The Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, is a standardised test that helps students to pursue higher education from prestigious varsities and business school programs worldwide. Conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS), this entrance exam measures the overall academic readiness of a student willing to attend graduate programs.

Did you know that the GRE score is valid for a specific period? Yes, you heard it right! Like this, there are many other interesting facts about the GRE. So, let's read this guide and uncover such facts.

Key Highlights

• Fast facts on the GRE
• GRE score validity and GRE score reporting
• GRE format
• Why does the GRE certificate validity restrict to 5 years only?
• What happens when the GRE validity period expires?

Fast facts on the GRE

• You can take the test either by choosing the “Test at home” option or “Test at a test centre”. The GRE General Test is conducted in over 1000 test centres across 160 countries.
• You can take the exam once every 21 days and a maximum of up to 5 times in a continuous 12-month rolling period.
• The official GRE General Test score will be available in your ETS account 10-15 days after the test date.

GRE score validity and GRE score reporting
An important fact is, there is no composite score for the GRE. Which means you have to consider the scores of each section. At this point, you might want to know what is a good GRE score. To answer the question - any score out of 340 that can offer you admission into your dream university is considered a good GRE score. Every university will have a GRE cut-off limit, which you must remember when preparing for the exam.

Now, let's take a look at the GRE scores for three different sections:

Section	Score Scale
Verbal Reasoning	130-170, in 1-point increments
Quantitative Reasoning	130-170, in 1-point increments
Analytical Writing	0-6, in half-point increments

Moving towards the GRE exam validity period, the GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the test date. Based on your test date, you will get the exact validity date of the scores. For instance, if you took the exam on May 12, 2019, you can report the scores to universities or access it until May 12, 2024.

The scores are valid for 5 years because there is a possibility that aspirants might not apply to overseas universities immediately after getting their scores. Some may plan to enhance their skills or gain professional work experience before applying to B-school, and others might not be happy with their present scores and want to retake the test to improve their chances of securing a seat at their preferred university. Considering these reasons, the ETS has capped the GRE exam validity for 5 and not for a short period, say 2-3 years.

Why does the GRE certificate validity restrict to 5 years only?

The ETS has decided to keep the GRE certificate valid for 5 years only due to the following reasons:

• The ETS believes that the competency level of applicants changes over time. They can upskill themselves and can achieve better results if they give the test after a gap of 5 years or more.
• Moreover, the ETS revises the GRE test from time to time. Therefore, restricting the score validity to 5 years makes it easier for applicants to adapt to the new formats, re-appear for the test, and get scores that will truly represent their latest skills and knowledge.

What happens when the GRE validity period expires?

After the expiry of 5 years from the test date, the ETS automatically deletes the GRE score from their database and makes it inaccessible.

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