Is the GRE Becoming Optional? What Applicants Should Know

Short answer: No. The GRE is not being made universally optional by a central authority. Instead, many graduate programs moved to optional or waived-GRE policies beginning in 2020, and since then individual departments and universities have adopted, revised, or reversed those policies. Whether the GRE is required, optional, or not considered at all depends on each program, degree level, and applicant category. Applicants must check each target program’s official admissions page and, when in doubt, contact the department directly.

What “GRE optional” actually means

When a program says the GRE is optional, it usually means one of the following:

• Test optional: Applicants may submit GRE scores to strengthen an application, but a score is not required for an application to be reviewed.
• Test recommended: Programs encourage but do not require scores; applications are accepted without them.
• Conditional requirement: GRE scores are optional for most applicants, but required for certain groups. For example, international applicants or applicants with low quantitative coursework may still need to submit scores.
• Test blind or not considered: The program does not accept or consider GRE scores at all. This is different from optional; in this case, sending scores will not affect decisions.

Why many programs changed GRE policy

Several reasons drove the shift toward optional or waived GRE policies in recent application cycles:

• COVID-19 testing disruptions: Limited test center availability and safety concerns in 2020 and 2021 forced many programs to waive test requirements temporarily.
• Equity concerns: Admissions committees and institutions examined whether standardized tests disadvantage low-income, first-generation, or underrepresented applicants.
• Predictive validity debate: Researchers and some programs questioned how well GRE scores predict graduate school success across fields.
• Recruitment and access: Removing test requirements made it easier for some programs to expand applicant pools and recruit a more diverse class.

Where GRE optional policies are most common

Policy trends vary by degree type and field. Typical patterns to expect:

• Master’s programs: Many professional and terminal master’s programs have adopted optional GRE policies, especially in business-adjacent and applied fields.
• PhD programs: PhD programs are more varied. Some humanities and social science programs have become test-optional, while many STEM and quantitative programs continue to require or prefer the GRE.
• Professional programs: Law and business rely on other tests such as the LSAT and GMAT; when relevant, those tests follow their own policies.
• International applicants: Some departments retain GRE requirements for international applicants who lack coursework in the U.S. system or other ways to demonstrate academic readiness.

Does ETS or another body plan to make the GRE optional for everyone?

No central organization has made the GRE universally optional. The Educational Testing Service, which administers the GRE, continues to offer the GRE General Test. ETS does not set admissions policy for universities. Individual programs set their own requirements and can change them from year to year.

Should you submit GRE scores if the program is optional?

Submitting scores can help or be neutral depending on your profile and the program. Use this checklist to decide:

• Submit if your GRE score strengthens your application: A score that is at or above the program’s typical admissions range can bolster an application, especially for quantitative fields.
• Submit if your GPA or transcripts raise questions: A strong GRE can help demonstrate academic ability when undergraduate grades come from a less familiar system, when there is a low GPA, or when coursework lacks quantitative depth.
• Submit if you are an international applicant: Many programs still use GRE scores to compare applicants from different educational systems, though policies differ by program.
• Do not submit if your score is below the program’s likely range: A weak score may raise questions and could harm your competitiveness if the program considers submitted scores.
• Check for program signals: Some programs explicitly say they will consider only strong scores, or that scores will not be considered at all. Follow those instructions.

How to estimate whether your GRE score would help

• Search the program’s admitted-student statistics or average GRE ranges if published. Not all programs publish figures.
• Look at the department’s research focus. Highly quantitative programs typically place more weight on quantitative GRE subscores.
• Compare your scores to benchmarks from students already in similar programs when that information is available.

Alternatives and ways to strengthen an application when you skip the GRE

If you do not submit GRE scores, emphasize other elements that demonstrate your readiness:

• Coursework: Highlight advanced or quantitative courses and strong grades in those classes.
• Letters of recommendation: Ask recommenders to comment specifically on your analytical skills, research potential, and readiness for graduate study.
• Research experience and publications: Document lab work, projects, conference presentations, or publications.
• Relevant work or internships: Quantitative or technical professional experience can substitute for test evidence.
• Supplementary assessments: Some applicants submit additional writing samples, portfolios, or course transcripts from U.S. institutions when requested.

Practical steps to confirm and respond to program policies

1. Visit the program’s official admissions page for the current application cycle. Policies can change each year.
2. Read application instructions carefully. Look for notes about international applicants, conditional requirements, or recommended scores.
3. If the page is unclear, email the graduate admissions coordinator or the departmental admissions contact. Use a short, polite message asking whether GRE scores are required, optional, or not considered for your applicant category.
4. If you plan to submit scores, check ETS deadlines and score-reporting processes to ensure scores arrive by application deadlines.
5. Keep records of communications and application instructions in case you need to reference them during review or appeals.

Sample email template to ask about GRE policy

Use this template when contacting a program admissions office.

Subject: GRE requirement for [Program Name] admissions

Body:

Hello,

I am preparing my application to the [Program Name] PhD/master’s program for the [term, year] cycle and wanted to confirm whether the GRE General Test is required, optional, or not considered for applicants in my category. I completed my undergraduate degree at [institution, country]. If GRE scores are optional, could you advise whether they are considered in funding or teaching assistant decisions?

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Common misunderstandings

• Myth: A program that made the GRE optional in one year will stay optional forever. Fact: Policies can change annually. Temporary waivers instituted during health or travel disruptions have sometimes been reversed.
• Myth: Test optional means test-blind. Fact: Test optional means you may choose whether to submit scores and the scores will be considered if submitted. Test blind means the program does not consider scores at all.
• Myth: If I do not submit a GRE score, I am automatically at a disadvantage. Fact: Admissions committees evaluate the entire application. Applicants with strong records in other areas can be competitive without GRE scores, depending on the program.

Special considerations for international applicants

International applicants should pay close attention to departmental guidance. Some departments keep GRE requirements specifically for international students to supplement transcripts from unfamiliar grading systems. If you are from a country where coursework or grading is difficult for admissions committees to interpret, a strong GRE score can provide a standardized measure of academic ability.

Also consider language requirements. Strong performance on the GRE will not substitute for English proficiency tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS if the program requires them. Check each program’s stated requirements.

How to prepare if you plan to take the GRE

• Plan early. Allow several months for study and at least one practice test under timed conditions.
• Focus on the sections that matter most for your field. For example, quantitative performance matters more for STEM applications.
• Use official ETS practice materials in addition to reputable prep resources to get realistic scoring expectations.
• Consider retesting only if you can meaningfully improve your score before deadlines. Multiple test attempts are common, but plan logistics and score reporting ahead of deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is the GRE being phased out entirely?

No. The GRE General Test remains an available test. Decisions to require or accept GRE scores are made by individual programs, not by a single governing body that can phase the test out universally.

2. Will a program that is test-optional accept lower-quality applications?

Admissions committees still look for academic readiness and fit. Making the GRE optional expands the applicant pool, but programs will continue to select candidates based on grades, letters, research experience, statements, and other evidence of potential.

3. Can submitting a GRE score ever hurt my application?

Yes. If you submit a score that is well below the program’s typical admitted range, it could raise concerns. Only submit scores that you believe strengthen your profile.

4. Where can I find official policy updates?

Primary sources are program admissions pages, department announcements, and the university graduate admissions office. For test logistics and score reporting, consult the ETS GRE website.

Final thoughts and next steps

The GRE is not becoming universally optional in a single, coordinated move. Instead, graduate programs continue to make independent decisions about whether to require, recommend, or ignore GRE scores. Your next steps should be:

• Confirm GRE policy for each target program for the specific application cycle.
• Decide whether submitting scores will strengthen your application based on your academic record and the field’s norms.
• If you will submit, plan preparation and testing timelines so scores arrive before deadlines.
• If you will not submit, strengthen other parts of your application and make sure your materials clearly demonstrate your readiness for graduate study.

Always treat program statements as authoritative and document any correspondence about requirements. Admissions policies change, and up-to-date verification is the best way to make an informed decision about taking or submitting the GRE.