GRE Limits on Retakes

The GRE is a standardized exam that assesses a test-taker’s readiness for completing graduate-level work. The test can be taken every 21 days or up to five (5) times in any continuous 12-month period of 365 days, and these retake limits are the same whether you can take the exam in a test center or remotely from your home. Below are commonly asked questions about retaking the GRE that may help you in deciding if you should retake the exam:

Q: How much does it cost to retake the GRE? Do I get a discount for taking it a second or third time?

A: There are no discounts when retaking the GRE, which means you will pay the full price of $220 every time you retake the exam.

Q: If I took my first GRE at a test center, do I need to retake the test in the same location?

A: No. Each test administration is unique and has no bearing on another administration, which means where you retake the GRE does not matter, nor does it affect your scores.

Q: I didn’t earn the GRE scores I wanted. Should I retake the exam?

A: This depends on several factors. If you experienced an unexpected, adverse event shortly before or on the day of your exam, it is very likely this event negatively affected your score. Learning about the death of a loved one, having a fight with a friend, not sleeping well because of loud neighbors, or coming down with the flu the morning of the test are just a few examples of adverse events that might affect your stamina and concentration during the exam. In these or similar instances, it makes sense to take the GRE again because 1) the chances of another adverse event occurring are very low, and 2) without the experience of the adverse event, it is likely that you would have performed well on the exam (provided that you prepared diligently, of course).

If, however, your low scores were not due to an unpredictable event that negatively impacted you, you will want to think seriously about retaking the GRE. Here are some questions to consider:

Can you realistically devote more time to studying for the exam?
Can you work with a test prep professional or take a prep course if you did not do so before?
Are there test-taking strategies you did not learn or implement before that you can now focus on mastering?
Consider the application deadlines of the programs you are applying to. Do you have time to wait the required 21 days between tests, take the test again, then wait another 8-10 days for official scores to be sent to designated programs?
How large of a score improvement do you need in order for the retake to make you a more competitive applicant? Is this score improvement realistic and/or attainable?

These are just a few things to consider, and there may be other factors unique to you and your situation that affect your ability to retake the GRE.

Q: How many times should I retake the GRE?

A: Only you can answer this question for yourself, based on factors including the deadlines of the programs you are applying to, the average scores of accepted students in the programs you are applying to, your ability to financially afford paying for the GRE again, your availability when it comes to scheduling your test, how much of a score improvement you need to achieve, whether you can devote additional time to studying, and what you can do differently to prepare this time around that you did not do before.

Q: Do most people earn higher scores when taking the GRE a second or third time?

A: According to data from Educational Testing Service (ETS), the maker and administrator of the GRE, approximately 25% of all test-takers take the GRE more than once and most do see an improvement in their scores, typically somewhere between 5-10 points. For some test-takers, this is enough of an increase to warrant retaking the GRE. But remember that it is always easier to improve a low score than a high score, and test prep professionals caution that it is much more likely for you to move from a score of 150 to 160 than to move from a score of 160 to 170.

This is because after reaching a score of 160 or higher, test-takers miss questions because those questions are incredibly difficult, not because they were simply careless or rushing or failed to manage their time. As you move past the 90^th percentile in Verbal Reasoning (a score of 162-163) and the 60^th percentile in Quantitative Reasoning (a score of 162), each question requires you to work at the highest level to gain even one single point.

So, if your first Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scores were well below 160, it is very likely you could see an improvement of 5-10 points provided you have studied diligently and addressed any areas of weakness that affected your scores the first time you took the exam. But if you achieved scores in the mid-to-high 160s and still want to earn even higher scores, know that while it is possible, it is also unlikely without significant effort on your part.

Q: What if I take the GRE a second time and score even lower than the first time?

A: This can definitely happen, but if it does, all is not lost…you can simply choose to send your previous GRE scores to schools, as you are not required to send only your most recent scores. Thanks to the GRE’s ScoreSelect option, you have three options when it comes to sending scores:

You can send your most recent GRE scores;
You can send all your GRE scores;
You can send GRE scores from a specific test administration.

The one thing you cannot do is select and combine scores from different test administrations. For example, you cannot send Verbal Reasoning scores from a test you took in April and Quantitative Reasoning scores from a test you took in July.

Q: What is the best way to avoid having to retake the GRE?

A: First, you should set target scores for the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections based on the GRE scores of students who have been accepted to the programs you are going to apply to. These scores can easily be found online, usually on the program’s website, but you can always email the admissions department for specific information.

Second, you should take a practice test to see how you perform, as this will determine the content you need to study, as well as the time management and/or test-taking skills you need to learn or review.

Next, you should structure your study plan, whether that means engaging in self-directed preparation, enrolling in a prep course, or working with a private tutor.

And finally, you should continue taking practice exams to measure how well you are progressing on each section and to determine if there are any persistent areas where you are significantly weaker than others. Once you are regularly achieving scores at or above your target scores, you are ready to take the GRE for real. While of course things do not always go as planned, this is the best way to obtain your highest scores the first time you take the GRE, which will keep you from having to take it a second or third time.

Conclusion

While the GRE can be taken up to five times in a year, retaking the exam is not always the best option for your academic and professional goals. The best way to prepare for the GRE is to begin early and study in whatever method works best for you, whether that means utilizing guidebooks, enrolling in a group prep course, or working one-one-one with a private tutor. Allow yourself enough time to take the exam again if you need to but prepare for it as if you plan to take it only once. At Manhattan Review, we are dedicated to helping our students achieve their highest test scores, and we offer several test prep options designed to result in GRE mastery.