How to Apply for GRE Exam in 2026: Step-by-Step Registration, Fees, ID Rules, At-Home vs Test Center & Score Sending

How to Apply

Applying for the GRE in 2026 is straightforward—if you follow ETS rules carefully. Most application problems happen because of name/ID mismatches, selecting the wrong test mode, or missing reschedule/cancellation deadlines. This guide walks you through how to apply for GRE exam (GRE General Test) step-by-step using the latest ETS requirements, with India-specific fee details and the newest test format details for 2026.

GRE 2026 quick facts (what you should know before registering)

The GRE General Test (current format) is about 1 hour 58 minutes and includes:

• Analytical Writing: 1 Issue task (30 minutes)

• Two Verbal sections + Two Quant sections with updated question counts/timings

Scoring (official):

• Verbal: 130–170

• Quant: 130–170

• AWA: 0–6 

How to apply for GRE exam (2026) — Step-by-step registration process

Step 1: Create your ETS account (most important step)

Go to the official ETS GRE registration page and create/login to your ETS account.

Critical tip (don’t skip):Your name in your ETS account must match your ID exactly. ETS clearly states the ID you present must match the name you used to register; otherwise you can be denied entry.

Step 2: Choose the correct GRE test type

Inside your ETS account, you’ll choose:

• GRE General Test (most common for MS/MBA/PhD)

• OR GRE Subject Test (Math/Physics/Psychology—only when a program asks for it)

  
  

Step 3: Decide where you want to take the GRE (Test Center vs At Home)

ETS lets you choose:

• Test Center (in-person)

• At Home (online proctored)

At home availability note: ETS states the GRE at home is offered where the test is normally available, based on your ETS account address country.

Step 4: Pick your date and time (and plan for score delivery)

ETS says the GRE General Test is offered 24 hours a day at home and most days at test centers.

Score timeline (very important for applications):

• ETS states your official scores are available 8–10 days after your test date, and electronic scores are delivered to institutions twice a week.

So in 2026, you should ideally schedule your test at least 2–4 weeks before your university deadline to be safe (score availability + university processing time).

Step 5: Pay the GRE fee (India 2026)

ETS India lists these standard fees:

• GRE General Test: ₹ 22,000

• GRE Subject Test: ₹ 14,500 

  
  

ETS also lists common related service fees (India), such as:

• Rescheduling fee: ₹ 5,000

• Changing test center: ₹ 5,000

• Additional score report: ₹ 2,900

Step 6: Confirm your appointment and save proof

After payment, ETS will show confirmation inside your account. Save:

• Appointment confirmation

• Test date/time + location (or at-home details)

• Your ETS login credentials

What documents do you need to apply for GRE in 2026?

ID requirement (India + international rule)

ETS India’s ID page states that when testing outside your country of citizenship, you must present a valid passport with name, photograph, and signature as primary ID, with no exceptions to that policy.

At the test center, ETS again emphasizes your ID must match your registration name.

Practical rule for 2026:Use your passport name spelling in your ETS profile to avoid last-minute rejection.

At-home GRE in 2026: requirements you must follow

ETS has strict at-home rules. Some important official highlights include:

• You must be alone in the room

• You must use the ETS Secure Browser

• You must disable remote-access/screen-sharing software

• The GRE at home has no breaks, and unscheduled breaks are not permitted

If your setup or environment violates rules, ETS warns you may be dismissed and your fee may not be refunded.

Best practice: Run equipment checks early and test internet stability at the same time of day you plan to test.

Test center GRE in 2026: what to expect on test day

At the center:

• Bring valid ID

• Ensure your name matches exactly

• Follow test center instructions and security rules

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Reschedule, retake, or cancel: 2026 rules you should know

Retake rule (official)

ETS states you can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days).

Rescheduling (and score timing)

If you need to change plans, ETS provides official scheduling guidance on its schedule page and shows India rescheduling fees on the fee page.

How to send GRE scores after you apply (ScoreSelect advantage)

ETS offers ScoreSelect, which lets you choose which test scores to send:

• Most Recent

• All

• Any specific administration within the last 5 years

This is a major advantage if you plan to retake—because you can send the score that represents your best performance.

Common mistakes while applying for GRE (avoid these in 2026)

1. Name mismatch (passport vs ETS profile) → can block entry

2. Booking too close to deadlines (scores take 8–10 days)

3. Choosing at-home without checking rules/setup (secure browser, no breaks, room requirements)

4. Not budgeting extra fees (reschedule, extra score reports)

FAQ (includes focus keyword in one question and one answer)

1) How to apply for GRE exam in 2026 step-by-step?

To apply for GRE exam in 2026: create an ETS account, choose GRE General Test (or Subject Test), select test center or at-home mode, pick a date/time, pay the fee, and confirm your booking. Ensure your registration name exactly matches your ID, and plan for official scores to be available 8–10 days after the test.

2) What is the GRE fee in India for 2026?

ETS India lists the GRE General Test fee as ₹22,000 and the GRE Subject Test fee as ₹14,500.

3) How long does it take to get GRE scores in 2026?

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

4) Can I take the GRE at home in 2026?

Yes—ETS offers an at-home GRE option in locations where the test is normally available (based on your ETS account address), with strict proctoring and test-day rules.

CTA: Apply for GRE in 2026 using official links (ETS)

Use these ETS pages to register and verify the latest rules:

1) GRE Registration (ETS India):
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register.html

2) Schedule your GRE (dates + retake rule + score delivery notes):
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/schedule.html

3) GRE Fees (India — General/Subject + extra service fees):
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register/fees.html

4) ID Requirements (India):
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register/id-requirements.html

5) GRE At-Home Testing (registration + availability):
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register/at-home-testing.html

6) At-Home Test Day Rules (Secure Browser, no breaks, room rules):
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/test-day/at-home-test-day.html

7) Get your GRE scores (8–10 days):
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/scores/get-scores.html

8) Send scores + ScoreSelect:
https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/scores/send-scores.html