GRE score expiration catches thousands of test takers off guard every year. Your GRE scores are valid for exactly five years from your test date — not your registration date, not your score report date, but the day you actually sat for the exam. Once that window closes, ETS permanently deletes your scores, and no extension or reinstatement is possible.
According to ETS, GRE scores are reportable for 5 years following your test date. This means you can send your scores to graduate programs at any point during that five-year window. The countdown starts from the exact calendar date you took the test — not when you registered, not when your scores were released, and not the end of a testing year.
This policy applies equally to the GRE General Test and all GRE Subject Tests. Whether you tested at a center or took the GRE at home, the same five-year validity period applies.
The calculation is straightforward: take your test date and add exactly five calendar years. Your scores remain reportable through the day before that five-year anniversary.
Worked Example
Sarah takes the GRE on June 15, 2024 and wants to know exactly when her scores will expire.
Enter your GRE test date to find out exactly when your scores expire.
ETS has changed how GRE score validity is calculated over time. If you took the GRE before July 2016, your scores may have followed a different expiration schedule. The table below summarizes each era.
| Test Date Period | How Validity Is Calculated | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Before July 2012 | Scores used an older validity system and have since expired | All scores from this era are no longer reportable |
| July 2012 – June 30, 2016 | Valid through the end of the 5th testing year (July 1 – June 30) after your test | Test on May 15, 2015 → valid until June 30, 2020 |
| July 1, 2016 – Present | Valid for exactly 5 calendar years from your test date | Test on March 10, 2026 → valid until March 9, 2031 |
When your GRE scores pass the five-year mark, ETS does not simply archive them — the scores are permanently deleted. You will no longer see them in your ETS account, you cannot request copies, and you cannot send them to any institution. This deletion is irreversible.
There is no appeal process, no fee you can pay to extend validity, and no exception for special circumstances. ETS is clear on this point: once the five-year window closes, the scores cease to exist in their system entirely.
If your scores expire before a program's application deadline, you cannot use them for that admissions cycle. Even if you previously sent scores to a school, the program may not accept them if they are expired by the time they review your application. Most admissions committees will not consider scores that fall outside the validity window.
Your quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing abilities are not static. Over five or more years, these skills can improve through continued education or professional work — or they can decline without practice. Graduate programs need assurance that your scores reflect your current capabilities, not abilities you demonstrated years ago.
ETS periodically updates the GRE's content, scoring scales, and statistical norms. The most recent major change came in September 2023, when ETS shortened the test format. Older scores were generated under different testing conditions, and comparing them directly to newer scores becomes less reliable as changes accumulate. The five-year window keeps all active scores within a reasonably consistent testing framework.
| Test | Score Validity | Retake Waiting Period | Registration Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRE General | 5 years | 21 days | $220 |
| GMAT | 5 years | 16 days | $275 |
| TOEFL iBT | 2 years | 3 days | $185–$245 |
| IELTS | 2 years | No minimum | $245–$255 |
While ETS allows scores up to five years old, individual programs are free to set stricter requirements. Some graduate programs — particularly in fast-moving fields like data science, engineering, and analytics — prefer or require scores taken within two to three years of the application deadline. This is not an ETS rule; it is a program-level policy.
Always verify score age requirements directly with your target programs before assuming the five-year rule guarantees acceptance. A phone call or email to the admissions office can save you from an unpleasant surprise.
Business schools often calculate GRE validity differently. Rather than counting five years from your test date, some MBA programs base validity on their own application deadline dates. This means a score that is technically valid by ETS standards may be considered expired by a specific business school depending on which round you apply in.
For example, Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB have historically evaluated score validity against the specific application round deadline rather than the standard ETS five-year window.
The sweet spot for taking the GRE is 12 to 18 months before your earliest application deadline. This gives your scores ample validity runway while keeping them fresh enough to satisfy even programs with stricter preferences. Taking the GRE more than three years before you plan to apply creates unnecessary risk of expiration or program rejection.
ETS allows you to retake the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within any rolling 12-month period. If your first attempt does not go well, having planned ahead means you can retake the test without pushing up against application deadlines. Official GRE scores become available in your ETS account 8 to 10 days after testing.
Worked Example
Alex plans to apply to PhD programs for Fall 2028 entry. Application deadlines are in December 2027. When should Alex take the GRE?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Score Validity | 5 years from test date |
| Scores Available | 8–10 days after test |
| Free Score Reports | 4 recipients on test day |
| Additional Reports | $40 per recipient |
| ScoreSelect Options | Most Recent, All, or Any (after test day) |
| Canceled Score Reinstatement | Within 60 days of test date |
| Retake Frequency | Once every 21 days, up to 5 times per 12 months |
If your scores have expired or are about to expire, your only option is to retake the GRE. No extensions, appeals, or fee-based reinstatements are available from ETS. The good news: you may actually perform better the second time around with better preparation and familiarity with the test format.
GRE registration costs $220. On test day, you can send scores to up to 4 institutions for free. Additional score reports after test day cost $40 per recipient. ETS also offers a fee reduction program for test takers who demonstrate financial need.
If you are retaking the GRE after a gap of several years, the test may have changed. ETS shortened the GRE format in September 2023, so the test you take now may be structurally different from your previous attempt. Use official ETS preparation resources like POWERPREP to familiarize yourself with the current format before test day.
With the ScoreSelect option, you control which scores institutions see. On test day, you can choose to send your most recent scores or all scores. After test day, you gain the additional option to send scores from any specific test administration you choose. This means a lower retake score does not override a previous strong performance — you decide which results to share.
Make sure you understand the GRE score expiration rules before they catch you off guard. Try these quick questions.