GRE Registration 2026, Fee, ScoreSelect and How to Apply in India (~72 chars)

GRE registration works differently depending on which test a candidate needs. The GRE General Test runs on a rolling, year-round schedule with no fixed dates, while the GRE Subject Test is only offered in three specific two-week windows each year. Conducted by ETS, the same organisation behind TOEFL, GRE registration happens through a personal ETS account and costs approximately Rs 22,000 for the General Test in India. GRE scores stay valid for 5 years, the longest validity period among major graduate admission tests, and candidates can retake the General Test up to 5 times within any rolling 12-month period.

GRE General Test vs Subject Test: Two Different Registration Calendars

GRE is really two separate exams with two separate registration patterns. Most candidates only ever deal with the General Test, but anyone targeting a programme that specifically requires a Subject Test needs to plan around a much narrower calendar.

A candidate who needs both tests should register for the General Test whenever convenient but must specifically plan around the next available Subject Test window, since missing one means waiting months for the next.

How GRE's ScoreSelect Feature Works

ScoreSelect is one of GRE's defining features and something neither TOEFL nor most other graduate tests offer in quite the same way. It lets candidates control exactly which attempt's scores a university actually sees.

• On test day, candidates choose to send either their Most Recent scores or All scores from the past 5 years to up to 4 institutions for free.
• After test day, candidates can order Additional Score Reports and choose from Most Recent, All, or Any specific attempt to send, for a fee per report.
• This means a candidate who takes the GRE three times can choose to send only their best attempt to a specific university, without that university ever seeing the lower scores.
• Some universities have their own score-reporting rules regardless of ScoreSelect, so checking each programme's specific policy before sending is worth doing.

GRE Registration Fee in India

The General Test and Subject Test are priced differently, and several add-on services carry their own separate charges. All fees are set in USD by ETS, so the exact INR amount can shift slightly with the exchange rate.

Payment is accepted through international Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards, and UPI or net banking for candidates paying from India directly.

How to Register for GRE

GRE registration is entirely online and takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes once a test date and format are decided. Unlike some other ETS exams, GRE registration cannot be completed over the phone in India.

• Step 1: Visit ets.org/gre and create an ETS account using a legal name that exactly matches your passport.
• Step 2: Choose between the GRE General Test or GRE Subject Test, based on what your target programmes require.
• Step 3: Select a test centre appointment or the GRE at Home option.
• Step 4: Browse available dates and centres in your city, then select a preferred slot.
• Step 5: Fill in personal and academic details, and complete the mandatory questionnaire covering your background.
• Step 6: Optionally opt in to the GRE Search Service, which allows universities and scholarship programmes to reach out based on your profile.
• Step 7: Review your details and pay the fee using an international card, UPI, or net banking.
• Step 8: Receive an email confirmation containing your test date, time, and centre details, which serves as your registration proof.

GRE at Home: Mandatory Second Camera Starting 2026

GRE at Home has always offered the same format, scoring, and university acceptance as the test centre version. What changed for 2026 is the proctoring setup, which now requires a second camera in addition to the usual webcam.

• A secondary camera device, typically a smartphone, must be positioned to monitor the desk and hands throughout the session, on top of the primary webcam used for identity verification.
• Only a desktop or laptop computer can be used as the main testing device. Mobile phones and tablets cannot run the actual test.
• The ETS Secure Browser must be installed and tested in advance to confirm system compatibility before the scheduled test time.
• Continuous live proctoring applies throughout, with no scheduled breaks permitted during GRE at Home sessions, unlike the test centre version which does allow a short break.

Documents Needed for GRE Registration

GRE's document requirements in India are narrow but strictly enforced. Getting the ID rule wrong is one of the most common reasons candidates are turned away on test day.

• A valid, original, unexpired Indian passport is the only accepted primary ID for Indian test-takers, at both test centres and for GRE at Home.
• Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, voter IDs, and driving licences are explicitly not accepted as primary identification.
• The name in the ETS account must match the passport exactly, since even small spelling or ordering differences can result in denied entry.
• No academic transcripts or certificates are uploaded during registration itself; these are requested separately by universities during the application process.

GRE Score Validity and Retake Rules

GRE scores stay usable for longer than most competing tests, which gives candidates more flexibility in timing their test relative to their actual application deadlines.

• Scores remain valid for 5 years from the test date, compared to 2 years for TOEFL and Duolingo. A GRE taken early in an undergraduate degree can still be used for graduate applications years later.
• Candidates can retake the General Test as many as 5 times within any rolling 12-month period.
• A minimum gap of 21 days is required between consecutive attempts.
• There is no limit on lifetime attempts, only the 5-per-12-months and 21-day spacing rules apply.

Rescheduling, Cancelling, and No-Shows for GRE

GRE's policies around changing or missing an appointment are stricter than they might first appear, particularly for candidates who simply do not show up without cancelling in advance.

• Rescheduling: must be done at least 4 days before the scheduled test date, for a fee of roughly Rs 5,000 to Rs 5,650, through the ETS account.
• Cancellation: candidates who cancel at least 4 days before the test get a 50% refund of the fee. Cancelling within 4 days forfeits the entire amount.
• No-show: failing to appear for a booked test without cancelling results in losing the entire fee, with no partial refund of any kind.
• Refunds, where applicable, are processed in USD back to the original payment method.

After Registering for GRE

Once registration is confirmed, the email confirmation serves as the admit card, since GRE does not issue a traditional hall ticket. On test day, candidates carry their passport along with this confirmation to the centre, or complete ID verification on-screen for GRE at Home. Official scores typically appear in the ETS account within 8 to 10 days of the test, after which candidates use ScoreSelect to choose which attempt to send to their target universities. From there, each institution runs its own separate admission process, including shortlisting and interviews where applicable.

GRE Registration FAQs

Ques: Can I register for the GRE Subject Test any time of year like the General Test?

Ques: If I take the GRE three times, does the university see all three scores?

Ques: What happens if I miss my GRE appointment without cancelling?

Ques: Is the GRE Subject Test available as an at-home option in India?

Ques: How long are GRE scores valid compared to TOEFL?