What does the GRE General Test cost?

The GRE General Test has a single registration fee that ETS sets in US dollars and converts to local currency at checkout. The fee covers one attempt at the General Test, score reporting to up to four recipients chosen when you register, and access to one free view of your scores online. Anything beyond that — additional score reports, rescheduling, changing the test centre, or returning to a Question Reviewed section — is charged separately. Because ETS updates the price in US dollars and the exchange rate moves, always confirm the current figure on the ETS website before you pay.

What the GRE registration fee pays for

The registration fee is a bundled charge, not a per-section price. Once paid, it covers the full General Test (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing) in one sitting, the official unscored and research sections if they appear, and the standard test-taker services ETS provides on test day. The score report bundle is the part most candidates overlook: your registration includes sending your official scores to four graduate or business schools of your choice at no extra cost, provided you select them before you sit the test. You add these recipients during registration or from your ETS account within test day.

What costs extra on top of the GRE fee

ETS lists every add-on with its own price, and these are the items that move the total bill above the headline registration fee. The most common extras a candidate meets are:

• Additional score reports beyond the four included in registration.
• Rescheduling the test after the registration deadline has passed.
• Changing the test centre or test date more than the allowed number of times.
• Returning to a skipped or marked Question Reviewed section during the test (a feature in the GRE's section-level adaptive design).
• Reinstatement of scores that were cancelled at the test centre.
• Score review for the Analytical Writing section.
• Late registration or regional surcharges in some countries.

Each of these is itemised in the ETS registration portal, so the running total is visible before you confirm payment.

How to pay the GRE fee

Payment is made inside the ETS account when you register. ETS accepts major credit and debit cards, PayPal in most regions, and other methods such as e-checks or vouchers where ETS has local arrangements. The fee is charged in US dollars and converted to your card's currency by the card issuer, so the exact amount in pounds, euros or another local currency depends on the rate your bank applies on the day. If you are taking the test in a country where the local price is set in local currency by ETS, the portal will show that fixed amount instead.

Can the GRE fee be reduced or waived?

ETS runs a fee reduction programme for US residents who demonstrate financial need, and a separate arrangement for college-sponsored test takers. Eligible students can receive a partial reduction on the General Test registration, which lowers the headline cost but does not cover the add-on services listed above. Non-US residents should check the ETS page for their region, because the programme is not available in every country and the application has to be approved before you register. Universities and employers sometimes pay the fee directly through voucher programmes; ask your admissions office whether a voucher is available before you pay out of pocket.

How to check the current GRE fee

The headline figure in US dollars, plus the regional price for your country if one is published, is listed on the ETS GRE fee page. Open the page in the same session you plan to register so the figure is current, and screenshot the value as a reference. If the price shown at checkout differs from the value on the page, treat the checkout figure as authoritative and contact ETS before confirming payment.

Planning a budget around the GRE fee

A realistic first-attempt budget includes the registration fee, one realistic rescheduling buffer if your study timeline slips, and the cost of additional score reports for any programmes you add after seeing your scores. Most candidates use three to four of the four free score sends, so plan to add another programme only if the result supports it. Factor in the test centre change fee if you may need to switch cities, and remember that the Analytical Writing score review, if requested, is a separate charge that does not affect Quantitative or Verbal scores.

Confirm the current GRE General Test fee on the ETS website before you register, build a small buffer for rescheduling or extra score reports, and pay through your ETS account with a card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee. If cost is a real barrier, apply for the ETS fee reduction programme before you book. When you are ready to study, TestPrep Europe offers preparation for the GRE General Test (ETS) built around your target score range and application timeline.

Frequently asked questions