If you want to attend graduate school in the United States or another English-speaking countries, you are likely preparing to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). A crucial part of being ready for the GRE is making sure you know when the exam is scheduled. Knowing when and how frequently the test is offered may make or break your study strategy and admissions schedule.
Learn everything about the GRE test dates in 2025 right here! We’ll go over how to register, when the test is best to take it, what deadlines are, and how to prepare for the test.
What is the GRE and Why Are Test Dates So Important?
The GRE General Test is a standardized exam that is required by many graduate institutions throughout the globe. It is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and assesses your capacity for analytical thinking, mathematical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and critical thinking.
Since admission criteria vary from school to school, it is vital to choose the suitable GRE test date to ensure timely results submission. If a deadline is missed, your application might be postponed for an entire semester or perhaps a year.
An Executive Summary of the 2025 GRE Exam Dates
Any time of year, you may take the GRE via Prometric test centers or using the GRE at Home option. Because of this flexibility, you may select a day that fits in with your academic or job schedule.
Crucial Information:
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The GRE is administered by test centers almost every day of the year.
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Home testing is available every day of the week.
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Two or three months before the application deadline, students often take the GRE.
Finding the Dates of Local GRE Exams
To find dates for the GRE, follow these steps:
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Stop by the official ETS website at https://www.ets.org/gre.
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Set up an account with ETS or log in.
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Select either the at-home or the test site.
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Look at the available GRE dates broken down by month and location.
You may easily book a time slot that suits you using the ETS system’s real-time availability function.
How Far in Advance Should You Plan to Take the GRE?
You should plan to take the GRE two or three months ahead of time, according to experts. Popular dates, especially those in August through December, tend to fill up quickly because of graduate school application procedures.
Not forgetting:
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Between the months of December and February, most programs have their deadlines.
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Institutions often get GRE scores within ten to fifteen days.
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Give yourself more time in case you need to retake the test.
When You Need to Take the GRE to Apply to Graduate School
To help you better understand when to take the GRE, we have compiled a breakdown of potential dates for various application timeframes:
Application GRE Recommendation Deadline
Testing Period and Opportunity for Redo
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Christmas Day, 2025
October 15, 2025–September 1, 2025
October–November -
Fifteenth, 2026
November thirty-first, 2025–October first, 2025 -
Rolling admissions often occur three to four months before the planned start date.
Home-Based vs. Online GRE: When Are the Dates Available?
You may take the GRE in one of two ways:
1. ETS-Approved Testing Centers
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Administer the GRE computer-based exam almost daily.
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You could find that seats fill up quickly from August to December, when it’s busiest.
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At every site you attend, a valid form of identification is required.
2. GRE at Home
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You can access GRE at Home whenever you want, including on holidays and weekends.
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Ideal for those living in far-flung locations or completing exams in other nations.
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It is necessary to have a quiet area and a reliable internet connection.
Both versions use the same exam format and scoring criteria. The flexibility to test at your own pace is another potential benefit of taking the exam at home.
Is It Possible to Change the GRE Dates?
You have four days before your scheduled GRE exam to request a date change. Log in to your ETS account and pay the rescheduling charge (about $50). Cancellations made more than four days before to the event may be eligible for a partial refund.
Are Several Attempts at the GRE Possible?
You can take the GRE if you like:
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On a regular basis (every 21 days)
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The maximum number of times per calendar year is five.
Therefore, if you want to repeat the GRE more than once to improve your score, you should carefully choose test dates that permit retakes and score reporting.
Timelines to Monitor: The GRE Application Process and Score Reporting
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Registration for most dates is open until two days before to the test.
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Although it is not assured, same-day scheduling is possible for the at-home GRE.
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Online access to test results is available eight to fifteen days after the administration of the test.
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The official scores are delivered to the relevant schools shortly after the results are made public.
Before you schedule the GRE, give yourself three or four weeks to spare before the school application deadline.
Guidelines for Choosing the Most Appropriate GRE Administration Date
Choosing the perfect day involves thinking about how ready you are and when you are available. In order to choose the perfect date, consider the following advice:
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In order to meet application deadlines, you must work backwards from your earliest date.
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Give Yourself Enough Time to Retake the GRE: It’s recommended to give yourself three or four months before the original due date.
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Before making any bookings, make sure you have a well-planned study program.
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Seats fill up quickly, especially from September to December, so plan ahead if you can.
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Be considerate of Yourself: When making plans, be sure to include in time for work, family, vacations, and travel.
The Best Time to Take the GRE in 2025
In 2025, the best time to take the GRE to apply for Fall 2026 is:
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From July to October is when you should aim to come early to give yourself plenty of time for retakes.
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November: The last day for the majority of December deadlines.
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December is a more perilous month, although it is still possible to apply late.
Things to Know About the GRE Exam Dates
Where can I see if my location has any accessible GRE dates?
Answer: The ETS registration site allows you to search live availability by area.
Will I be able to change my GRE test date once I enroll?
Up to four days before to the test date, you may reschedule your online appointment for a fee.
For the autumn of 2026 admission, when is the best time to take the GRE?
My ideal time would be between August and October of 2025.
When is the GRE not available?
The GRE is usually administered all year round; however, during holidays or days when facilities are undergoing repair, test centers may have reduced hours.
Conclusion: Carefully Consider When to Take the GRE
One part of the GRE is studying hard; another part is devising a strategy. Selecting the optimal GRE exam date ensures that your hard work will be recognized by allowing you to fulfill application deadlines while reducing anxiety. You have the freedom to arrange your life, your studies, and your goals around taking the GRE, since it may be done at home or at a center almost every day.
Pick a test date that gives you plenty of time to prepare and, if needed, repeat the exam after you’ve checked the deadlines for the schools you’re interested in attending. Don’t wait until the last minute to register. Reserve your spot as soon as you can to avoid last-minute scheduling hassles.