Feel like you’re running out of time before test day? I know the feeling. The GRE is a tricky, intimidating test, but you’re going to have to brave it at some point. Still, what if something serious comes up on test day? Or what if you’re struggling to find time to study for it? Is it possible to just reschedule the GRE?

The good news is, you can reschedule GRE dates. But whether you should reschedule is an entirely different matter. In this article, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to reschedule the GRE. We’ll also take a look at rescheduling fees, how rescheduling procedures differ by country, and when it’s OK (and not OK) to reschedule the GRE test.

 

Can You Reschedule Your GRE Test?

The short answer is yes. ETS (who proctors the GRE) permits test takers to reschedule GRE test dates, provided they meet certain conditions. These requirements are roughly identical in most countries offering the GRE.

To reschedule, you must:

• Choose a date within one year of your original test date. The GRE uses a 365-day rolling period. So if your test is scheduled for November 5, you can reschedule for any eligible date up until November 5 the following year. By contrast, the paper version of the GRE (available in countries where the computer version is unavailable) is only offered three times a year, so you must reschedule your GRE for any date in the same testing year (July 1 to June 30).

• Pay a $50 rescheduling fee (more on this in the next section).

• Submit your request no later than four days prior to your test appointment (10 days prior for China). For example, if you’re scheduled to take the GRE on a Friday, you must reschedule your test date by Monday of that week. If you fail to reschedule your test date before this deadline, you will forfeit your test fee.

 

How Much Does It Cost to Reschedule the GRE?

Unfortunately, changing your test date isn’t free. In all countries except China, test takers must pay a $50 fee to reschedule a GRE date, time, or test center. This fee is in addition to the test fee of $205. Thus, if you were to reschedule a GRE date once and take the test, you’d pay, in total, $255. In mainland China, the cost to reschedule a GRE date, time, or test center is a little higher: $53.90.

Note that each transaction (i.e., each time you submit a request for one or more changes to your GRE registration) costs a flat fee of $50. In other words, if you were to change both your GRE date and your test center at the same time, you only have to pay $50 — not $100 — for the entire transaction.

But if you were to change your GRE date and then later change your test center, you’d have to pay $100 in additional fees, or $50 per transaction. This is why it’s best to make any changes to your GRE registration in a single sitting, as doing so will save you both time and money.

 

 

How to Reschedule GRE Dates, Step by Step

The fastest and easiest way to reschedule the GRE (computer or paper version) is to go online. All countries offering the GRE (except China) allow test takers to submit requests for registration changes through the ETS website.

 

How to Reschedule GRE Test Dates Online

First, log on to your ETS Account and go to your homepage:

Go to the section titled “Upcoming Tests” and click on the test you want to reschedule. You’ll be brought to a page listing your appointment details, including your name, appointment number, and test center, as well as the date and time of the test. Click on “Reschedule Appointment” in the right column under “Actions.”

On the following page, you can choose a range of dates and search for a general location or a specific test center. Once finished, click “Find Available Test Centers and Dates.” You’ll see a page like this:

Now, you can choose an exact date, time, and place to take the GRE. You may select any eligible date, so long as it is within a year of your original test date. If seats are available, click “Register.” A separate window will pop up asking if you’re sure you’d like to change your test appointment. Click “Yes” to proceed or “No” to return to possible test dates.

Once you’ve chosen a new date, follow the directions to pay your $50 rescheduling fee and you’re all set!

These steps apply to test takers in all countries offering the GRE except China. Those taking the GRE in mainland China must reschedule their GRE dates through their NEEA accounts (different from an ETS Account) and pay $53.90 per transaction. Requests must be submitted at least 10 days before your original test date. If you submit your request after this deadline, you’ll forfeit your test fee ($220.70 in China).

 

Additional Methods to Reschedule Your GRE

Although going online is the most convenient method for rescheduling your GRE date, other methods are available for different countries. For all methods described below, be prepared to give your full name and appointment confirmation number (which you can find online on your ETS Account).

The number you call or place you contact depends on the country in which you’re taking the GRE:

• United States (including Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam) and Canada: Call Prometric Services at 1-443-751-4820 or 1-800-473-2255.

• Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea: Contact ETS through the GRE Services page. You can use any method listed under the “General Inquiries” section. Test takers in Korea should refer to the “Contact Information for Test Takers in Korea” section.

• Mainland China: China does not offer any additional methods for rescheduling a GRE date. All test takers in China wishing to reschedule their GRE dates must request changes through their NEEA accounts.

• All Other Countries: Contact your Regional Registration Center (RRC) to reschedule your GRE date. ETS has compiled a list of all RRCs’ contact info.

 

 

How to Reschedule the Paper-Delivered GRE or GRE Subject Test

Both the paper-delivered GRE and GRE subject tests are paper tests offered three times a year; therefore, they follow a similar procedure for registration changes.

Like the computer-delivered GRE, in order to reschedule a paper-delivered GRE or GRE subject test, there are a few stipulations. You must:

• Choose a new date in the same testing year as your original test date (July 1 to June 30). You can browse GRE subject test dates, paper-delivered GRE test dates, and test centers by going to the ETS website.

• Pay a $50 rescheduling fee.

• Submit your request at least four days in advance of your test appointment. If you fail to reschedule your test date before this deadline, you will forfeit your test fee ($205 for the paper-delivered GRE and $150 for a GRE subject test).

The easiest way to reschedule a paper-delivered GRE or GRE subject test is by going online to your ETS Account and following the steps described above. However, you can also reschedule by mail, fax, or phone. All of the following contact info can be found on the GRE Services page in the “General Inquiries” section.

 

#1: By Mail

There is no particular form to fill out if you are submitting a request to reschedule your test date by mail. Just be sure you’ve included all of the following info:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Address
• Registration number
• Test date
• Preferred test center
• New test date
• $50 rescheduling fee

Then, mail your request to GRE Services at the following address:

GRE-ETS
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 USA

This request must be received (not postmarked!) at least four days prior to your original test date, or else you will forfeit your test fee. So be sure to send it early!

 

#2: By Fax

Include the same basic info as described above and fax your request along with the $50 rescheduling fee to 1-610-290-8975.

 

#3: By Phone

Call 1-609-771-7670 or 1-866-473-4373 to reschedule your GRE date. Both numbers are toll free for test takers in the United States, U.S. territories, and Canada. You can call either number Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. ET. Be aware that GRE Services closes on weekends and U.S. holidays.

As with requests by mail and fax, make sure you have all of the basic info described above on hand, including your chosen payment method.

 

 

Should You Reschedule Your GRE Date?

Nervous about sitting for the GRE? Wishing you’d devoted more time to studying? Then you might be considering rescheduling your test date. But whether or not you should reschedule the GRE depends on your reasons for wanting to.

Here are some common situations test takers are likely to face, with tips on whether it’s better to suck it up and take the test or pay the fee and wait it out.

 

Consider Rescheduling Your GRE Date If …

• A personal emergency has come up. The GRE is a crucial test, sure, but it should never take precedence over serious emergencies. If something important is making it difficult for you to take the GRE or is preventing you from studying for the test, don’t feel bad about having to reschedule. Often, it’s the only logical choice.

• The $50 fee isn’t a big deal. If paying a $50 fee isn’t going to break the bank, don’t feel bad about choosing to reschedule it. Your money, your choice!

• You only plan to take the GRE once. If you’re struggling to get major concepts down and need more time to study, it’s OK to opt for a later date. There’s no point in taking the GRE if you’re not going to perform at least reasonably well on it — particularly if it’s the only time you plan to take the test. After all, $255 (the test fee plus the rescheduling fee) is significantly cheaper compared to the cost of taking the GRE twice ($410). Just be sure that once you reschedule your test date, you’ll be ready to dedicate more time to studying. Not sure where to start? Take a look at our articles on our top choices for GRE prep books and the best ways to study with official practice tests.

 

Avoid Rescheduling Your GRE Date If …

• You’re worried about performing poorly. You’ll always be nervous about the GRE, no matter how hard you’ve studied for it. But don’t use your fears as your only excuse to postpone test day. As long as you’ve studied a reasonable amount (see our article on how long you should study) and are open to retaking the test, avoid rescheduling. You’re not required to send any scores, and you can always opt for a retake if necessary. The only downside is the test fee, so weigh your options carefully before deciding whether a retake is right for you.

• $50 is a lot of money for you. The GRE is already a fairly expensive test as is, and if you’re trying to save money, an avoidable $50 fee isn’t going to help. Treat your upcoming test date as an absolute deadline and be sure to study diligently and as often as you can. That way, you’ll never feel pressured to fork out money on an unnecessary change.

• Your application deadlines are right around the corner. This probably goes without saying, but don’t reschedule your GRE date if your application deadlines are coming up very, very soon. Pushing back the test, even if it’s just by a few days, can increase the risk of your GRE scores’ arriving late — which can reflect poorly on an applicant and potentially result in disqualification, depending on how strict a program is. So the earlier, the better!

 

 

Recap: How to Reschedule GRE Test Dates

All countries offering the GRE allow test takers to make changes to their GRE registration before test day. To reschedule a GRE test (in all countries except China), you must:

• Choose a date within one year of your original test appointment (or in the same testing year for the paper-delivered GRE and GRE subject tests).

• Pay a $50 rescheduling fee.

• Submit your request at least four days prior to your original test date. If you try to reschedule after this period, you will forfeit your full test fee.

The easiest way to reschedule the GRE is to go online and submit a request through your ETS Account. Once online, click on the GRE test you’d like to change, click on “Reschedule Appointment,” and follow the steps for selecting a new date, time, and/or test center. The fee is $50 per transaction.

You can also contact GRE Services or call Prometric Services (for those in the U.S., U.S. territories, and Canada). Test takers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Korea can contact ETS through the contact info listed on the GRE Services page, while those in all other countries except China can contact their Regional Registration Centers (RRCs) by phone, fax, mail, or email.

Test takers in mainland China can reschedule the GRE through their NEEA accounts only and must submit their requests at least 10 days prior to their original test dates. The rescheduling fee in China is $53.90.

Furthermore, if you’d like to reschedule either a paper-delivered GRE or a GRE subject test, you can go online to your ETS Account or submit your request to GRE Services by mail, fax, or phone. All contact info is available on the ETS website.

Lastly, if you’re leaning toward rescheduling your GRE date, consider the following:

• Personal emergencies
• How much you’ve studied for the GRE
• Whether you’re open to retaking the GRE
• How much you’re willing to spend on the test
• How quickly your application deadlines are coming up

 

What’s Next?

Need help getting started? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to register for the GRE.

Considering retaking the GRE? Explore the pros and cons of retaking the test and get tips for improving your score on a second go-around.

Ready for a high GRE score? Learn exactly what you can do to improve your GRE score, and don’t forget to take a look at our top strategies for scoring highly on test day.