If you cancel your GRE registration no later than four days before your test date (10 days in Mainland China), ETS refunds half of the original test fee; after that you get nothing back. Rescheduling has the same deadline and costs US$55 (US$55.43 in China).
GRE cancellation and reschedule rules at a glance
| What you want to do | Deadline | What it costs or returns |
|---|---|---|
| Cancel your registration | No later than 4 days before your test date | Refund of half the test fee |
| Cancel with fewer than 4 days left | — | No refund |
| Reschedule your test date | No later than 4 days before your test date | US$55 fee |
| Change test centre | — | US$55 fee |
| Miss your test (no-show) | — | Test fee forfeited |
| Cancel your scores at the end of the test | Before you view them | No refund |
| Reinstate cancelled scores | Within 60 days of the test | US$50 fee |
The deadlines come from the 2026–27 GRE Information Bulletin and the fees from ETS's GRE fees page. ETS gives an example of the four-day rule: the deadline to cancel or reschedule a Saturday appointment at a U.S. location is the Tuesday before.
GRE reschedule fee and deadline
You must reschedule no later than four days before your test date (10 days in Mainland China), or your test fee will be forfeited. There is a fee each time you do it: ETS lists the rescheduling fee as US$55, or US$55.43 in China, and changing your test centre is also US$55.
- How: online in your ETS account. In the U.S., Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada you can also call 1-609-771-7670 or toll-free 1-866-473-4373; elsewhere, contact your Regional Customer Support.
- Limit: appointments can't be rescheduled beyond one year of the original appointment date.
- No swaps: test fees and registrations aren't exchangeable between the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Tests.
- Extra charge: the Bulletin says the final charge on online transactions includes a non-refundable 4% online service fee.
If you're rescheduling because you need more preparation time, use the gap well. Our GRE test dates guide covers planning a new date around application deadlines.
GRE cancellation fee and refund policy
ETS doesn't charge a separate cancellation fee. Instead, it keeps part of what you paid. If you cancel no later than four days before your test date (10 days in Mainland China), you automatically receive a refund of half the test fee; ETS keeps the rest to cover processing your registration and holding your seat. ETS's fees page lists the test fee as US$249 everywhere except China, so outside China, India and Korea (which have their own refund terms) half is US$124.50. In countries where ETS adds sales tax or VAT on top of the fee, such as the United States and the EU, the amount you paid will be higher than US$249. The Bulletin also says there are no refunds on service fees, so the 4% online service fee isn't returned.
Other refund rules from the Bulletin:
- Cash refunds are not available. Refunds go back to the original payment method, in the same currency.
- There are no refunds for test preparation materials, additional services or service fees.
- Registrations paid for with a test voucher bought from a third party can't be refunded (this doesn't apply to ETS Fee Reduction vouchers).
- There is no refund if you don't follow registration procedures or don't bring the required ID on test day.
- If you are absent from your test, you forfeit the fee. Schools aren't told about the absence.
ID problems are the most common way to lose a fee without meaning to. Read our GRE ID requirements guide before test day.
Different rules in Mainland China, Korea and India
Mainland China. The cancel and reschedule deadline is 10 days before the test, not four, and the rescheduling fee is US$55.43. For refunds, the Bulletin says to follow the instructions on the NEEA website. Our GRE in China guide has more on testing there.
Korea. Test takers in Korea have their own refund schedule:
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| 0–7 days after you register | 100% of the test fee (credited as two 50% transactions) |
| 8 or more days after you register | 50% of the test fee |
| 4 or fewer days before the test, on test day, or after the date has passed | No refund |
The 0–7 and 8+ day refunds don't apply once you're within four days of your test. India. The Bulletin tells test takers in India to view the refund terms on the ETS India website, so check there before you cancel. Our GRE fee in India guide covers the rest of the costs.
Cancelling your GRE scores at the end of the test
This is a different kind of cancellation. At the end of the General Test, whether at a centre or at home, you're asked to report (view) or cancel your scores. The key rules:
- Decide before you look. Once you view your scores, you can't cancel them.
- All or nothing. You can't cancel one section and report the others.
- No refund. Cancelled scores aren't shown to you or sent to anyone, and you don't get your fee back.
- They're not in your history. Cancelled scores aren't added to your reportable history.
- They still count for retake limits. You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12 months, and this applies even if you cancelled your scores.
ETS itself urges caution: the Bulletin says to consider very carefully before cancelling, because ScoreSelect already lets you choose which test dates schools see. If you report, you see your unofficial Verbal and Quant scores straight away and can pick up to four free score recipients. See our guide to sending GRE scores with ScoreSelect and the retake rules before you decide.
GRE Score Reinstatement
Changed your mind? You can reinstate cancelled scores within 60 days of your test date in your ETS account. The Score Reinstatement fee is US$50.
- For the General Test, scores are reinstated and reported about two weeks after your request.
- When reinstating, you can name up to four free score recipients. If you don't, you'll pay per recipient to send scores later.
- Normally, official scores are ready about 8–10 days after your test date, so reinstating adds time. Leave room before application deadlines.
When ETS or the test centre cancels
If weather or a technical problem at a test centre means your appointment is delayed or rescheduled, ETS says you'll be offered another appointment free of charge or a full refund. You can also ask for reimbursement of reasonable, documented travel costs by contacting GRE Services within 30 days of the original appointment.
At home the rules are stricter: if your computer or room doesn't meet ETS's requirements on test day, you won't be able to test and won't get a refund or a free reschedule. Our GRE at home guide lists what to check beforehand.
The cheapest way to avoid a reschedule fee is to book only when you're ready. Take a free GRE practice test first and see how close you are to your target.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a full refund if I cancel the GRE?
Usually not. Outside Korea, cancelling at least four days before the test (10 days in Mainland China) gets you half the test fee back. In Korea, cancelling within seven days of registering gets a full refund, as long as the test is more than four days away.
How much does it cost to reschedule the GRE?
ETS lists the rescheduling fee as US$55, or US$55.43 in China. You must reschedule at least four days before your test date (10 days in Mainland China), or you lose the fee.
Can I cancel my GRE score after seeing it?
No. ETS says that once you view your scores, you can't cancel them. Use ScoreSelect to choose which test dates schools see instead.
Do cancelled GRE scores count as an attempt?
Yes, for the retake limits. The once-every-21-days and five-in-12-months rules apply even if you cancelled your scores, though cancelled scores aren't added to your reportable history.
How long do I have to reinstate cancelled GRE scores?
60 days from your test date, for a US$50 fee. Scores are reported about two weeks after your request.
Next steps
Link to this guide
Using these figures on your site or in class? You're welcome to quote them with a link back:
<a href="https://www.keiko.study/blog/gre-cancellation-policy">GRE Cancellation Policy 2026: Refund, Reschedule Fee, Scores</a>
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Sources
Every source below was accessed on the listed date. Pages — especially department admissions pages — change without notice; the links go to the live versions.
- GRE Information Bulletin 2026–27 (PDF) — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- GRE General Test Fees — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Test Center Testing — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Your At Home Test Day — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Your At Home Testing — ETS. Accessed 2026-10-01.
Related guides
Sources and corrections
Sources last checked 2026-10-01Every source cited on this page was checked on the date shown, and we update the page when a source changes. If something looks wrong, tell us and we'll recheck it.