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Can Indians Give the GRE Exam 2026? Eligibility, Passport Rules, Fees in India, At-Home Option & Full Guide



Can Indians Give the GRE Exam
Can Indians Give the GRE Exam

Yes—Indians can absolutely give the GRE exam in 2026. The GRE General Test is available to test takers in India at test centers and also as GRE at Home (online proctored), and ETS provides India-specific rules for ID (passport), fees, retake policy, and score timelines.

This blog explains everything you need for 2026: eligibility clarity for Indians, required documents, registration steps, fees, how often you can take the exam, current score reporting timelines, and smart prep tips (including question types like Quantitative Comparison, Numeric Entry, and more).



Can Indians give the GRE exam 2026? (Clear Eligibility Answer)


The direct answer

✅ Yes. Indian students can take the GRE General Test in 2026. ETS runs GRE in India via official registration, and you can schedule the test at a center or take it at home (online proctored), depending on your preference and readiness.


Is there any nationality restriction?

ETS does not publish “nationality restrictions” for taking the GRE General Test the way some exams do; instead, the key eligibility requirement for India is meeting the ID policy (passport requirement) and test policies. India-focused GRE eligibility pages also state there is no nationality-based restriction for taking GRE—Indian students can take it like any other test taker.



Who Should Take the GRE in 2026?

Indians typically take the GRE for :


  • MS / PhD programs (USA, Canada, Europe, etc.)

  • Some MBA / business master’s programs (many accept GRE)

  • Scholarships and fellowships requiring GRE scores

Even if your target university is “GRE optional,” a strong score can still help in competitive programs—always check the program’s official admissions page



GRE in India 2026: Test Options Available

1) GRE at a Test Center in India

ETS India confirms the GRE General Test is offered most days of the week at a test center near you. You can search for availability while registering via ETS.



2) GRE at Home (Online Proctored)

ETS India confirms at-home testing is available around the clock, 7 days a week, monitored by a human proctor, and the at-home test is identical to the test-center version.

✅ For many Indian students in 2026, GRE at Home is a practical option if:

  • You want flexible slots (night/early morning)

  • The nearest test center is far

  • You can meet room + device requirements



Passport & ID Rules for Indians (This Is the Most Important Part)


To “give GRE” in India, you must follow ETS’s India ID requirements.


ETS ID requirement in India (Primary ID)

ETS India lists Passport (with name, photograph, and signature) as the acceptable primary ID document for testing within India (your country of citizenship).

Practical tip for 2026:

  • Your ETS account name must match your passport name

  • Book only after checking your passport validity and details

  • Avoid nickname spellings (even small mismatch can create test-day problems)


Step-by-Step: How Indians Can Register for GRE in 2026

ETS provides a GRE registration hub for the General Test.


Registration steps (simple)

  1. Create / sign in to your ETS account

  2. Choose GRE General Test

  3. Select test center or at home

  4. Pick date & time

  5. Enter details exactly as per passport

  6. Pay the fee and confirm your appointment

To schedule the GRE General Test, ETS India directs you to the schedule page and booking flow.


GRE Fees in India for 2026 (Verified ETS India Page)

ETS India lists the official service fees in INR (these matter for rescheduling, extra score reports, etc.).


Common fees Indian test takers should know

  • Rescheduling fee: ₹5,000

  • Changing test center: ₹5,000

  • Additional score report: ₹2,900

  • Score review: ₹5,900

  • Score reinstatement: ₹5,000

Note: The main test fee amount may be shown during checkout and can be updated by ETS. Always rely on the fee displayed in your ETS booking/payment page.

GRE Retake Policy in 2026 (How Many Times Can Indians Take GRE?)

ETS India clearly states the retake policy for the GRE General Test:

  • You can take it once every 21 days

  • Up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month (365-day) period

  • This applies even if you canceled scores previously

So yes—Indians can take GRE multiple times in a year, but plan properly to avoid wasting attempts.




Score Reporting Timeline in 2026 (When You’ll Get Your GRE Scores)

ETS India states:

  • Your official GRE scores are available in your ETS account 8–10 days after your test date 

  • Electronic scores are delivered to institutions twice a week (delivery method affects speed)

  • Scores are reportable for 5 years 

✅ For Fall 2026 admissions: Take the GRE early enough to cover score reporting + university deadlines.



What the GRE Exam Looks Like in 2026 (Paper Pattern & Question Types)


Even though most students say “GRE exam paper,” the GRE is typically computer-based. The skills tested remain the same:

  • Quantitative Reasoning

  • Verbal Reasoning

  • Analytical Writing


Question types you’ll see (aligned with what you shared earlier)

Quantitative Reasoning

  • Quantitative Comparison (QC): choose A/B/C/D based on the relationship

  • Multiple-choice (single answer / multiple answers)

  • Numeric Entry

  • Data interpretation sets

Verbal Reasoning

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Text Completion

  • Sentence Equivalence


Analytical Writing

  • Issue task (one essay task)

Also, ETS provides an on-screen calculator in Quant (basic operations), so practice with a simple calculator—not advanced functions.


Mini GRE Practice Set (Original, 2026-Style)

Here are quick sample questions to preview the “paper style” you’ll face.


Quantitative Comparison (QC)

QC-1 Quantity A: 70% of 150Quantity B: 0.7 × 140(A) A is greater (B) B is greater (C) equal (D) cannot determine

Problem Solving (MCQ)

PS-1If March dogs = 2× March cats, and April dogs = 2× March dogs, April cats = 3× March cats, total pets in both months = 500, March dogs = ?(A) 80 (B) 100 (C) 120 (D) 160 (E) 180

Numeric Entry

NE-1Salary = 2500 + 10.5% of sales. Total = 3025. Find sales.

Verbal: Sentence Equivalence (Choose two)

His apology sounded ________, so nobody believed he truly regretted it.(A) heartfelt (B) perfunctory (C) sincere (D) mechanical (E) passionate (F) genuine

Answer Key

QC-1: A = 105, B = 98 → (A)PS-1: 100NE-1: Commission = 525; Sales = 525/0.105 = 5000SE: (B) and (D)




Best Tips for Indian Students Taking GRE in 2026

  1. Use passport-matching details in ETS account (most common mistake).

  2. Choose test center vs at-home based on your environment and device reliability.

  3. Use your attempts wisely—retake policy is strict (21 days; 5 times/365 days).

  4. Don’t book close to deadlines—scores take 8–10 days to arrive.

  5. Practice with real formats: QC, Numeric Entry, multi-select MCQs, and timed Verbal sets.



FAQ (2026)


Q1) Can Indians give the GRE exam 2026 without a passport?

For testing in India, ETS lists passport as the acceptable primary ID document for admission to the test session. So practically, you should plan to take GRE only when you have a valid passport that matches your ETS profile.


Q2) Can Indians take GRE at home in 2026?

Yes. ETS India states GRE at Home is available around the clock, 7 days a week, monitored by a human proctor, and it’s identical to the test-center version.


Q3) How many times can Indian students take GRE in a year?

ETS states you can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within a rolling 12 months (365 days).


Q4) When will Indians get GRE scores in 2026?

ETS says official scores are available 8–10 days after the test date in your ETS account.



CTA: Official Links to Start Your GRE Journey (2026)


Use these ETS India pages to act immediately:


  • Schedule your GRE (test center / availability) 


  • GRE at Home: Requirements + How it works 


  • India ID requirements (Passport rule) 


  • GRE fees in India (reschedule, extra score reports, etc.) 



If you tell me your target intake (Fall 2026 / Spring 2027) and your target score, I’ll create a 30-day or 60-day study plan with weekly practice sets (Quant + Verbal + AWA) based on the current GRE pattern.

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