Short answer: You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, and no more than five times within any continuous 12-month period. Those limits apply across test formats and are set by ETS, the organization that administers the GRE. Below you will find what that rule means in practice, how ETS counts attempts, planning and retake strategies, and important logistical and deadline considerations for prospective graduate applicants.
What the official policy says
ETS, the Educational Testing Service, sets the rules for how often you may take the GRE General Test. The two basic limits are:
- Minimum waiting period: 21 days between test administrations.
- Maximum within a rolling 12-month period: Up to five administrations in any continuous 365-day window.
These restrictions apply regardless of whether you take the computer-delivered test at a test center or an approved alternate format. The policy is designed to prevent repeated daily testing while still allowing reasonable opportunities for improvement.
How ETS counts an attempt
Knowing exactly what counts as an attempt matters for planning. Key points:
- Starting the test generally counts: If you begin a test administration, that session typically counts as an attempt even if you cancel your scores at the test center. Canceling scores does not erase the administration from your testing history for the purpose of the 21-day and five-times-in-12-month limits.
- No unlimited back-to-back testing: You cannot take the GRE on back-to-back days. You must wait at least 21 days after your test date before you can sit again.
- Rolling 12-month window: The five-test maximum is calculated over the previous 365 days. For example, if you tested on June 1, July 1, August 1, September 1, and October 1, you would have used five attempts during that 365-day span and would have to wait until at least June 2 of the following year before adding another test without dropping one of the earlier dates outside the rolling window.
Because ETS’s rules can involve date arithmetic, plan around deadlines and count testing dates carefully when you register for retakes.
Practical examples and timeline illustrations
Here are simple date examples showing how the limits work.
| Test date | Notes |
|---|---|
| June 1 | First test administration |
| June 22 | Earliest eligible retake after June 1, because you must wait 21 days |
| July 13 | Third test, still within 365-day window |
| August 3 | Fourth test |
| August 24 | Fifth test. After this point you have reached the five-test maximum within a rolling 12-month period beginning June 1 |
In this schedule you would not be allowed another test until at least June 2 of the following year, because once the June 1 administration falls outside the most recent 365 days, you regain an available slot.
Scheduling, registration, fees, and score cancellations
Practical logistics you should know before booking a retake:
- Registration and fees: Each test administration requires a separate registration and fee payment. Fees vary by country and test center. Check the ETS website for current costs and accepted payment methods.
- Rescheduling and cancellations: ETS permits rescheduling and cancellations, but deadlines and fees apply. Late changes or no-shows may result in forfeiture of the test fee, and last-minute cancellations may not free up your testing slot.
- Score cancellation: You can cancel your scores immediately after completing the test at the test center. Canceling prevents scores from being reported to schools, but the administration generally still counts toward your limit of five tests in 12 months. Confirm details with ETS if you plan to cancel and retake soon.
- Sending scores: ETS’s ScoreSelect option lets you choose which reported scores to send to graduate programs. ScoreSelect applies to administrations that ETS reports, which usually covers the last five years of testing history. Verify how ScoreSelect works and how many score reports are included in your registration choices.
Planning a retake: strategy and timing
How often you should retake the test is both a policy question and a strategic one. Use these guidelines when planning:
- Give yourself time to improve: Simply retaking the GRE without focused study rarely raises your score. Most test takers benefit from 6 to 12 weeks of targeted preparation between administrations, depending on how much they need to improve and how much time they can dedicate each week.
- Use diagnostic data: Before scheduling a retake, analyze your score report and practice test results to identify weak areas. Focused practice on those areas typically yields better returns than simply testing again.
- Plan around deadlines: Keep application deadlines in mind. Work backward from program deadlines to pick test dates that allow time for a retake if needed, and for scores to be reported. Factor in registration cutoffs and possible processing times for score reporting.
- Limit unnecessary retakes: Although policy allows up to five attempts in 12 months, applying that many times is usually unnecessary. Each retake costs money and time. Retake only when you have a reasonable plan to improve.
Special situations and considerations
Some test takers face special conditions that affect how often they can test or what they should consider before retaking:
- International and paper-based test takers: Availability of test dates and formats varies by country. Paper-delivered administrations may be offered where computer delivery is not available. Always confirm that the ETS limits apply to your chosen format and location.
- Accommodations: Test takers approved for accommodations should coordinate scheduling and retakes with ETS and the test center. ETS provides procedures for registering with accommodations, and those procedures can affect available dates.
- Emergencies and special requests: ETS has policies for emergencies, illness, and other special circumstances. If you need to reschedule or cancel because of an emergency, consult ETS’s policies and the test center’s instructions as soon as possible.
Common misunderstandings
- Myth: You can take the GRE every day. Fact: You must wait at least 21 days between administrations.
- Myth: Canceling your score erases the attempt. Fact: Canceling prevents the score from being reported to schools, but the administration usually still counts toward the five-tests-in-12-month limit. Confirm edge cases with ETS.
- Myth: ScoreSelect hides all previous attempts. Fact: ScoreSelect lets you choose which reported scores to send to institutions, but ETS maintains your testing history and score records for policies and eligibility purposes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the GRE more than five times if I wait more than a year?
Yes. The five-test maximum applies to any rolling 365-day window. If you space tests so that older administrations fall outside that rolling window, you can take additional tests. Over multiple years you may take the GRE more than five times, as long as you observe the 21-day rule and the five-times-per-365-day limit at all times.
Does the rule apply to GRE Subject Tests?
GRE Subject Tests have been managed differently in the past. If you plan to take a Subject Test, check the current ETS information for any format-specific frequency rules and availability. Policies can change, and ETS is the authoritative source for Subject Test procedures.
How long are GRE scores valid?
GRE scores are reported and usable for several years. ETS retains scores and reports them to institutions for a standard validity window. Check the ETS website for the current length of time scores are available for sending to programs, and confirm any program-specific requirements with individual departments.
Will programs see all my past attempts?
Programs receive the scores you choose to send under ScoreSelect, but ETS retains your testing history. Schools may ask for additional information, and some programs request that applicants submit all scores. Always verify individual program policies when deciding which scores to report.
Final thoughts and a quick checklist
ETS’s official limits make the answer to the core question straightforward: wait 21 days between tests, and do not exceed five administrations in any continuous 12-month period. Use that framework to plan thoughtfully rather than retaking impulsively.
Quick checklist before you retake the GRE:
- Confirm your eligibility under the 21-day and five-tests-per-365-days rules.
- Analyze official and practice score reports to identify specific weaknesses.
- Allow realistic study time, typically 6 to 12 weeks, focused on measurable improvements.
- Confirm test center dates, registration deadlines, and fees on the ETS website.
- Align retake timing with program deadlines and score-reporting timelines.
- If you have special circumstances, contact ETS and the test center early to understand options.
For the most current rules, fees, and format availability, verify details directly on the ETS GRE website and consult your target programs’ admissions pages before scheduling a retake.
