Common Questions About Taking the GRE at Home

Students who want to take the GRE General Test as part of the graduate admissions process can now take the exam online.

The GRE has moved online so prospective students can take the test from their own homes while test centers remain closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new at-home format has led to many questions from students. Below, we answer some of the most common ones.

Is the registration fee for the at-home test the same as the traditional format?

Yes. Both cost $205.

How long does it take to receive GRE scores?

Your official scores will be available in your ETS account and sent to the institutions you designated about 10 to 15 days after your test date.

Will the at-home GRE remain available after the pandemic?

That has yet to be decided.

What if I experience a power outage, network failure, or internet interruption during the at-home GRE?

If you encounter technical problems before the exam, contact ProctorU through the live chat feature in your ProctorU account. If you encounter technical problems during the exam and cannot speak with the proctor, call ProctorU at 1-855-772-8678 for help.

If there is a major disruption, test takers will receive a free retest through ETS.

What are the testing room requirements, and how do I check whether my setup is acceptable?

Once students complete the equipment check, a proctor will inspect their environment to make sure the room where they take the test is secure and meets ETS’s high security standards.

How does the score reporting option work?

At the end of the exam, you will be asked whether you want to report your scores. If you do, you will see your unofficial verbal and quantitative scores and can specify which universities you want your official scores sent to.

How should I start preparing, and how long should I prepare?

ETS recommends six months of preparation, but most students typically begin preparing about 90 days before the test.

How does ETS make sure no one cheats during the exam?

ProctorU trains diligent proctors, so any attempt to cheat can be detected immediately.

ETS also uses artificial intelligence technology to determine whether a student is trying to open an unauthorized browser such as Google or download unauthorized software.

Any attempt to engage in malicious behavior will be detected immediately, and the exam will be terminated at once.

A video will also be recorded throughout your entire exam.

Can students use paper or notes during the exam?

ETS allows students to take notes on a whiteboard or blank sheets of paper using erasable markers, which must be visible through a transparent plastic sleeve.

For security reasons, all notes must be erased in front of the proctor before the exam ends.

When is the at-home GRE available?

Before June 30, 2020, the test is available around the clock from Friday through Monday. From July 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020, the test is available seven days a week.

Can you retake the GRE if your score is not high enough?

Students may take the test once every 21 days, up to five times in any continuous rolling 12-month period.

Is there a link for GRE practice tests?

ETS recommends using its own website and materials, especially the free online POWERPREP®, which offers sample questions, information, and a variety of resources to prepare for the test.

Where can you take the GRE?

The GRE is a global exam. At present, the at-home option is available anywhere the in-person test is offered, except mainland China and Iran. ETS is working with the governments of those two countries to see whether the exam can also be offered there.

How long is the test valid? Is it valid for life?

GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date.

Can you explain the GRE’s adaptive format?

The test is adapted by section. It is currently the only exam designed to be friendly to test takers.

Test takers can move freely through each section, skip questions, mark answers, return if they are unsure, and review the questions they have already answered on a review screen.

Once you complete your first verbal section and your first quantitative section, the difficulty of the next verbal and quantitative sections is determined. Your performance on the first verbal and quantitative sections determines the difficulty of the next sections.

You can review the scoring process on the website, which walks you through the scoring method.

Will universities know that I took the GRE at home?

Universities will only receive your scores. The score report does not indicate whether you took the exam at a test center or at home.

Is there negative scoring on the GRE?

No. Incorrect answers are not penalized. ETS encourages students to make educated guesses, which can hopefully help improve their scores.