How Long After You Take the Gre Can You Take It Again
One question that I hear all the time from GRE students is, "How many times can yous take the GRE?" Notwithstanding, there is an equally important question that students thinking virtually taking the GRE multiple times should consider: How many times should you lot accept the GRE?
In this article, I'll answer all of the virtually common questions well-nigh retaking the GRE and discuss pros and cons of taking the GRE multiple times.
First, permit's look at the number of times test-takers are allowed to sit down for the GRE.
- How Many Times Can You Take the GRE?
- How Often Can You Have the GRE?
- How Many Times Should You Have the GRE?
- What Are the Consequences of Taking the GRE Multiple Times?
- Should You Keep Retaking the GRE?
How Many Times Can You Have the GRE?
The curt reply to this question is that you can take the GRE an unlimited number of times. As I'll discuss later in this commodity, there are a few reasons why you probably wouldn't desire to keep retaking the GRE over and over again, simply the fact is, you have the option to do and then. There is no lifetime limit on the full number of times a person can sit for the GRE, whether for the General Test, a Subject Examination, or whatever combination of the ii (though for the purposes of this article, nosotros will focus on the GRE General Test).
At that place are, however, some limitations and waiting periods related to retaking the test — we'll review all of those presently. First, it'south important to be aware of what counts every bit a GRE effort and what will not be recorded equally a examination attempt. Let's take a await.
- If you abolish your GRE score from an exam, that test DOES still count equally a GRE try. Any time yous sit for an actual GRE examination, whether at domicile or at a test center, the exam attempt counts.
- If you cancel your GRE exam date, that canceled test does Non count every bit an exam try considering y'all did not really sit down for the exam.
- If yous are a no-prove on test day (you lot did not abolish your GRE, but you did non show upwards for your examination appointment), that exam does NOT count as a GRE try because you did not actually sit down for the exam.
Basically, whatever time you really sit down for the GRE, regardless of what you do with your test scores or where you take the test, it counts. And, whatever fourth dimension you don't really sit down for the GRE, it doesn't count. Makes sense, correct?
Fundamental FACT:
There is no lifetime limit on the total number of times a person can sit for the GRE, whether for the Full general Test, a Bailiwick Test, or any combination of the 2.
At present, although there is no limit on the full number of times you can take the GRE, there is a limit on the number of times you can take the test within a sure period. Let's discuss that adjacent.
How Often Can You lot Take the GRE?
Exam-takers are allowed to retake the GRE no more than v times within any continuous 365-day period. Furthermore, you must wait at least 21 days to retake the GRE, regardless of how many times you've taken it in the last 365 days (note that GRE Subject Tests are offered only 3 times per year, so you lot cannot have those every 21 days). These rules use even if you canceled your GRE scores from a previous test. Remember, a GRE attempt even so counts if you lot cancel your test scores from that attempt.
Note likewise that the at-dwelling house GRE and GREs administered at test centers share the aforementioned annual count. So, regardless of where yous sit for the exam, you still have to await 21 days for your retake, and you cannot exceed 5 attempts within the rolling 1-year period.
Cardinal FACT:
You lot retake the GRE every 21 days but cannot exceed 5 GRE attempts within a sequent 365-day period.
So, let's say that you made your first GRE attempt on March fifteen, 2021. Feasibly, yous could sit for the GRE every 21 days and reach your annual limit of 5 attempts past the end of June. At that point, you lot would have to expect until March 16, 2022 to make effort number six. Of form, this scenario is highly unlikely, and I wouldn't recommend taking this kind of approach to the exam, for several reasons that we'll before long discuss. The important thing to annotation right now is that, if you need to retake the GRE, yous don't accept to exercise so in 21 days simply because you accept the pick to. Whether yous're gearing up for your first GRE try or your fifth, ideally, you should take the exam only when you lot experience fully prepared to hitting your score goal.
TTP PRO TIP:
Whether y'all're gearing up for your kickoff GRE endeavor or your fifth, ideally, you should take the exam only when you lot feel fully prepared to hitting your score goal.
Now that you know how many times and how often you lot tin take the GRE, you lot may be wondering whether graduate schools view applicants who take taken the GRE more than than once unfavorably.
How Many Times Should You Accept the GRE?
The fact of the thing is, many test-takers sit for the GRE more than in one case and even retake the GRE multiple times. So, there is no shame in having to retake the GRE. In fact, when selecting GRE test dates with your application deadlines in mind, you should factor in a absorber of fourth dimension for retaking the test at least once (if not twice). When it comes to the GRE, a wise motto to live by is, "Hope for the all-time, but prepare for the worst."
If upon hearing all this you lot're still nervous that grad schools might view your application unfavorably if yous take the GRE multiple times, I accept good news for you: graduate schools never have to know you've taken the GRE more than once. ETS, the maker of the GRE, offers test-takers an choice chosen ScoreSelect, which allows you to transport only your almost recent score to schools. And then, if you accept low test scores from previous GRE attempts, or you just don't want schools to know that you've taken the GRE more than in one case, you tin can continue that information private. (To read more than nearly the ScoreSelect pick, check out this handy guide to sending your GRE scores to schools.)
With all of this said, if you've already sent GRE scores to schools and finish up retaking the test and sending out additional examination scores to those same schools, I don't want you lot to panic. Grad schools know that many (if not most) students end up taking the GRE more than one time, and in full general, schools will pay attention only to your highest score.
Think nigh information technology: would it make much sense for schools to penalize students for trying again and successfully improving? Not really. So, if you remember you lot can improve your score, at that place is no reason non to give the test another shot, fifty-fifty if you lot've already sent past GRE scores to schools.
TTP PRO TIP:
If possible, schedule your first GRE so that you'll have enough fourth dimension before your application deadlines to prepare further and retake the GRE once or twice if necessary.
So, the simple answer to the question of how many times you should take the GRE is that you should take it as many times as yous need to in lodge to reach your score goal. However, in that location are some serious points to consider near retaking the GRE multiple times. Let's discuss those now.
What Are the Consequences of Taking the GRE Multiple Times?
Although graduate schools never have to know that you've taken the GRE more than in one case, there are some consequences of retaking the exam multiple times. For one, the GRE is not exactly cheap for most people. From prep materials and practice tests to exam registration and score reporting fees, GRE expenses tin can rack upwards pretty rapidly. While some of those expenses represent a necessary investment in your future, others are avoidable if you programme ahead and have a smart strategy.
In particular, exam registration is i of the biggest fees that GRE test-takers incur, so avoiding unnecessary retakes is primal if y'all're hoping to keep costs low. For instance, imagine you're the student from our earlier example who takes the GRE v times in one yr. Without taking into account any other GRE expenses, you lot will have spent more $one,000 on the GRE! On the other hand, if y'all requite yourself time to study for the GRE until you lot are truly prepared to sit for the examination, rather than rely on your ability to retake the GRE over and over, y'all can put that money toward other things — moving expenses for graduate school, for case.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the process of preparing for the GRE and actually sitting for the exam is both time-consuming and, allow'due south face it, pretty stressful. Learning GRE content, honing your test-taking skills, and tackling a nearly 4-hr examination are mentally and physically taxing experiences that need difficult work and sacrifice. Early on mornings and late nights of studying, weekends hitting the books instead of hanging out with friends, less time with your family — preparing for GRE fifty-fifty once tin can take a huge impact on your daily life, for months at a time. And then, while a few GRE attempts may be manageable, taking the GRE numerous times isn't very applied, especially if your schedule is already packed with work and other responsibilities.
Aside from gobbling up a lot of your time and free energy — fourth dimension and free energy you could be putting toward, say, completing your grad school applications — retaking the GRE over and over once more and seeing little or no comeback in your score tin can be pretty demoralizing. At a certain indicate, each retake could go some other hit to your confidence, and eventually you lot may fifty-fifty meet your GRE scores decrease every bit a result.
So, even if your upkeep isn't a concern, you should absolutely aim to hitting your score goal on your offset GRE attempt and practice everything in your ability to prepare yourself to do so. Moreover, make certain that yous're setting your GRE test dates based not on arbitrary timelines (such as a 21-twenty-four hours waiting period) but on your readiness to achieve your score goal.
Permit's discuss these important considerations a trivial further.
TTP PRO TIP:
The best way to avert unnecessary retakes is to make sure that you prepare your test dates based not on arbitrary timelines merely on your readiness to accomplish your score goal.
Should You lot Keep Retaking the GRE?
At a sure indicate, all GRE test-takers who have yet to hitting their score goals must consider the law of diminishing returns. Familiarity with the examination can certainly work to your reward, and you may very well feel less nervous near the exam-taking experience if you've been through it before. Only if y'all've taken the GRE multiple times and have yet to hit your score goal, at some point you lot have to stop and ask yourself whether retaking the test over and once again is really the reply.
It'due south true that even well-prepared test-takers may not hit their score goals on their commencement or second (or even third) GRE endeavour. But if all yous're doing is preparing for the GRE in the same mode y'all've always prepared, using the aforementioned prep materials and strategies you've always used, then why would GRE attempt number 4 exist any unlike from attempt number 3 or ii? As I mentioned earlier, you lot may even end up becoming more than and more drawn and frustrated past boosted GRE attempts, causing your test performance to endure and taking you fifty-fifty farther from your goal.
To avert that scenario — or if you're currently in this very situation — it's important to ask yourself some key questions. Commencement and foremost, are you hitting your score goal on full-length, official GRE practice tests? If not, then you probably aren't ready to retake the GRE. 2d, if yous've taken the GRE a few times already and are preparing for some other retake, have you adjusted your exam prep in whatsoever way? Sought out new prep materials that are more comprehensive or better suited to your needs? Increased the number of hours you study for the GRE each week, implemented more than consistent study hours, or looked into more efficient ways to study for the GRE, if whatever of those issues take plagued your examination prep?
The point is, if you are seriously worried that after several GRE attempts, y'all still may not exist prepared to accomplish your goal, y'all need to finish and take a hard look at how you lot are preparing for the GRE, and brand some adjustments before yous schedule any further exams.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you are not hitting your score goal on full-length, official GRE exercise tests, and then you probably aren't set to retake the GRE.
For tips and strategies to help yous reach your score goal every bit efficiently equally possible, bank check out this commodity on how to earn a 330+ on the GRE.
Source: https://gre.blog.targettestprep.com/how-many-times-can-you-take-the-gre/