secure Browser with a live human proctor. Tablets, Chromebooks, Microsoft Surface Pro devices, dual monitors, external keyboards on laptops, and headsets are all prohibited for the at home test.
Languages Offered
English only. ETS does not offer the GRE General Test in any other language, and no dictionary or translation aid is permitted.
Rules specific to this exam
- Section Breakdown: Analytical Writing: one section, one 30-minute Analyze an Issue task. Verbal Reasoning section 1: 18 minutes, 12 questions. Verbal Reasoning section 2: 23 minutes, 15 questions. Quantitative Reasoning section 1: 21 minutes, 12 questions. Quantitative Reasoning section 2: 26 minutes, 15 questions
- Adaptivity: Section-level adaptive on both multiple-choice measures. The first operational section of each measure is of average difficulty, and performance on it determines which second section you receive. All questions within a section contribute equally to the score.
- Calculator: A basic on-screen calculator is provided in the Quantitative Reasoning sections only. No personal calculator is allowed in either delivery mode.
Visit the official ETS certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Verbal Reasoning 130 to 170 in 1-point increments; Quantitative Reasoning 130 to 170 in 1-point increments; Analytical Writing 0 to 6 in half-point increments. If you answer no questions in a measure, ETS reports NS (No Score) for that measure.
Score You Need
There is no cut score. ETS states in its Guide to the Use of Scores that using cut scores, especially GRE scores as sole criteria, contradicts holistic admissions and recommends against the practice. Individual programs publish their own expectations, so the number you need depends entirely on where you apply.
How It Is Calculated
A raw score is computed for each multiple-choice measure as the number of questions answered correctly, so wrong answers cost nothing and blanks are never worth more than a guess. That raw score is converted to a scaled score by equating, which adjusts for difficulty differences between test editions and between the two possible second sections created by section-level adaptation. Analytical Writing is scored holistically by a human rater and the e-rater engine.
When You Get Results
Unofficial Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores appear on screen at the end of the test, immediately after you choose to report rather than cancel. Analytical Writing is not shown on test day because of the essay scoring process. Official scores, with percentile ranks, reach your ETS account 8 to 10 days after the test date, and ETS emails you when they post. Institution score reports go out at the same time, and electronic scores are delivered to schools daily Monday to Friday.
In raw terms: ETS defines the raw score explicitly as the number of questions answered correctly on each measure, with no deduction for incorrect answers. It does not publish a raw-to-scaled conversion table, because equating makes the conversion differ from one test edition to the next.
- Scale History: The 130 to 170 scales were built in fall 2011, with the means set so the full-year mean for both measures equalled 150 and the standard deviation equalled 8.75. ETS kept the same scales when it shortened the test in September 2023 so that admissions offices would see no break in comparability.
- Measurement Error: ETS publishes a reliability estimate of 0.88 for Verbal Reasoning, 0.94 for Quantitative Reasoning, and 0.77 for Analytical Writing, with standard errors of measurement of 3.17, 2.56, and 0.40 points. Conditional standard errors at a score of 160 are 2.5 for Verbal and 2.7 for Quantitative, so a two-point gap between two attempts is inside the noise.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)?
There are no education, age, or experience prerequisites. ETS sets no minimum degree, and anyone who can meet the identification requirements may register.. An ETS account registered under your exact legal first and last name as printed on the ID you will present, accents excluded.. An original, physical, unexpired, government-issued photo ID bearing your signature. Digital IDs are refused everywhere except the Republic of Korea, where some are accepted.. Payment of $249, or $231.30 in mainland China, effective August 1, 2026. India has separate pricing published on the ETS India site.. For at home testing: a desktop or laptop running Windows 11 or higher or Mac OS X 11 or higher with a licensed operating system, the Chrome browser, the ETS Secure Browser, a speaker and microphone that are not part of a headset, a webcam that can show a 360-degree room view, and a smartphone or tablet on iOS 12 or Android 8 or higher for the mandatory second camera.. For at home testing: a private indoor room where you are alone, doors closed, blinds drawn, a clear tabletop, and a standard chair. Public spaces, glass-walled rooms, beds, couches, and overstuffed chairs are all barred.. Testing accommodations for a disability or health-related need must be requested from ETS Disability Services and approved before you register.. Candidates with political asylum or refugee status, or who otherwise cannot meet the ID rules, must contact the ETS Office of Testing Integrity at least 7 days before registering and receive approval first..
How much does the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) cost?
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) exam costs $220. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)?
Visit the official ETS certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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