GRE Info – GRE Test Day
The GRE may be taken in one of two locations: at an approved test center or online from the comfort of your home. Test day procedures differ slightly depending on where you take the exam, so be sure to read the provided information carefully. Educational Testing Service (ETS), the administrator of the GRE, offers detailed lists of test day procedures and recommendations, as well as helpful advice for test-takers that you should thoroughly familiarize yourself with.
Taking the GRE Online
The GRE can be taken online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which makes it incredibly easy to schedule your testing appointment.
When to Check In
On the day of your exam, make sure the room where you will be taking the GRE is well lit and quiet. The table or desk your computer is on must be clear of anything except necessary items (see below for what to have in the room). Make sure all doors are closed, as you must be alone the entire time you take the exam. Remind anyone you live with that you will be taking the exam, which is 1 hour and 58 minutes long, and ask them not to interrupt you. Before logging on, close all computer browsers and disable any screen-sharing or remote-access software such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.
Sign in at least 15 minutes before your scheduled start time. You may click the “Start Your Test” link in the confirmation email you received or the “At Home Check-in” link in your ETS account. If you are more than 12 minutes late checking in, you will not be allowed to take the GRE, and you will not receive a refund for the cost of test registration, so it is imperative to be on time.
You will be asked by the proctor to show your ID, to show your computer screen using a small mirror or mobile phone, and to show a 360-degree view of the room where you are testing. You may be asked to provide a voice sample before your test begins, and your picture will be taken. Your entire testing session will be recorded and monitored by a human proctor, and you must remain in view of the proctor at all times. Food and drinks are not allowed while testing unless you have received special accomodations, and you may not leave the room, as there are no breaks when taking the GRE.
What to Have in the Room
You will need to have the following items in the room where you are taking the GRE so you can easily access them:
- Valid and acceptable identification
- A mirror or mobile phone to show the proctor your computer screen during check in
- Note taking materials, which can be
- A whiteboard with an erasable marker, or
- One blank piece of paper inside a transparent sleeve or sheet protector with an erasable marker
Clothing Recommendations
When you take the GRE at home, you can control the temperature in the room, which makes it easier to know how to dress. It is not necessary to dress as if you were attending an interview or business meeting; wear clothes that are comfortable and do not inhibit your movement. Layering can be helpful if you become too warm, and ETS recommends wearing no jewelry other than a wedding or engagement ring.
Taking the GRE at a Test Center
You can schedule a GRE testing appointment at approved test centers around the world on certain days of the year. Make sure you know exactly where the test center is located and how you plan to get there. If you are using public transportation, understand the subway, metro, or bus routes you will need to take; if you are driving yourself, consider doing a test drive to know how long it will take you to get there and where you are supposed to park (e.g., on the street, in a designated lot, or in a parking garage).
When to Arrive
Whether you are driving yourself, using public transportation, or having someone else drive you to the test center, make sure you leave early and give yourself plenty of time to accommodate unexpected traffic or road work. If you arrive late to your testing appointment, you will not be permitted to take the GRE, and you will not receive a refund, so it is far better to be early, even if that means waiting around a little while. You should strive to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Testing centers typically have very small waiting areas, so family members or friends are not permitted to wait inside for you while you take your exam.
When you check in, your identification verification may include any of the following:
- Biometric voice and photo identification
- Fingerprinting/thumbprinting
- Videotaping
- Signature comparison
Your photo will be taken, and you will be asked to sign a confidentiality and regulations agreement. You may also be asked to provide a voice sample. You will be assigned a locker in which to store your personal items; food, drink, and phones are not allowed in the testing room. Be sure to use the restroom prior to starting your test, as there are no breaks given during the GRE. You will be assigned a seat and given scratch paper; if you need additional scratch paper, you must turn in what you have already written on before receiving more. Your entire testing session will be recorded.
What to Bring
You will need to bring a valid and acceptable identification with you to the test center. You should also bring any approved medications you need to take. Any items besides your ID and approved medications are not allowed in the testing room, including phones, tablets, wearable technology, and watches.
Clothing Recommendations
When taking the GRE in a test center, you do not have control over the temperature of the room, which may be too hot or too cold for your liking. It is recommended that you dress in layers that can be removed if you become too warm. Jewelry other than a wedding or engagement ring is prohibited, and bowties, neckties, hats, scarves, and jackets are subject to inspection by test center staff. The following items are strictly prohibited:
- Tie clips
- Cuff links
- Ornate clips
- Combs
- Barrettes
- Headbands
- Other hair accessories
How to Remain Calm During the Test
By the time you are taking the GRE, you have already (hopefully) dedicated a substantial amount of time to studying the skills, content, and format of the test, so that the material feels familiar to you while you are working. The most important technique for maximizing your test score on the day of the test itself is to ensure that you focus and remain productive for the duration of the test. If you find yourself getting distracted during the exam, stop what you are doing and take a few seconds to refresh yourself.
Because the sections are independently timed, you do not need to hurry through questions at the cost of accuracy. If you find a reading passage that seems particularly difficult, or a math problem that does not make sense to you, skip it and review it after you have completed the rest of the section. Your attention and dedication are your most precious resources, and you must utilize them continuously if you are to endure through the test and achieve a top score.
Testing Accommodations
For students with disabilities or health needs, ETS has a variety of testing accommodations available, including: Extended Testing Time; Extended Breaks; special keyboards, touchpads, trackballs, screen magnification, and selectable testing colors; reader or scribe assistants; oral or sign language interpreters, or printed copies of spoken directions; brailes slates and styluses.
ETS will also make accommodation for a variety of medical conditions, including those affecting digestion, immune function, respiration, circulation, endocrine functions, or conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, and chronic pain. Students requiring accommodation must submit registration forms, a letter of support from a doctor or medical professional describing the condition and the nature of the required accommodation, and a registration fee. More information about this, as well as the required forms, can be found on the ETS website. Students who use wheelchairs, canes, crutches, service animals, or insulin pumps do not need to make a special request to receive accommodations.