GRE Exam Eligibility 2023 (General & Subject Test)- Age Limit, Qualification & Minimum Score Requirement

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Mrunmayai Bobade
Updated on Jun 02, 2023 4:14 PM IST

Administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the GRE exam is offered in two types of test formats - GRE Subject Test and GRE General Test. The GRE Subject Test focuses primarily on a particular subject of study such as physics, biology, chemistry, psychology, mathematics, etc., whereas the GRE General Test focuses on general topics such as quantitative reasoning, verbal ability, and analytical writing assessment. Candidates may also opt for the ‘GRE at Home’ as per their flexibility and convenience.

ETS has not set any official GRE exam eligibility criteria or prerequisites for the GRE test-takers. Anyone who wishes to pursue graduate or MS studies abroad can take the test. However, the only requisite is that the test-taker must be proficient in both English writing and speaking skills. Let us discuss more about the GRE eligibility criteria in depth. 

Highlights of GRE Exam Eligibility Criteria

The highlights of GRE exam eligibility criteria are:

  • There are no particular GRE exam eligibility criteria for students to fulfil.

  • The is no age restriction to taking the GRE test.

  • GRE is to be given mostly while pursuing bachelor's or after completing it.

  • Students from arts, commerce, science, engineering, law and others are eligible to sit for the exam.

  • In India, your original passport will be accepted as proof of identity for the GRE exam. Aadhar card is also now being temporarily accepted as identity proof for registration. It must be an original document. 

  • Your intended university or course might have some specific graduate requirements that you will need to meet. Therefore, you must cross-check with the university web page before proceeding with the GRE registration and find out if you need to qualify for any other prerequisites in particular.

  • A gap year does not influence GRE eligibility criteria. 

What is  a 'Perfect' Score in the GRE to Study Abroad?

GRE at Home Exam Eligibility

ETS has now introduced GRE at Home which makes it easy for students to appear for GRE from their homes. Candidates can book the GRE test and appear for it whenever they wish to. The test dates are available all around the year.

There are some GRE at Home eligibility criteria for students who want to take the exam from the comfort of their homes. These are as follows:

  • Candidates can use only their laptop or PC for the exam. Mobile phones, Chromebooks and tablets are not allowed.

  • Browsers such as Firefox and Google Chrome are only allowed.

  • Only one monitor is allowed. Multiple monitors or dual screens should not be used.

  • Headphones or earphones are not permitted.

  • Speakers should be used for internal and external communication.

  • Equipment has to be kept on the table.

  • Students should be on their own in the room in a private space. All doors and windows should be closed.

  • Students should sit in a way that the proctor can see directly. The camera should give a full view of the candidates, room and the table surface area.

  • They cannot take notes on other sheets of paper.

  • All the extra notes and writing should be erased and shown to the proctor.

  • Masks and jewellery should not be worn.

  • ETS Secure Browser should be downloaded and installed on the computer or laptop.

All these arrangements should be made prior to the exam so that candidates can peacefully attempt it.

GRE Eligible Countries

GRE scores are well-known for being used as an evaluation of eligibility criteria and admission requirements for study abroad aspirants. The ETS website lists all of the institutes that accept GRE scores, making it simple for students to choose the programme and check for GRE eligibility criteria, academic credentials, and other requirements. The map below assists students in deciding which institute to go to for MS, ME, MBA, or other master’s level programmes.

All of the world's top institutions, including those in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Singapore, and Australia, accept GRE scores. Almost 600 business schools across the world accept the GRE. The GRE General Test is accepted by over 1,300 business schools and universities worldwide for top-ranked MBA or master's level programmes.

GRE Eligible/Accepting Countries 

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bangladesh

Belgium

Brazil

Brunei Darussalam

Bulgaria

Cameroon

Canada

Chile

China

Colombia

Costa Rica

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Dominican Republic

Egypt

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Greenland

Grenada

Hong Kong, China

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iran

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Korea

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Lebanon

Liberia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Malta

Mexico

Monaco

Morocco

Netherlands

Newzealand

Nigeria

Northern Ireland

Norway

Pakistan

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Russia

Rwanda

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

St. Kitts

St. Lucia

Sudan

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan, China

Tanzania

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States

United States Territories

West Indies

Yemen

Zimbabwe

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GRE Exam Eligibility Based on Education Qualification

ETS has not yet made an official announcement on the GRE eligibility criteria for candidates or test takers based on their previous educational qualifications to appear for the exam. Candidates must hold a graduate degree in any field from a recognised university. There are no formal educational prerequisites. Since the exam is designed to assess graduate students' preparation for entrance to postgraduate schools, the optimum academic degree would be a full-time recognised graduate degree.

Related Reads:

What is a Good GRE Score & How is it Calculated? Differences Between GMAT and GRE
Know All About GRE General Test at Home Mistakes You Should Avoid Making on Tests like GMAT and GRE

GRE Exam Eligibility Based on Work Experience

A pressing question among students appearing for the GRE is whether they can do so without work experience. To address this question, one must first note that the GRE exam is mostly popular among students who have completed their bachelor’s degrees and are hoping to start their master’s application. In such cases, it is not possible to gain work experience. Therefore, work experience is not mandatory for the GRE test and freshers can easily appear for the exam.

Nonetheless, having work experience can add more value to a candidate’s profile and be counted as a positive point. Hence, work experience can act as additional support for GRE eligibility for Indian students.

Age Limit for GRE Exam Eligibility

The age limit of any exam is the minimum and maximum age of a candidate to take the exam. ETS does not specify any lower or upper limit for taking the exam. Generally, GRE is taken by students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and are mostly between 20 and 22 years of age. This ensures that age is never a hindrance in GRE registration.

As there is no upper limit to taking the exam, students who have discontinued studies or gone on to work after graduation can also appear for the GRE exam. That said, students must check in with their universities to find out if there is any age limit to attend a programme.

The age limit to take an exam is the maximum age over which one is not considered eligible to appear for the examination. There is officially no age limit to taking the GRE test. This means that your age will not be considered a factor in deciding your GRE exam eligibility.

GRE Score Eligibility

Most institutions place a premium on a high GRE score as an eligibility criterion for candidates to get admitted to their programmes.

The GRE exam has no minimum qualifying score, according to GRE exam eligibility. The score is frequently used by institutions as an indicator of the calibre of possible students; it is reliant on the prospective institutes where candidates seek admission. Several institutes have set a GRE cutoff for aspirants seeking admission to the various courses on offer. As a result, candidates should double-check this information and plan accordingly for the GRE 2023.

Analytical Writing

Score Range

Percentile Rank

Performance 

5.0 – 6.0

92 – 99

Excellent

4.5 – 5.0

80 – 92

Good 

3.5 – 4.5

38 – 80

Average

2.0 – 3.5

1 – 38

Poor

Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning

Score Range

Percentile Rank

Performance 

320 – 340 

85 – 99

Excellent

300 –320

50 – 55

Good

280 – 300

40 – 50

Average

Below 260

30 – 40

Poor

GRE Exam Eligibility Based on Differently Abled Candidates

Students who are differently-abled often wonder what is the GRE eligibility criteria for candidates with special needs. ETS provides various provisions for students who are differently-abled and they can request accommodations. 

The provisions provided for differently-abled candidates or students with special needs are:

  • Extended time (25 to 50%, for 100% time extension documentation is needed)

  • Extended breaks (for snacks, medication, visiting the washroom, etc.)

  • Screen magnification

  • Selectable background and foreground colours

  • Screen reader and refreshable braille compatibility

Accommodations for Differently-Abled Candidates for GRE General Test 

The assistance that is provided to students with special needs for GRE General Test are:

  • IntelliKeys keyboard

  • Ergonomic keyboard

  • Trackball

  • Keyboard with touchpad

  • Human reader and human scribe

  • Oral interpreter and Sign language interpreter(for spoken directions)

  • Braille slate and stylus and Perkins brailler(for notetaking)

  • Braille, large print test books and recorded audios(alternate test format)

Candidates with special needs need to fill up a form to avail the assistance mentioned above. They have to submit a list of documents to get the opportunities. These include:

  • Disability certificate,

  • Medical history of the student,

  • List of test equipment needed during the exam,

  • List of limitations suffered by the candidate due to disability.

The ETS disability services will consider the plea of students and make suitable arrangements.

GRE Exam Eligibility Based on Language

English fluency is required to take the GRE exam or any other competitive exam to study abroad. Test takers must be fluent in both English speaking and writing. Applicants must be fluent in English to be admitted to master's programmes and degrees at reputable universities in English-speaking nations.

Documents Required at the GRE Test Centre

Candidates need to carry specific documents at the GRE test centre that will enable them to enter the exam hall. Students are advised to gather the documents beforehand to avoid a last-minute hurry. The documents required to be shown at the GRE test centre are:

  • One must carry an identity card.

  • Notably, an admit card is not issued for the GRE test.

  • The full name of the candidate must be printed on the ID card. A mismatch between the name on the ID card and the GRE registration form will not be allowed to sit for the test until they get a go-ahead from ETS.

  • The test ID must be original with a recent photograph and signature.

  • At the exam hall, photo identification, biometrics, thumb printing or fingerprinting, comparison of signatures or videotaping verifications are done.

Number of Attempts Permitted for GRE

GRE General Tests are conducted throughout the year while GRE Subject Tests are conducted three times a year. There is no lifetime limit on the number of times one can take the GRE exam whether it is the GRE General or Subject tests.

There are, however, some limits imposed on the number of times a test can be taken in a year and waiting periods related to the tests.

  • The computer-delivered GRE General Test can be taken 5 times a year.

  • The minimum waiting period between two tests is 21 days.

  • If one cancels the scores during the exam, it is also counted as an attempt.

  • On cancelling the appointment for the exam, it is not regarded as an attempted test.

  • Not appearing on the test date is not considered an attempt. 

  • Unlike the Computer-Delivered GRE General Test, you can take the Paper-delivered GRE General Test as often as they are conducted.

Note: One must take the test only when prepared well. 

Apply to Top Universities Abroad Based on Your GRE Score!

FAQs on GRE Eligibility

What are the eligibility criteria to appear in the GRE?

There are no specific eligibility criteria to appear in the GRE test. On test day, students are required to show up at the test centres with valid ID proof, and they will be allowed to take the test. With respect to academic eligibility, there are no prescribed criteria. However, to get admitted to a graduate programme abroad, one must have completed a relevant Bachelor’s degree.

What are the eligibility criteria for GRE Subject Tests?

ETS does not prescribe any specific eligibility criteria for students appearing for GRE Subject Tests. Students must take the tests as per their specialisation subjects in bachelor's as the tests are designed to measure the knowledge in a chosen field of study. The test is taken by students from Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology backgrounds.

Who can take the GRE General Test at Home?

Everyone can take GRE at home. Except for Iran and China, the facility is available across all countries. It is a secure and convenient option for those who want to take the GRE from the comfort of their homes. Both GRE at home and GRE at the test centre are similar in terms of content. The main difference between the two is you will have to take it using your personal laptop or computer which is monitored by a human proctor through ProctorU. 

Which countries accept GRE scores?

The GRE scores are accepted in various countries around the world including US. However, it is not mandatory for entry into various graduate programmes in UK universities. Students must note that there are more than 1200 institutions worldwide that accept GRE scores. 600 business schools also accept these scores for MBA admissions.

Is fluency in the English language an important eligibility criterion for GRE?

Although fluency in English is required, its mention is not made anywhere by the testing body ETS. As a known fact, the GRE questions will be asked in English and proficiency in English is important to understand and answer them. Moreover, there is a verbal reasoning section that requires test-takers to have good English writing skills. 

Is Bachelor’s degree necessary to attempt the GRE?

There is no requirement for candidates to have a Bachelor’s degree to take the GRE exam. However, since it is an assessment test for Master’s degree programmes, candidates are expected to have a bachelor's degree. Most college seniors take the GRE test in their final year of their bachelors.

What is the eligibility for an Indian student to attempt the GRE test?

There are no specific eligibility criteria for an Indian student to attempt the GRE test. The GRE test does not have a requirement for individuals to have a certain age limit. Since the GRE test is an assessment test for graduate schools, most candidates who take it, have successfully completed their Bachelor’s degrees. However, students still pursuing their undergraduate studies are also eligible to take the test.

Can I attempt GRE after 12th?

Yes, it is possible for students to take the GRE after 12th, provided they use that GRE score report within five years for admission to postgraduate courses abroad. Since, GRE General Test is an admission requirement by top foreign universities for admission to MS programmes, which are pursued after graduation.

How many times can I appear for GRE?

Students can appear for the GRE General test five times with a gap of 21 days in each test, within a continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days). This is even if students have previously cancelled their GRE scores. In short, the GRE exam can be attempted as many times as the student wishes.

What is the age limit to take the GRE?

The GRE exam does not have a requirement for individuals to have a certain age limit. However, since the GRE test is an assessment test for graduate schools, most candidates who take it, have successfully completed their Bachelor’s degree programmes. Students must, therefore, check the eligibility criteria of the university before submitting their GRE scores.

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