GRE Retake Policy: How Often You Can Retest

By Muntasir Jul 19, 2026 5 min read

TL;DR

You are allowed to retake the GRE up to 5 times within any rolling 12-month period, even if you canceled a previous score. ETS requires at least 21 days between two test dates. A retake costs the same as your first attempt: $249 in most locations, $231.30 in China. There is no discounted fee for retesting. ScoreSelect lets you choose which test date's scores reach your schools, so a lower attempt never has to appear. For your 4 free score reports on test day, you choose Most Recent or All scores from the past 5 years.

GRE Retake Policy: How Often You Can Retest

The GRE allows retakes, but ETS limits how often you sit the exam and sets a fixed wait between test dates. A retake also costs the same fee as your first attempt, with no discount for trying again. Before you book a second test date, check these limits.

This guide covers the attempt cap and wait period ETS enforces, the retake fee, how ScoreSelect controls which scores reach your schools, and how to decide whether a retake is worth the cost.

GRE Retake Rules at a Glance

Here are the core numbers for planning a retake, drawn from ETS's official registration and fee pages.

Rule	Detail
Maximum attempts	Up to 5 times within any rolling 12-month (365-day) period
Minimum wait between test dates	21 days
Retake fee	$249 in most locations, $231.30 in China, same as a first attempt

How Many Times You Are Allowed to Retake the GRE

ETS caps retakes at 5 in a rolling 12-month window rather than a fixed calendar year. You are allowed to sit the GRE General Test up to 5 times within any continuous rolling 12-month (365-day) period, counted from each test date. ETS enforces this cap even when a 6th registration goes through. If the violation is identified after registration but before the test administration, the testing appointment is canceled and test fees are forfeited, so a booking confirmation is no proof your attempt is within the limit.

The count includes attempts where you canceled your score at the test center. A canceled score still counts toward your 5-attempt limit, so canceling does not buy you an extra try. Because the period rolls forward with each test date instead of resetting on a fixed date, count back 365 days from a planned test date to see how many attempts fall inside the window.

Minimum Wait Between GRE Test Dates

ETS requires at least 21 days between two GRE test dates. Register for a retake only after this gap passes, regardless of delivery format or test center.

Build this gap into your planning early. If a program deadline sits close, a canceled or low score from your first attempt leaves a narrow window for one retake before scores are due. Our GRE test dates guide covers how to schedule around application deadlines.

What a GRE Retake Costs

A retake is a new registration, not a rescheduled appointment, so it is billed at the standard test fee.

Fee	Most Locations	China
Standard / retake test fee	$249	$231.30
Rescheduling fee (moving an existing appointment)	$55	$53.90

ETS charges the same test fee for a retake as for any other sitting: $249 in most areas of the world, $231.30 in China. Do not confuse this with the lower rescheduling fee, which only applies when you move an already-booked appointment to a new date rather than register for an additional attempt.

For a full breakdown of every GRE-related charge, see our GRE cost and fees guide.

How ScoreSelect Controls Which Scores Schools See

ETS built ScoreSelect so a retake does not force a weaker score in front of admissions readers. ScoreSelect lets you choose which test administration's scores get sent to each score recipient, so you send the scores showing your personal best.

Choosing Free Score Reports on Test Day

Right after you see your unofficial scores, ETS gives you 4 free score reports to send. For each of these 4 reports, choose Most Recent, sending only the current administration, or All, sending every administration from the past 5 years. Choose Most Recent to keep an earlier, weaker score out of these free reports.

Choosing Paid Score Reports After Test Day

Beyond your 4 free reports, ETS sells Additional Score Reports at any point after test day. These paid reports add a third option: Most Recent, All (within 5 years), or Any, letting you pick one or several specific past administrations within the past 5 years. Any gives you the most control, useful when one section from an earlier attempt outscored your latest one.

For the full validity window and how long each score stays reportable, see our GRE ScoreSelect and score validity guide.

Deciding Whether to Retake the GRE

A retake fee runs $249 in most locations, so weigh the cost against the realistic gain before you book a new date.

Compare your score against the range your target programs expect. Our GRE good score guide breaks down competitive ranges by field.
Check your gap section by section, not only on the combined score. A weak Quant score next to a strong Verbal score points to focused review on one section, not a full retake.
Confirm your timeline fits the 21-day wait and your application deadline before you commit to a second date.
Test your readiness with a full practice run before you pay again. Try our free GRE practice tests and drills, no signup required, so you gauge your score gain before spending on an official retake.

If your practice scores sit close to your target range, a focused review session might close the gap without a second sitting. If practice scores sit well below your target, ETS's own attempt limit gives you room: up to 5 sittings in a rolling year, spaced at least 21 days apart.