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Last Updated on May 1, 2023
If you are currently studying for the GRE, I’m sure you know how much material you need to master to get a great score or, heck, even a good score. Thus, it should be no surprise that many GRE students have to take the GRE multiple times to achieve their score goals. As a result, a common question we field is, how long do I have to wait to take the GRE again?
Indeed, there is a technical answer to this question. However, there also is an answer that involves more nuance and thought. It focuses on the unique circumstances surrounding your GRE prep, your target score, and the graduate programs that interest you. In other words, it is personal to you. We will provide both the technical and personal answers in this article, so you can determine when a GRE retake is both possible and sensible for you.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- What Is the GRE Retake Policy?
- GRE Retake Considerations
- Don’t Be a Serial Test-Taker
- How to Prepare If You Don’t Retake the GRE in 21 Days
- 21-Day Retake: I Was Prepared to Crush the GRE on Test Day
- Just Because You Can Take the GRE in 21 Days Doesn’t Mean You Should
- What If There Has Been a Large Break Between Your GRE Attempts?
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
To begin, let’s discuss the technical retake policies of the GRE.
What Is the GRE Retake Policy?
If you are wondering, “When can I retake the GRE again?,” the policy for retaking the GRE is that you must wait 21 days between attempts. This 21-day waiting period is required even if you switch between the online and in-person tests.
In any 12-month period, you can take the GRE up to 5 times. Fortunately, there is no lifetime limit on how many times you can take the GRE. So, even if you use up your 5 attempts in a single year, you can keep taking the GRE once you get past the 365-day period from your first attempt.
KEY FACT:
You can take the GRE every 21 days, up to 5 times in 365 days.
We now know how long you must wait to take the GRE. So, let’s discuss how long you should wait to retake the GRE.
GRE Retake Considerations
Since I have been advising GRE students, I have had more conversations than I can count about when and why students should retake their GRE. I rarely find myself telling them not to retake the GRE. However, the more critical discussion surrounds when they should retake the GRE. I mean, I get it: studying for the GRE is not fun. So, if you do not achieve your score goal on a GRE attempt, your mind is likely telling you to retake the GRE as soon as you can, just to get it over with! However, an immediate retake is only sometimes the right move. Just because you can retake the GRE in 21 days does not mean you should!
So, let’s discuss some circumstances that would lead you to take more than 21 days between your GRE attempts.
Just because you can retake the GRE in 21 days does not mean you should!
Consideration # 1: You Rushed Your GRE Preparation
When students begin to prepare for the GRE, they all dream of getting in and out! Trust me. I talk to students all the time who have set somewhat unrealistic timelines for GRE success.
In fact, we have written an in-depth article tackling how long it takes to prepare for the GRE. For now, let’s look at a common scenario: a rushed timeline that could lead to a low score on test day.
An Oft-Repeated Tale
Let’s say a student, Jane, is just beginning her GRE preparation. As we always recommend, she studies for a few days, and then takes an official practice exam to get a baseline score. Let’s say that the score breakdown from her practice test is Q145/V150 (roughly in the 30th percentile). However, Jane has a target score of Q163/V160 (roughly in the 80th percentile). So, essentially, she is 18 + 10 = 28 points from her target score of 323. This is a pretty large gap that she can bridge by study and practice.
If I were advising Jane, I would recommend a study regimen of around 18 hours per week for about 6 months. However, let’s say she ignores my advice and decides to study for 10 hours a week for just 3 months. Doing so does not allow her to improve her quant and verbal scores substantially. Thus, it is unsurprising that her test-day score is well below her target. So, the question is, what does she do now?
In such a case, I would advise not to rush a retake in 21 days. Rather to take a step back and devise a long-term study strategy allowing her to hit her GRE score goal on the next attempt.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you rush your GRE preparation and do not hit your score goal, do not take the GRE 21 days later.
Let’s discuss another consideration: haphazard GRE studying!
Consideration # 2: You Did Not Consistently Study for the GRE
I can’t tell you how often I meet with students (new to TTP) who tell me that they are surprised that they did not hit their score goals on the GRE. Their disappointing test performances are often the result of their not taking their GRE studying seriously or letting life get in the way of making good progress with their GRE prep. They might have studied for the GRE in earnest for a week or two, then concentrated on exams at school, then taken a trip for spring break, and then returned to their GRE prep. Then, to add insult to injury, because they scheduled their GRE well in advance, they took the exam before being fully prepared.
If you are in a similar position, retaking the GRE in 21 days is not the answer! On-again, off-again studying runs counter to the consistency needed for successful preparation for the GRE. So, don’t always take the GRE test as soon as possible. Rather, set out a longer-term and consistent plan that will allow you to achieve your score goal on the next attempt.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you haphazardly study for the GRE, and do not hit your score goal, do not retake the GRE 21 days later!
Consideration #3: You Simply Were Not Ready, But You Took the GRE Anyway
Let’s say the first two considerations don’t apply to you. For example, you have been working your butt off 18+ hours a week for 5+ months, but you need more time! However, the stubborn test-taker in you decides to sit for the GRE despite not hitting your score goal on your practice exams. Thus, you take the GRE and do not hit your target score. Sure, you may initially be disappointed. However, you should not be surprised, right? Despite your max effort, things did not fall your way on test day, so you have a decision to make. My advice would be, do not retake the GRE 21 days later!
TTP PRO TIP:
If you took the GRE before you were truly ready, continue studying, but do not rush another exam 21 days later.
Now, you may fall into any categories we just discussed but still want to push to retake the GRE in 21 days. So, I want to caution you about becoming a serial GRE test-taker.
Don’t Be a Serial Test-Taker
Too many students continuously retake the GRE on a wing and a prayer. They think they will magically hit their score goals if they just retake the GRE enough times. So, to reiterate, if any of the following scenarios apply to you …
- you rushed your GRE preparation
- you haphazardly studied for the GRE
- you took the GRE well before you were ready
… then retaking the GRE 21 days later is not a solution! Instead, you need to craft a well-thought-out study plan and give yourself the time to improve your GRE skills sufficiently. Retaking the GRE over and over as soon as possible is not a magic recipe for eventually hitting your score goal.
TTP PRO TIP:
Taking the GRE every 21 days does not guarantee that you will eventually hit your score goal.
So, now you may wonder, how do I study to retake the GRE? Let’s discuss how to craft a study plan that WILL allow you to hit your GRE score goal on your next attempt.
How to Prepare If You Don’t Retake the GRE in 21 Days
You may be upset or frustrated because you did not achieve your GRE target score. However, now is not the time to make rash decisions leading to more anger and frustration. Instead, now is the time to devise a great study strategy that will allow you to achieve your GRE score goal on your next attempt.
The two main components of a successful study strategy are following a detailed and topical study plan and putting in the necessary GRE prep time each day and each week.
Let’s first discuss your study plan.
Follow a Structured, Topical Study Plan
If your previous round of GRE studying was rushed or haphazard, then it’s entirely possible that you were not following a systematic and topical study plan. Instead, more than likely, you were jumping around between topics. You did this because you wanted to learn the GRE material quickly. Because that way of studying did not work, you must follow a more structured and topical plan.
The good news is that a topical plan is relatively easy to follow. Learn just one topic at a time, and then practice just that topic until you’ve mastered it. This study method is what students do in the Target Test Prep online prep course. We’ve found that it’s extremely effective. Let’s use the quant topic of Number Properties as an example of how the method works.
The first task is to learn all the material in our Number Properties chapter. That chapter contains topics such as even and odd numbers, positive and negative numbers, divisibility, remainders, units digit patterns, LCM, GCF, etc.
After learning about those topics, students practice 100+ Number Properties questions, divided into 15-question sets. The sets test students on the skills they just learned. Studying this way is quite organized and efficient, allowing students to check the box of each topic as they learn it.
Thus, there is a clear path from beginning to end, helping students stay on track and truly know when they are ready to take the GRE. They use this topical approach of study and practice for each quant and verbal GRE topic.
TTP PRO TIP:
When mapping out your retake, follow a topical study plan.
Next, let’s discuss how long you should be studying for.
Commit to Your GRE Preparation and Follow a Realistic Timeline
If you have either haphazardly studied or not given yourself enough time for your initial attempt, then what I’m about to say is very important. To succeed on your next attempt, you need to be realistic about how much time you need. For example, if you are still 15 points from your score goal, you may need 3 to 4 more months to reach your target score. But, even if you take a conservative estimate, doing so is better than rushing the process again.
Once your timeline is mapped out, you must consider how much to study. As mentioned earlier, 18+ hours a week is a good number of hours. Make a study calendar, if necessary, to schedule your study hours. The calendar will also help hold you accountable for meeting your goal. Doing all this will allow you to be primed and ready for your retake!
TTP PRO TIP:
For your retake, avoid the mistakes of the past. Take your time with your preparation and commit to at least 18 hours a week of studying.
Next, let’s discuss scenarios in which a 21-day retake could be ideal.
21-Day Retake: I Was Prepared to Crush the GRE on Test Day
If you do not achieve your target score on the GRE, but you know in your heart of hearts that you were well-prepared, then I will not talk you out of retaking the GRE 21 days after your initial exam. It is apparent that you were well-prepared if you followed a decently long timeline and scored high on all 5 official ETS practice exams.
So, for example, if your score goal is 325, and you consistently scored 325+ on each of the 5 practice exams, then clearly you were well-prepared. Although you did not achieve your score goal on your GRE, you should be ready for another retake in 21 days.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you were hitting your GRE score goal on official ETS practice exams, retake the GRE after the 21-day waiting period.
Let’s now discuss some scenarios that could cause a low GRE score despite your feeling prepared on the day of your exam.
Issue #1: You Had Issues at the Test Center or with Your Online Exam
No matter how well you prepared for your GRE, sometimes things happen that you cannot plan for or control on test day. For example, at the test center, you might have sat near noisy test-takers, had to use the restroom during a section of the exam, or been late returning from your break. You may not perform up to your ability level in all those cases. Or, while you were taking the at-home GRE, perhaps you had technical issues, a power outage, or issues with your proctor.
Those issues would likely cause an unfortunate score drop that would not have been hinted at in your practice exam scores. However, I would not expect lightning to strike twice. So, I would advise jumping back into the GRE pool and taking the exam 21 days later.
TTP PRO TIP:
If you were prepared to take your GRE and a freak occurrence happened at the test center or during the online test at home, retake the GRE 21 days later.
Issue #2: You Had a Bad Day
So, you have been studying for months and crushing your official GRE practice exams. All is well in the world — until it’s not. You walk into your GRE, and unfortunately, nothing goes right for you on test day. However, even after retrospection, you can’t pinpoint what went wrong. The check-in process was smooth. You slept well the night before and were not anxious. I describe this situation as having a bad day! It may seem odd, but it happens.
Even star athletes have inexplicable “off” days. So, if you had a bad day on your GRE, don’t overthink it. You know you were prepared, and for whatever reason, the universe did not come together for you on test day. The solution is simple: retake your GRE 21 days later and finish the job!
TTP PRO TIP:
Don’s stress if you have a bad day on your GRE. Regroup and retake the test 21 days later.
Issue #3: Anxiety Got the Best of You
Whenever I diagnose what could have gone wrong on the GRE with a student, after asking about practice test scores, I always ask about anxiety. In my experience, anxiety is probably the number one GRE-killer for “prepared students.” In other words, anxiety is a likely culprit when a student has been scoring well on practice exams but cannot get the job done on the real GRE. The good news, though, is that you can overcome your anxiety!
You can do many things to fight test-day anxiety. These include breathing techniques, positive visualization, and meditation, to name a few. In addition to those actions, you may need to regain some confidence. Tell yourself that you CAN crush the GRE! Try to analyze why you were nervous and nip them in the bud.
With all this said, you may need more than 21 days to combat your anxiety issues. However, you should be able to retake the GRE relatively soon. Once you feel your nerves and anxiety are at bay, retake and get the job done.
TTP PRO TIP:
If anxiety affected your test-day performance, give yourself as much time as you need before retaking your GRE.
Lastly, it’s important to reiterate that a retake does not have to be in 21 days, or 120 days, or whatever. Let’s discuss that key point now.
Just Because You Can Take the GRE in 21 Days Doesn’t Mean You Should
Yes, you can retake the GRE after 21 days, but that fact does not indicate that you necessarily should. Look, I’m not saying you must take 4 months between every retake. However, sometimes there is a happy medium. If you need 30 or 40 days, take that time! Ultimately, only you know how long you will need to hit your target score on the retake. When crafting your comeback plan, determine what it will take to be in peak shape for your retake. Then, whether you need 21 days or 210 days, make the right decision for you!
TTP PRO TIP:
Give yourself as much time as you need before your retake.
What If There Has Been a Large Break Between Your GRE Attempts?
In some cases, a test-taker has a large break between GRE attempts. A big new project at work, an unexpected family situation, taking a gap year before starting grad school, or even just GRE burnout — any of these scenarios could cause an interruption in your GRE preparation for months or even years.
Extended time away from your GRE prep is not ideal. However, often doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Many students who take a couple of months off from prepping for a retake might need as few as 2 to 3 weeks of brushing up on their skills to get back to where they were with the GRE, so they can then focus on the areas they need to strengthen for their retake.
Even if you’ve been away from the GRE for 6 months or a year — that is, you haven’t been studying for your retake during that time — you probably won’t feel as if you’re starting from square one when you resume your prep. You may need a few more weeks of review than a student who took 3 months off would need to get back up to speed. However, you may be surprised at how readily you can move through many of the topics.
Of course, if you’ve been away from the GRE for more than a year, that’s a different story. There is much more of a chance that you’ll have to start fresh when you resume your studies.
TTP PRO TIP:
A long gap between GRE attempts doesn’t necessarily mean starting from scratch when preparing for your retake. Still, expect to do some review to get back up to speed.
How Long Do I Have to Wait to Retake the GRE: Key Takeaways
You can take the GRE every 21 days, up to 5 times a year. If you didn’t score as well as you hoped you would on your most recent GRE attempt and are considering a retake, be sure to take some time to strategize rather than mindlessly choose a reschedule date.
The following situations may indicate that you should not schedule your retake immediately after the 21-day waiting period:
- You rushed your GRE prep.
- Your studying was inconsistent and haphazard.
- You had a great study plan but simply ran out of time and took the GRE prematurely.
If you decide to delay your retake date because of any of the above reasons, you should restructure your study plan. First, you’ll want to follow a structured, topical study plan. Second, you’ll want to commit to studying and have a realistic timeline to ensure a great GRE score.
If any of the following situations apply to you, then a quick-turnaround GRE retake might be indicated:
- There were “freak” occurrences at the test center or online, such as excess noise or a computer problem.
- You just had a bad day not caused by poor preparation.
- You suffered from text anxiety on test day but were otherwise prepared.
Remember, just because you’re allowed to retake the GRE in 21 days doesn’t mean that you should retake it so quickly. You don’t want to end up being a serial test-taker. Taking the test repeatedly without addressing your issues is a bankrupt strategy for earning your target score. Spend the time you need to do well!
Finally, if you took a long break from your GRE prep, you might be able to do some in-depth review and then pick up where you left off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about retaking the GRE.
Can You Retake the GRE?
Yes! You may take the GRE every 21 days, up to 5 times in a year, and there is no lifetime limit on the number of times you may take it.
Does Retaking the GRE Hurt You?
If you have taken the GRE 2 or 3 times, schools will generally not hold that fact against you, especially if you have shown consistent score increases on each retake. Consistent increases in your score are an indication that you were motivated to do better and took appropriate steps to earn those increases.
How Much Does It Cost to Retake the GRE?
There is no discount for retaking the GRE. The cost is $228 in India, $231.30 in China, and $220 everywhere else.
How Soon Can You Retake the GRE?
You can retake the exam 21 days after your latest GRE.
What’s Next?
Before you schedule your GRE retake, check out this article for tips on increasing your GRE score.
