When Should I Take the GRE?
Before you decide when you should take the GRE, you have some homework to do. Look up the application deadlines for every school you’re applying to. Jot down the earliest deadline: that’s your GRE finish line!
However, you shouldn’t take the GRE on the last possible day. At minimum, give yourself three or four days prior to your earliest deadline, so you don’t need to rush. Practically speaking, that’s the latest you should be taking the GRE.
The earliest you should take the test is five years before your applications. That’s how long your official GRE score stays valid. If you took the GRE before July 1, 2016, your score is actually valid until the July following the five-year mark. For instance, if you took it in December 2014, your score would be valid until July 2020. If you took the test after July 1, 2016—or if you’re planning to take it in the future—your scores are valid for exactly five years, to the day.
If you’re coming up to the five-year mark, remember that it takes a week or two for your official scores to be sent to schools! If your official GRE score is about to expire, apply ahead of the expiration date.
As long as you’re within that time frame, you can technically take the test whenever you want. In most places (including the entirety of the United States), you can take it on any day of the week, year round. In a few areas, the GRE is still administered as a paper test—in those places, there may be as few as one or two testing dates per year. Check the dates for the pencil-and-paper GRE here.
Should I Take the GRE Twice?
When you decide when to take the GRE, leave time for two test dates. Things don’t always go according to plan on test day; if you need to retake, you’ll be glad you have enough time for a second chance.
In fact, retaking is usually the right choice! You can choose exactly which scores your schools will see. If you don’t send a certain score, schools will never even know that you took the test on that day. So there’s no risk involved in taking the test twice, and there may be a significant advantage. According to the ETS, 59% of people score higher on GRE Verbal the second time, and 62% score higher on GRE Quant.
You have to wait at least 21 days after your GRE to take it a second time. Leave yourself some extra wiggle room in case of scheduling issues, too. Take the GRE for the first time at least 30 days before your earliest deadline.
Customizing Your GRE Schedule
Here are a few things that might change your testing schedule. First, official testing centers have a limited number of seats. Depending on your schedule and where you live, you may need to register for the GRE well in advance. Check out your testing center’s availability right now.
Second, consider your own schedule. You should take the GRE when you’re able to devote significant time to studying, and when you won’t have a lot of outside stress. If you have a major work deadline coming up, if you’re planning a wedding, or if you’re about to travel off-grid for three weeks, it’s not the right time to take the test. Studying can take up to twenty hours a week—as much as a part-time job.
This may mean that you should take the test earlier, rather than later. Try to choose your first test date so that you’ll be able to study consistently for two months beforehand. Also, don’t choose a test date right after a trip or a big deadline—it’s critical to take a few days to rest and review right before you take the test. If there’s a time when you know you’ll be able to take a few days off of work, that might be the right time to take the GRE.
Creating a GRE Study Timeline
You might be wondering when you should study, as well as when you should take the GRE. Here’s how to build a study timeline around your test plans.
Whether you’re taking a GRE course or doing a self-study program like GRE Interact, you shouldn’t take the test right after finishing. You’ll get a better score if you take time to relax, reflect, and review before taking the test.
Schedule your first official GRE for two or three weeks after your course or study program ends. Use the last three days before your GRE as light review and rest time. The rest of the extra time is for reviewing what you’ve learned already and finishing up homework.
Also, give yourself at least a week between your last practice GRE and your official test. If you take a practice test right before your test date, you probably won’t learn much from it, and you’ll go into the official test worn out.
If you’re taking a different approach to the test, like tutoring or studying on your own, the basic outline should still look the same. (Here’s how to plan your GRE studies on your own!) Your studying should end with a period of review and warming up for the test. Don’t plan to learn anything brand new during the last two weeks before your test, and don’t do anything too intense during the last three days prior. This might mean you need to start studying earlier than you thought.
Example GRE Timeline
Let’s put it all together with an example timeline.
Joaquim is taking the GRE in order to apply to MBA programs starting the following year. His earliest deadline is for early action at Duke, on September 12. He’ll also be traveling for work from August 12 to 22.
When should Joaquim take the GRE?
He should probably take it for the last time around August 11. That will keep him from feeling pressured to study during his trip. To plan his first test date, he counts backwards by 25 days. He’ll take the test for the first time on July 17.
If Joaquim wants to take a course, he should find one that starts around ten or eleven weeks before his first attempt at the GRE. In his case, a course starting in April or May would be perfect.
There isn’t a perfect time to take the GRE, but there’s an optimal time for you to take the GRE. Starting as early as possible, take a realistic look at your schedule and plan out a study calendar. Try to find a time where you’ll be able to study thoroughly, and where you’ll be relaxed and confident going into the test. Plan to take the test twice, and remember that you’ll need at least 21 days between attempts! You might not need the second test date, but it’s always better to have more time than you need. ?
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Chelsey Cooley
is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Seattle, Washington. Chelsey always followed her heart when it came to her education. Luckily, her heart led her straight to the perfect background for GMAT and GRE teaching: she has undergraduate degrees in mathematics and history, a master’s degree in linguistics, a 790 on the GMAT, and a perfect 170Q/170V on the GRE. Check out Chelsey’s upcoming GRE prep offerings here.