GRE Online Exam 2023

GRE or the Graduate Records Examination is a standardised test conducted by the ETS. Most students take the GRE exam in order to secure admission to prestigious graduate schools across the globe. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ETS offered another way for students to appear for the GRE Exams without compromising the safety and comfort of their homes. GRE Online Exam is a convenient option to appear for the exam without the hassle of travelling to the nearest test centres. Let’s find out everything we need to know about GRE online exam.

Also Read: GRE vs GMAT: Which One is Better for You?

GRE Online Exam

Due to the global pandemic, GRE online exam provides a safer and convenient option for students all over the world. Students from Mainland China and Iran are exempted to appear for GRE online exam. It is identical to the offline exam or PBT, the GRE online exam is taken with the help of a computer or desktop. The exam will subsequently be monitored by a human proctor through ProctorU. Students can appear for this exam around the clock for all seven days of the week. 

GRE Online Exam Dates

Students can appear for GRE online exam once every 21 days. Students can also try 5 times within a period of 12 months or 365 days provided it is not given in continuity. The GRE online Exam is available around the clock for all seven days of the week. You can also get an appointment as early as 24 hours after registration. 

How to Register for the GRE Online Exam?

Your appointment for the GRE online exam depends on how early you register and select your preferred test date. For the GRE Online Exam, students have to register online. Students will get appointments as early as 24 hours after registration. Here are the steps to register for the GRE online exam through ETS:

1. Create your ETS Account or log in to your existing one 
2. On your GRE home page, select the ‘register’ option
3. Verify your email address and proceed to select your test appointment. Confirm your time zone or select a new one
4. Choose the two-month period within which you would like to take the test and select the test date from the calendar
5. After selecting an available time for your test, select ‘Register for this test’
6. Follow the directions towards continuing your registration and pay the fees for your test
7. Once your registration has been processed, you will receive a confirmation mail from ETS with the necessary details such as the test link for your GRE online exam, test date, and test choice

Fees and Documents Required

Candidates are required to show and submit a government-issued identification card for GRE online exam. Here are some things you should know about the ID card: 

• The official government ID must be original and should be recognized by the country in which you are a citizen or a permanent resident
• The ID should be valid and not expired. It should also bear the same first name and last name that you used while registering for the test
• The document must also include your valid signature and a recent photograph

The registration fees for the GRE online exam is as follows:

• For India – $213 USD or Rs. 15,800 INR
• For China – $231.30 USD
• For other countries – $205 USD

Also Read: GRE Results and Scores

Equipment and Environment Requirements

Before candidates can attempt the GRE online exam, they must fulfil certain equipment and environment requirements. On failure to adhere to these requirements, the candidate will be unable to take the test. 

Equipment Requirements for the GRE online exam include :

• The candidates can only use a Desktop or a Laptop Computer. They cannot use Tablets or mobile devices. The requirement further includes :

• PC: Windows operating system, versions 10 or 8
• MAC: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher (10.13 High Sierra is recommended)
• The test is required to be attempted only on Chrome or Firefox Browser
• A proper internal or external speaker to hear the proctor. Headsets and earphones are not allowed
• The candidate needs to use a proper external or internal microphone that is not a part of a headset, in order to communicate with the proctor
• For the camera, it can either be an in-built camera or a web camera.  Before the test, the camera should be able to move to show the proctor a 360-degree view of the room including the tabletop surface

Environment and Testing Space Requirements for the GRE online exam includes :

• For the GRE online exam, the candidate cannot take the test in a public space such as Parks, Gardens, or an Internet Cafe. They have to be in a room alone, without any interruptions, with all the doors closed
• The candidate’s computer and the keyboard have to be on a table-top surface. Furthermore, the table and chair must be positioned in a manner that is visible to the proctor
• The table-top surface must be clear of any equipment that is not required for the test such as cellphones, notes, or any study material. Also, Food and any other beverage are not allowed during the test
• The candidate has to dress formally and appropriately, without any jewellery and hair accessories such as headband and combs
• The candidate’s face and ears must be visible at all times to the proctor.  It cannot be covered by hair, hat, face masks, or any other related items. However, religious headwear is allowed provided the ears are visible during the duration of the test
• For taking notes, the candidates can only use either one small desktop whiteboard with an erasable marker or a sheet of paper inside a transparent sheet protector with an erasable marker. At the end of the test, the candidate is required to show the proctor that all the notes have been erased

Also Read: GRE Exam Pattern

GRE Online Exam Pattern

The exam pattern for the GRE online exam is identical to its offline counterpart. The total test time for this examination is 3 hours and 45 minutes. The GRE online Exam Pattern includes :

• Analytical Writing ( One section with two tasks)- 30 minutes per task
• Verbal Reasoning ( Two sections ) – 30 minutes per section
• Quantitative Reasoning ( Two sections ) – 35 minutes per section
• Unscored – The timing varies
• Research – The timing varies

Candidates should note that the Analytical Writing section will always be first. The Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and unidentified/unscored sections may appear in any order; therefore the candidates should treat each section as if it counts toward your score.

Preparation Checklist 

The candidate must keep a few things in mind before attempting the GRE online exam :

• The candidate must first run a ProctorU Equipment Check and check for any issues before check-in for the test. All issues should be fixed prior to the appointment time
• Also, all browsers and applications must be closed prior to the beginning of the test. Also make sure there are not any other devices that may use the internet, to prevent any bandwidth issues during the test
• Keep all the items that are required during the test such as your passport or any other acceptable ID and acceptable note-taking materials mentioned earlier
• The candidate must ensure the testing area meets all the required settings which were mentioned earlier
• Make sure to dress appropriately and to keep your ears and face visible to the proctor

Check-In Procedure

The check-in procedure for the GRE online Exam may take up to 20 minutes. The candidates will have up to 12 minutes after their scheduled test appointment to check-in. In case the candidate has not checked in within the stipulated time, their test will be cancelled and the fee will not be refunded. 

• After launching the test, select “Start Session” and complete the authorisation steps which include showing appropriate ID to the proctor. Also, make sure the name of the ID matches that of your ETS Account
• Then the proctor will go through the rules and regulations of the test and request access to the computer screen for monitoring purposes
• The proctor will then request a hand-held mirror or a cell phone to show your computer screen. The proctor will also ask the candidate to move the computer’s camera to show a 360-degree view of the room and table-top surface
• Finally, the proctor will launch the ETS test browser and enter the ETS ID and password to gain access to the test

Also Read: GRE Scholarships

Do’s and Dont’s of the GRE Online Exam

Do’s of the Exam :

• The proctor will monitor the candidate through the computer’s camera and the computer screen during the test. Ensure that all the test procedures are followed thoroughly
• Candidates must always ensure that they are visible on the camera. Any suspicious movement can lead to immediate invalidation of the test
• The candidate must conduct a thorough check with the help of the ProctorU Equipment Check to ensure there are no issues. In case the candidate needs to contact or gain the attention of the proctor, they can use the LogMeIn chat. The proctor may take 30 to 60 secs to reply or address your concerns
• Make sure all the equipment and environment requirements are met including proper attire
• Make sure to check in at the most appropriate time to ensure you are not late for the test

Dont’s of the Exam:

• The candidate should not use unauthorized material or equipment such as mobile phones, pre-written notes or any textbook while taking the GRE online exam. This is also not allowed during break time. Any kind of personal recording is not allowed
• Before beginning the test, the candidate should disable any screen-sharing or remote access software such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The candidate must make sure the software does not open unexpectedly during the test and only communicate with the proctor
• The candidate is not allowed to use headphones or earphones
• The candidates are not allowed to take unscheduled breaks. The candidates are given a 10-minute break after the third section and one-minute breaks between sections. Also, they must return to their seats on time
• Candidates must make sure there is no inappropriate reuse of shared testing devices and common testing locations which may result in either score delay or score cancellation. Not to mention, it could impact the candidate’s eligibility to take any future  ETS exam

Rescheduling and Cancellation

Given below are the steps or procedures for cancelling or rescheduling your GRE online exam.

• In case of cancellation, the candidate must cancel the registration four days prior to the test date. The candidate will be refunded half the original registration fees
• For rescheduling the GRE online exam, the candidate can easily do it online, provided it is done four days prior to the test date or the test fee will be forfeited. Additionally, the candidate will be charged a small fee for rescheduling
• Also, the candidate cannot reschedule the test beyond one year of the original appointment date. They must also be prepared to provide their original appointment confirmation number and full name while rescheduling
• If proper rescheduling or cancellation procedure is not followed, the entire test fees will be forfeited

After the Exam

The candidates will receive their GRE online exam scores within 10-15 days after their test date. They will receive an email notification from ETS when it’s available. Additionally, ETS will also send an official Institution Score Report to the score recipients you designated on test day at the time of registration. It is important to note that the GRE online exam scores are valid up to 5 years following your test date. 

This was all about the GRE Online exam. If you’re planning to appear for the exam and need help in the preparation, sign up for a free demo session of Leverage Live by Leverage Edu today!