How many times can you take the GRE?
You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to 5 times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. If you miss or cancel an appointment, it does not count toward the limit and does not start the 21-day wait. The 12 months are a rolling window of 365 days, not a calendar year, so each test drops out of the count a year after you took it.
In more detail
Two rules work together. The first is a gap: at least 21 days between tests. The second is a cap: no more than 5 tests in any 12 months, counted back from the day you want to test. If you took five tests between January and May, you could not test again until the January test is a year old, even if nothing else stopped you.
A missed or canceled appointment is not an attempt. ETS says it does not count toward the 5-test limit and does not trigger the 21-day wait. A test you actually sit does count, whatever the score, so a low result still uses up one of your five.
In practice the limit rarely decides anything, because a retake costs a fee and 3 weeks plus the score wait. Scores arrive 8 to 10 days after the test, so work backwards from your application deadline. Schools only see what you send, and ScoreSelect lets you choose which test dates each school receives from the last five years.
GRE General Test retake rules (ETS, as of October 2026)
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Time between tests | At least 21 days |
| Tests in any rolling 12 months | Up to 5 |
| Missed or canceled appointment | Does not count, no 21-day wait |
| Scores stay reportable | Five years from the test date |
| Which scores a school sees | Your choice with ScoreSelect |
Step by step
- 1
Count the tests you sat in the last 12 months, leaving out missed and canceled appointments.
- 2
Add 21 days to your latest test date to find the earliest day you can retest.
- 3
Work back from your deadline: the test date, plus 8 to 10 days for scores, plus about 5 business days if you send reports later.
- 4
Retake only if your timed practice tests show room to gain points, and use the 3 weeks on your weakest section.
- 5
Send your scores through ScoreSelect and pick the test dates each school should see.
- 6
If you cannot make a booked date, check ETS's rules and fees for rescheduling or canceling before the day.
How StudyPDF helps
Between attempts the work sits in a few weak spots. Upload your GRE prep book chapters, vocabulary lists and notes to StudyPDF, and it builds flashcards, quizzes and a timed practice exam from them. It tracks per concept what you still miss, so the next set goes after it. Set your test date, daily hours and study days in the Plan tab for dated sessions, weakest topics first. The free plan covers about 4 materials a week, no card needed.
See also
More questions
How many times can you take the GRE in a year?
Up to 5 times in any continuous rolling 12-month period, with at least 21 days between tests.
Does a canceled GRE appointment count as an attempt?
No. If you miss or cancel an appointment, it does not count toward the 5-test limit and does not start the 21-day wait.
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