How Many Attempts for GRE Exam?

Embarking on graduate studies is a significant milestone, and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) often plays a pivotal role in this journey. A common question among aspirants is: “How many times can you take the GRE?” Understanding the GRE test day policies, reattempt limits, and strategic preparation is crucial for maximizing your chances of success.

Many students wonder about the total number of times you can take the GRE multiple times and how each attempt counts in the admissions process. The reality is that, while there is no lifetime limit, test-takers must be mindful of dates based not on arbitrary timelines but on ETS policies and university deadlines.

GRE Retake Policy: How Many Times Can You Take the GRE?

The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, has established specific guidelines for reattempting the exam:

• Frequency: You can reattempt the GRE every 21 days.
• Annual Limit: You can take the exam up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days).
• Lifetime Limit: There is no limit on the total number of attempts for the GRE general and subject tests.

These rules apply even if you canceled your scores from a previous test. Many students wonder if all attempts count as a GRE attempt, and the answer is yes. Every time you actually sit for the exam, it is recorded. If you take the GRE multiple times, your best scores matter, but universities may see all test scores if they require full disclosure.

What are the Strategic Considerations Before You Keep Retaking the GRE?

Deciding to reattempt the GRE general test or even consider the GMAT requires a thoughtful approach, especially when planning to take the test for the 2025 admission cycle.

Here are some key factors:

1. Assess Your Initial Performance

• Score Analysis: Compare your GRE score to the admission requirements of your target schools. If your target score isn’t within range, a retake may be necessary.
• Sectional Strengths and Weaknesses: Identify if you need to improve your score in Quant, Verbal, or Analytical Writing.
• GRE Subject Test Considerations: If you’re taking a GRE subject test, research whether your test center offers it and whether your program requires it.

2. Reflect on Your Preparation

• Study Consistency: Many students study for the GRE but don’t revise strategically. To hit your score goal, structured study is essential.
• Resource Utilization: Use high-quality official GRE practice tests, TTP GRE blog, and other preparation tools.
• Keep Retaking the GRE Smartly: Avoid retaking the GRE every 21 days without a solid improvement plan. Instead, review your weak areas weekly with GRE each week practice tests.

3. Timing and Application Deadlines

• Application Timeline: Ensure your GRE 5 times per year limit aligns with deadlines.
• Preparation Period: Rushing into an exam without proper preparation isn’t productive. If you keep retaking the GRE but your scores remain stagnant, reconsider your study approach.
• Know That You’ve Taken Enough Tests: Sometimes, focusing on essays, recommendations, and application strategy is better than another retake.

Imagine actually sitting for the GRE again but realizing too late that you hadn’t fixed your weak areas. Avoid unnecessary retakes!

Financial Implications of Multiple Attempts

Each GRE attempt comes with a fee, which varies by country, and understanding the costs for 2024 compared to 2025 can help plan better.

Since GREs are a standardized test, knowing how many times as you need to take it while managing expenses is essential.

Table: GRE Fees by Region

Region	Fee
United States	$220
India	$228
China	$231.30

Frequent retakes add up, so recommend taking the best score early rather than relying on several GRE attempts.

How Long do I Have to Wait to Take the GRE Multiple Times?

ETS enforces a 21-day waiting period between attempts for multiple reasons:

• Score Processing: ETS needs time to accurately report scores.
• Preparation Time: A retake without addressing weaknesses doesn’t help.
• Test Integrity: The waiting period prevents memorization-based strategies.

Many test-takers believe they can actually sit for the GRE within the last 365 days as many times as they need. However, the rules apply even if you canceled a previous score. Students should remember that they must wait 21 days before their next attempt.

If you’re planning your retakes, ensure you schedule your GRE test dates based not on arbitrary timelines but on strategy.

How to Take the Best Shot in Every GRE Attempt?

The GRE ScoreSelect option lets you control how many times your test scores are sent, ensuring that only your best score goal on full-length attempts are reported.

However, you must wait at least 21 days between retakes, and some students also consider investing hours of GMAT prep for comparison.

• Most Recent: Send only your latest score.
• All Scores: Schools never have to know how many times you’ve taken the GRE!
• Specific Test Date: Select a particular date to report.

This ensures that your best score is the one that reaches grad schools. Exam attempt counts only when officially reported.

Tips for a Successful GRE General Test Retake

If you’re preparing for the GRE again, whether you’re gearing up for a retake or taking it for the first time, here’s how to maximize your effort using strategies you’ve learned from your previous attempts and ensure success on the actual GRE exam.

1. Official GRE Practice Tests: Simulate real conditions to improve your score.
2. Structured Study Plan: Focus on weak areas, whether in Quant or Verbal.
3. Practice Regularly: Aim for improvement, not just another attempt.
4. Simulate Test Conditions: Whether at home or at a test center, practice under pressure.
5. Seek Feedback: Consider GMAT-style adaptive preparation methods.

GRE test-takers who engage in deliberate and structured preparation see higher score improvements in retakes.

Top 15 Universities in the USA, UK, and Canada for GRE Admissions

For students wondering whether their GRE score is competitive enough, selecting the right university is crucial. Many students end up taking at least one retake to improve their chances at top institutions. These universities in the USA, UK, and Canada accept GRE scores for graduate programs in engineering, business, and sciences.

Below is a list of 15 top universities, along with the courses offered, tuition fees, and average salaries after graduation.

Top 15 Universities for GRE in the USA, UK, and Canada

University	Country	Courses Offered	Annual Tuition Fees (USD)	Average Salary After Graduation (USD)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Engineering, Data Science, Business, Physics	$55,878	$120,000
Stanford University	USA	Computer Science, Management, Engineering	$57,861	$125,000
Harvard University	USA	Business, Law, Public Policy, Sciences	$54,000	$130,000
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	USA	Physics, Engineering, Mathematics	$56,364	$118,000
University of Chicago	USA	Economics, Finance, Social Sciences	$60,552	$115,000
University of Oxford	UK	Computer Science, Law, MBA, Engineering	$50,000	$110,000
University of Cambridge	UK	Biotechnology, Engineering, Business	$52,000	$108,000
Imperial College London	UK	Medicine, Data Science, Engineering	$49,500	$100,000
London School of Economics (LSE)	UK	Finance, Political Science, Management	$48,000	$102,000
University of Edinburgh	UK	AI, Humanities, Economics, Science	$45,000	$95,000
University of Toronto	Canada	Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Data Science	$44,000	$95,000
University of British Columbia (UBC)	Canada	Business, Medicine, Engineering	$40,000	$90,000
McGill University	Canada	Law, Management, Computer Science	$38,500	$88,000
University of Waterloo	Canada	Engineering, IT, Data Science	$39,000	$92,000
University of Alberta	Canada	Renewable Energy, Business, AI	$37,000	$85,000

A strong GRE score and proper planning provide the power to prepare for competitive admissions, no matter “how many times” you attempt it, as long as each retake is backed by strategic improvement.

Conclusion

Retaking the GRE can be beneficial, but counting on multiple retakes without improving weak areas is not a smart strategy. Instead, focus on structured preparation and take the exam twice if necessary, but not endlessly. Ensure that each time you sit for the GRE, it counts as a GRE attempt with meaningful improvement. Aside from gobbling up fees, excessive retakes don’t guarantee success. Many students believe others are avoidable, but the process of preparing strategically matters more.

Whether you take the GRE at a test center or at home, structured study matters more than arbitrary timelines. If you find yourself learning GRE content weekly but seeing no progress, it’s time to reassess your approach. Let’s say you’ve prepared well and are confident, then the best strategy is to register for the GRE only when you’re truly ready. If you’re still unsure and feel the need to keep retaking the GRE, reconsider your approach. I’ll discuss later how some test-takers optimize retakes efficiently.

If you’ve taken the GRE in the last 365 days, and 21 days simply aren’t enough for a dramatic improvement, taking it twice if necessary might be enough. However, if you’re still uncertain about your ability to reach your score goal, taking a structured approach is the best course of action.

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